TNA Wrestling’s ring announcer McKenzie Mitchell revealed that the psychology of what the wrestler is wearing when they come out to the ring sets the tone for what you’re going to see in the ring. It can even help elaborate and tell those stories in such a deep way. The author of “Threads of Triumph” analyzes the close relationship between style and wrestling in her book.
In an interview with Last Word on Pro Wrestling and WorldWide Wrestling, McKenzie Mitchell discussed various subjects. This includes her vision of what style brings to wrestling, Seth Rollins’ influence, her own style as an in-ring announcer, the most stylish TNA wrestlers, TNA Wrestling’s deal with AMC, and more.
McKenzie Mitchell on her book “Threads of Triumph.”
“I didn’t necessarily grow up a professional wrestling fan. As I got into the industry, I realized there was a connection point between what a wrestler was wearing and how a fan was perceiving it at ringside. I had the idea to do Threads of Triumph for about six years. I started pitching the idea, pitching the concept. It didn’t come to fruition. I finally landed on doing Threads with Mackenzie Mitchell, the YouTube podcast version, in 2024. I really just dove into the closets of some of your favorite professional wrestlers, celebrities, and musicians. It did really well.
“I was interviewing Nattie Neidhart, and when we spoke about it, she was like, “Mackenzie, you need to write a book.” And I said, “Naddie, that’s a big undertaking. I’m not an author. I don’t know anything about writing a book.” And she’s like, “Well, here I’ll help start with a literary agent, get a proposal together.” So, I did. Wrote a 30-page book proposal. We started pitching it to publishers. And I had four offers in two weeks. So I thought there’s really a niche here. There’s a want for this conversation. It finally came to life in April, about two weeks ago.
“The feedback from talent, wrestlers, fans, just across the board, understanding that there is a connection point between it. It’s the psychology of what that wrestler is wearing when they come out to the ring. It really sets the tone for what you’re going to see in the ring, and it can help elaborate and tell those stories in such a deep way. And so finally, having this piece of conversation, opening the door for so many people around the world has been really heartwarming and cool to see across the board.”
Looking for new reads and love wrestling? @PaulPetroneWWE’s Monday After Mania and my book were best friends atop the Amazon charts.
Snag a copy and support small authors 🩷 pic.twitter.com/AYSnPdre0g
— McKenzie Mitchell (@mckenzienmitch) April 28, 2026
Understanding the style better now than before
” I don’t know if we weren’t aware before, but I think we are growing to become aware. This is not a new conversation; I should say it’s new to the public. So, I think that that’s something that wrestlers, for years, for decades, have been creating gear. They’ve been wearing their own boots, knee pads, or trunks to be able to sell that story to a fan. This is changing the perception of the way that we view the match and the story as a whole.
“We’re able to go back to the 1940s, the ’50s, the ’60s, and see these stars that have really paved the path for some of the modern superstars that we’re seeing today. These modern wrestlers are taking bits and pieces in their own way and incorporating them into their story or character. And so seeing that lineage and that trace back is a really cool aspect, I think, to take a look back at the art of professional wrestling and the way that we’re looking at costumeuming as well. Um, and I think being able to bridge that gap and really start that conversation.”
To no surprise, @mckenzienmitch is serving LOOKS tonight pic.twitter.com/op2SGRFMum
— Ella Jay (@itsellajay) April 14, 2026
The TNA Wrestling on AMC era
“Anytime we get to be in front of a live crowd is really unique and special because fans get to see who TNA truly is. We get to continue to build this momentum, especially on AMC and the partnership that we’ve got with them, as we’re really branching out and having new eyes on TNA Wrestling in a different way. I don’t know if people ever connected the dots of AMC television and TNA Wrestling as
one. And now it’s bringing a new demographic to our fan base.
“As we go on the road from Boston and Denver and Philly and Chicago, we’re getting to really connect to those fans differently. I was just able to do some of the meet & greets when we were in Cleveland and Syracuse, and getting to talk to fans and really connect to them on a different level of the growth of TNA. I’ve been around TNA for 10 years. So, I started my career there, then went to the WWE, and now being back at TNA as the ring announcer. It’s a brand-new perspective, and I think that fans are attaching themselves to TNA and going, there’s something special here. We’re seeing something new, so much growth in this company.
Being the TNA ring announcer
“I love this challenge of being a ring announcer with TNA Wrestling. A lot of people know me. I was the TNA backstage correspondent before, and I really felt that was the bread and butter, if you will, of my announcing skills. I joke that I could do a backstage interview with my eyes closed upside down because it feels so second nature to me. But jumping into becoming the ring announcer for TNA, I had to develop my voice and find my voice a little bit.
“I think now, being the ring announcer for a year and a half, I’m starting to really craft what McKenzie sounds like in the ring, what McKenzie Mitchell sounds like as the TNA ring announcer, and being able to have some fun and experiment with the Righteous’s entrance, and people have taken note of that. I’m still developing my skills, but I love what we’re developing at the moment.
.@mckenzienmitch joined @MeanGiaMiller on Around The Ring.
Watch #TNAXplosion on TNA+: https://t.co/YmQklcztM7 pic.twitter.com/dFUAX2Mwav
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) March 12, 2025
A Dream match to announce
“You can’t get any bigger in my opinion than the one Final Tables match that I did at Bound for Glory last year with the Dudleys and The Hardys. The Dudleys finally lacing up or putting away their boots, I should say, and passing the torch in a way to the Hardys. That was one of the matches I’ve been most nervous to ring-announce in my entire career, more than anything else, because it was so special. It was so important. The energy that I felt in the middle of that ring, standing there between four legends, was really, really amazing.
“When we look to the future, I think anytime I get to announce Mike Santana, he brings such an authentic energy to the ring that sometimes I even have to step aside to the corner because I know Mike’s going to come in guns, like he’s going to come in full force as he’s just sliding into the ring. So, any moment with Mike Santana would be really cool for me. I’m excited to see what the future will bring.”
