Sewell began working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling to help develop and train upcoming wrestlers while (at the time) also appearing as a referee on "Impact!". He first made a mark in TNA by defending himself after Sheik Abdul Bashir took exception to being defeated after a restart in a match against Consequences Creed. Sewell quickly clotheslined Bashir over the top rope to the floor and had to be calmed down by referee Earl Hebner. Since the altercation, he had a number of brawls with wrestlers who shoved him while he was working as a referee.