Thomas Hannifan is an American professional wrestling commentator and sports broadcaster better known by the ring nameTom Phillips. He is currently signed to WWE where he serves as the play-by-play commentator on Raw and color commentator of NXT. Phillips served as the play-by-play commentator on NXT from 2014 to 2017, SmackDown Live from 2017 to 2019 and on 205 Live and NXT UK from 2019 to 2020.
Career
Early broadcasting career
Hannifan's first broadcasting experience was as a public address announcer for a football game in his sophomore year of high school, where he also played backgammon and track and field. It was then he immediately knew he wanted to be in sports broadcasting. His quest to perfect his craft took him to Penn State Altoona and then Penn State main campus, majoring in broadcast journalism with an emphasis on sports broadcasting. During his time in Happy Valley, Hannifan was actively involved in COMRadio, the student-run radio station at Penn State. After working with Big Ten Network's Student U branch and graduating from Penn State, Hannifan did play-by-play for Juniata College's football and basketball teams in central Pennsylvania for $50 a game. While doing that in the summer of 2012, he was waiting tables to stay afloat financially. After a year and a half out of school, Hannifan was wondering if broadcasting was a right fit for him, when he received a job offer from WWE.
WWE (2012–present)
Hannifan conducted backstage interviews for the WWE App on Raw and was the lead announcer on Superstars, Main Event and SmackDown, flanked by color commentators Jerry Lawler and Byron Saxton, until he was replaced by NXT's play-by-play commentator Rich Brennan on the August 27, 2015 episode of SmackDown. He also served as the Social Media Lounge host on all WWE pay-per-view pre-shows, until Fastlane when Charly Caruso took the Social Media Lounge, and also conducts backstage interviews for WWE.com. Hannifan, as Tom Philips, serves as lead play-by-play announcer for SmackDown Live commentary team. After winning the United States Championship against Kevin Owens at Payback, Chris Jericho put both Philips and RAW reporter Mike Rome on The List for both interrupting his goodbye to RAW general manager Kurt Angle. He was the lead commentator for the NXT brand tapings and broadcasts since 2014 until being replaced by Mauro Ranallo in 2017. Phillips also acted as lead play-by-play announcer at WrestleMania 33 on April 2, 2017 for the SmackDown brand. Philips also led commentating in 205 Live before Vic Joseph replaced him. Phillips filled in for Cole on the October 2, 2017 Raw so that Cole could attend the wedding of his son. On October 5, 2019, WWE announced that a new commentary team will be on NXT UK. On November 1, 2019, due to significant flight delays, Phillips filled in on commentary for Michael Cole and Corey Graves on SmackDown with other substitute announcers Renee Young, Aiden English on first hour and Pat McAfee on second hour. Phillips also acted as lead play-by-play announcer at Royal Rumble on January 26, 2020 for the Raw brand, then the next day, Phillips announced that he returns for his new play-on-play commentator role on Raw, replacing Vic Joseph joining the Raw commentary team alongside Jerry Lawler and Byron Saxton. On March 12, 2020, Phillips left the announce team on NXT UK and he stays on Raw, then he was replaced on play-by-play commentary by Andy Shepherd.
Other media
Hannifan was also the host of one of WWE's most popular YouTube series, 5 Things, until October 21, 2015, when Kyle Edwards replaced him. Phillips resumed the position in 2016 after Edwards was released from WWE.
