Tag: tony schiavone

Tony Schiavone reveals great Ted Turner story following WCW sale: ‘those motherf*ckers

Posted on by Jake Skudder

Former WCW commentator and AEW on-screen talent Tony Schiavone recently revealed a great Ted Turner story, which incidentally took place in a toilet following the sale of WCW in 2001 to the then WWF.

Turner passed away back on May 6, and he revealed back in 2018 during an interview with CBS that he was living with Lewy body dementia, a condition similar to Alzheimer’s.

Tony Schiavone on Ted Turner meeting while peeing

Speaking on his What Happened When podcast this week, Schiavone revealed the meeting was during time he was working part-time for radio station WSB…and at a urinal:

“I look to my right, the other guy who’s peeing is Ted Turner. So I say, ‘Mr. Turner, of course, after zipping up, I say, Mr. Turner, I know you don’t know who I am, but I’m Tony Schiavone, and I did the WCW, World Championship Wrestling…’ And he said, I remember vividly, the first words out of his mouth was, ‘Those m*therfuckers [AOL Time Warner]. If I was still running this place, wrestling would still be on TBS. It would still be on TNT. They are out of their minds taking off wrestling, which has been an integral part of what we’re doing.'”

The AOL Time Warner merger is what directly led to the failure of WCW and eventual sale of the company to Vince McMahon, at least in Schiavone’s view: “There’s so many ways, fingers you can point at what killed WCW, but what killed WCW was the fact that AOL Time Warner did not want us on. It was that simple.”

If you use any of the transcriptions on this page then please credit F4WOnline and link back to this page.

Sting, Tony Schiavone pay tribute to Ted Turner on AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Josh Nason

On a day where broadcasting icon and massive wrestling fan Ted Turner passed away, Sting and Tony Schiavone both paid tribute to the man who brought wrestling to TBS and TNT to open Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.

Both men were big parts of the Jim Crockett Promotions and later WCW that aired on the Turner networks.

Schiavone opened the show talking about Turner’s love of wrestling, saying he was “someone that changed pro wrestling forever” and that he believed in it, the fans, and that it belonged on national TV.

He then talked about his own past on TBS and that through Tony Khan’s leadership, “wrestling still survives. We are here today because of him.”

Schiavone then introduced Sting, making a surprise appearance and his first since he was in the house for Darby Allin’s first AEW World title win last month.

The former AEW World Tag Team Champion entered to no music, but in full face paint. He said both he and Schiavone both knew “Big Ted” very well and Turner made it possible for he and Schiavone to have four decades together.

He said, “Can you imagine an all in billionaire that loved pro wrestling?,” adding that Turner was completely committed to the wrestlers, saying Turner joked to those in CNN Tower that he had “some deep pockets” whenever they tried to cancel wrestling.

He then thanked Turner again and said there would be no TNT title, no Sting and no Darby Allin without him, adding there was a “second all in billionaire keeping wrestling going” in Khan.

The two then remained in the ring for a ten bell salute as the screen faded to black before the traditional show open.

Turner passed away Wednesday at 87.

Tony Schiavone reveals he was surprised at WWE release of Aleister Black

Posted on by Jake Skudder

AEW commentator Tony Schiavone recently discussed Aleister/Malakai Black being released from WWE as part of the post-WrestleMania 42 fallout.

Speaking on his What Happened When podcast, Schiavone would reveal that he was surprised that his friend got released from the company, also implying that he hadn’t heard anything from Black to indicate that this was likely to happen.

Tony Schiavone reveals friendship with Malakai Black

Although Black wouldn’t have known if he was getting released from his contract, it does appear as though this was at least somewhat of a shock to him, at least in the sense that he didn’t tell some people around him that he thought it might be coming.

“I was surprised, really, that they [WWE] released Malakai [Black] because he and I are friends. I haven’t really had a chance to talk to him since that time” the AEW commentator noted.

Schiavone also discussed the ‘fallout’ from his comments that Nigel McGuinness is the best color analyst that he has ever worked with from the podcast last week.

“I think we’re very fortunate in AEW. As a two-man team, I really like working with Nigel and people say, ‘well, what about Jesse or what about Heenan? You worked with Dusty Rhodes in a two-man booth. What about those guys you worked with? You say Nigel’s better than [them]?’ Well, Nigel is the most prepared I’ve ever worked with.”

