TNA Wrestling is planning to pull out all the stops for the premiere of Thursday Night iMPACT! on AMC. Along with the homecoming of AJ Styles and big matches like World Champion Frankie Kazarian versus Mike Santana, the January 15 extravaganza will also feature an appearance by Perez Hilton.
Yes, the famed blogger and TV personality is set to be part of the show in some form or fashion. The 47-year-old tells us that the opportunity came about organically through TikTok. It’s there Hilton connected with Nicole Racine, Senior Vice President of Sales with Anthem Sports and Entertainment.
She is my guardian angel who not only invited me to a show last year, but then this year came to me to not just watch, but be involved,” Hilton said. “And not just any show, the debut of Thursday Night iMPACT! on AMC. So, it is a big deal and I’m truly honored.”
The celebrity gossip reporter remains tight-lipped on what he’ll be doing. However, Hilton does provide a little tease. “What you can expect from my appearance is a lot of booze,” he said, playfully. “I’m fully prepared for the audience to not be very receptive to me there. Call me ‘Heel Hilton.’ And just like anything else, you’re just going to have to watch and see.”
At the moment the polarizing figure looks at this as a one-off. Though he wouldn’t rule out other spots on future programs. “I would love to do more with TNA,” Hilton said.
On the surface, this may look to be a random collaboration. But the special guest explains that he does enjoy the product.
I’m definitely a pro wrestling fan. A big pro wrestling fan. Not the biggest. I would say I’m big because I love to go watch professional wrestling,” Hilton said. “I’ve gone to TNA. I’ve gone multiple times to see WWE. I was even involved with WWE. Look that up a while ago. I think 10 plus years ago I was on Monday Night Raw in the ring with the Bella Twins.
It’s true. Hilton served as guest host of the January 16, 2012 episode. He even served as a guest referee for a tag team match.
I remember I showed up, and they gave me a Raw shirt to wear because they didn’t like what I was wearing. I don’t even know what I was wearing, but I definitely got a lot of booze then. I don’t know if much has changed since for the public. I’m not dumb. I’m not going to walk out there to cheers and applause.”
Like any bad guy of the ring, Hilton embraces being the villain going into the TNA event. For the longtime media influencer, covering the industry is not that different from other avenues of entertainment.
Scandal, drama, still is what gets the most eye balls,” he explained. “Whether it be the awfulness surrounding Hulk Hogan’s death and everything that came after that to the very delicate situation with Nikki Garcia and her baby daddy. I cover all professional wrestling and their personalities regularly more often if there is something newsworthy for the masses.”
Hilton keeps on the pulse of the business and remains friendly with those in the business. Among them, the Bella Twins. He recently connected with them.
They were lovely. They look so good still. Oh my God, I love them. It’s really inspiring to see what Nikki and Brie have built,” he said. “They are moguls. I caught up with them in Vegas where I live at The Palms at Ghostbar where they were hosting an event for their wine company. They were just lovely.