Rebel says AEW Collision message and fan signs ‘lift her spirits’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Rebel says that the response from fans and the message AEW sent to her on Collision lifted her spirits.

After she shared news earlier this week that she has been diagnosed with terminal ALS, Tony Schiavone sent a message of support to Rebel on Saturday’s broadcast from Peoria.

Schiavone said on the broadcast:

“We want Rebel to know you are a big part of AEW. We are thinking about you right now. We are praying for you that you will pull through this. We got a lot of signs in the stands here tonight that says ‘Rebel, we love you. We pray for Rebel,’ and we certainly do agree with that as well.”

On Sunday, Rebel posted to Instagram with a picture of Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness at the broadcast desk, along with the caption:

“Thank you to my @aew family and @tonyrkhan and thank you to the fans for the signs. They truly lift my spirits 🫶“

A screenshot of Rebel’s Instagram Stories is below:

Tony Schiavone calls AEW commentator the best color analyst he has ever worked with

Posted on by Jake Skudder

AEW commentator Tony Schiavone recently made a big claim on the latest What Happened When podcast regarding his All Elite Wrestling colleague Nigel McGuinness.

McGuinness was on the show to watch some older Bryan Danielson matches with Schiavone and co-host Conrad Thompson. Nigel stayed in character pretty much the entire time, absolutely ripping into Danielson and even at one point claiming that the American Dragon PAID for the Best Technical Wrestler award in the Wrestling Observer Awards to be changed to the Bryan Danielson Award (sorry Nige but he didn’t, and he also doesn’t have any saucy pictures of Dave).

Tony Schiavone on Nigel McGuinness

Tony was absolutely glowing when it came to his praise for the former Ring of Honor Champion, saying that he is the best color commentator/analyst that he has ever worked with:

“Nigel is probably the best color analyst I’ve ever worked with, and I’ve worked with a lot of them. I say this because no one is prepared to do his job like Nigel McGuinness is. I know that I do not have to always get you [Nigel] up to date on the storylines, because I know Nigel is always prepared to do that [himself]. That means a lot to a guy in my position. An old guy can’t remember everything, and I can always lean on Nigel because he’s got these notes. That’s why I think he’s the best”

If you use any of the quotes on this page then please link back to F4WOnline and credit

VIDEO: AEW announcers pay tribute to Kerwin Silfies on Dynamite

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: WWE

The influence of the late Kerwin Silfies was felt on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite as the late WWE director was recognized on air.

Silfies passed away at 75 years old on Tuesday after battling health issues, first reported Wednesday by PWInsider. Silfies was a longtime WWE director, joining the company in the mid-1980s after already having many years of television experience working at Channel 39 in his native Pennsylvania.

In the show’s first hour and seen below, the show cut to Excalibur, Bryan Danielson and Tony Schiavone at the desk to talk about Silfies who Schiavone said he first met in 1989. He called him “a great man and an even better director,” adding that he was calm under pressure which “in this business, is something else.”

Danielson then got emotional when talking about Silfies, saying that he was “very kind and very patient” and that when Danielson got to WWE, he didn’t know anything about TV production but Silfies was kind in teaching him.

Earlier in the day, AEW broadcaster Taz posted a short audio tribute to Silfies who he first worked with when he came to WWE, recalling the first night when ECW talent “invaded” Raw and how Silfies made them feel wanted.

Tony Schiavone praises AEW star Samoa Joe: ‘He’s got the respect of everyone backstage’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

While working together in AEW, Tony Schiavone has developed an immense respect for Samoa Joe.

Joe was the subject of Schiavone’s What Happened When podcast this week ahead of AEW WrestleDream. On the podcast, Schiavone said he didn’t know all that much about Joe until they became co-workers. He praised Joe as one of the most professional people he’s ever been around.

“He is one of the most professional guys I’ve ever worked with backstage, ever,” Schiavone said. “And when you say, you tell Joe, ‘Hey, Joe, we got a pre-tape for you to do.’ He goes, ‘Okay,’ gets his Trios belt — or back when he had the World title belt — will follow you and go do the pre-tape. Immediately. He doesn’t say, ‘Well, I got to call a match, or I’ve got to go to catering, or I got to go to see the doc.’ Immediately. He’s just such a pro. And it’s been an absolute honor to be able to work with him.”

Schiavone said he’s not alone in having so much respect for Joe, who is highly regarded in the AEW locker room.

“What a tremendous person and a legit, legit athlete. I got a lot of time for him. I really do,” Schiavone said.

“Everybody respects Samoa Joe. Everybody watches his matches, likes to learn from what he can do. And he’s just wonderful. Yeah, he’s got the respect of everyone backstage. And I really think that not only everybody in AEW backstage, but probably anybody that ever worked with him.”

Joe has the chance to become AEW World Champion again when he challenges Hangman Page at this Saturday’s WrestleDream pay-per-view. Joe’s first reign with the title lasted for nearly four months in 2023-2024.

New AEW Dynamite interview segment added

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite in Glasgow, Scotland has a new interview segment scheduled.

AEW has revealed that Adam Copeland and Christian Cage will be interviewed by Tony Schiavone on the Wednesday, August 20 episode.

The legendary tag team reunited on last week’s show and will team up for the first time on over a decade on Sunday’s Forbidden Door card against Nick Wayne and Kip Sabian.

Wednesday’s Dynamite is the final episode before Sunday’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view. Dynamite will also feature the finals of the AEW Tag Team title eliminator tournament, with the winners earning a shot at The Hurt Syndicate at the pay-per-view.

The lineup for Dynamite:

AEW Dynamite, Wednesday, August 20 —

  • Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey
  • Toni Storm and Alex Windsor vs. Mercedes Mone and Athena
  • AEW Tag Team title eliminator tournament finals: FTR vs. Brodido
  • Max Caster open challenge
  • Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley face-to-face
  • Hangman Adam Page speaks
  • Tony Schiavone interviews Adam Copeland and Christian Cage

AEW pays tribute to Hulk Hogan on Collision

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Image: WWE

Hulk Hogan’s passing was mentioned on AEW television.

Tony Schiavone took time to pay tribute to Hogan during Saturday’s AEW Collision broadcast. Schiavone credited Hogan with taking pro wrestling into the mainstream in the 1980s and for putting WCW on the cable map in the 1990s on the same cable network AEW airs on, TNT.

“Sometimes we take a look at these stars that are bigger than life and we forget they are just like us, human. And we forget that they have families that care about them,” Schiavone said. “Our condolences go out to Hulk’s family, to his children Brooke and Nick, his wife Sky. And if you’ve never lost a member of your family, you have no idea what the pain they are going through right now. And believe you me, it is intense. From all of us here at All Elite Wrestling, RIP, brother.”

Hogan, 71, passed away on Thursday from cardiac arrest following complications from neck fusion surgery that took place back in May. Until Saturday, AEW had yet to publicly comment on Hogan’s passing.

WWE paid tribute to Hogan at the start of Friday’s SmackDown with a ten-bell salute and a video highlighting his life and career. On Saturday morning, NJPW also held a short ceremony to honor Hogan prior to the start of their G1 Climax 35 event.

Tony Schiavone confirms reason for missing AEW Dynamite last week

Posted on by Joseph Currier

On his What Happened When podcast, Tony Schiavone explained why he was absent from AEW Dynamite last week.

Schiavone wasn’t on AEW commentary last Wednesday but returned over the weekend for Collision. Dave Meltzer reported that a family situation caused Schiavone to miss the Dynamite episode — and Schiavone confirmed on his podcast that his absence was planned and was due to his wife Lois undergoing hip replacement surgery. She got out of the hospital last Wednesday after having surgery done on Tuesday.

“She’s actually moving quite well now. But it’s slow, it really is,” Schiavone said. “They do not do rehab, physical therapy, for a hip. They just tell you to walk. So the recovery time, I guess, is based on how much you get out and you move. And she’s been, you know, hasn’t really been getting out, but she’s been moving. She’s been going up the steps, she’s been going down the steps, to the bedroom, she’s been putting herself into the bed. And you got to swing the hips to get in.

“So I don’t know what the recovery time is. But as far as pain management is concerned, I’m thinking that the pain has been subsiding and she’s been able to cut down on the meds. So I would think maybe in the next couple of weeks she would be much, much better pain-wise. As far as getting around-wise, I’m not sure.”

Ian Riccaboni filled in for Schiavone on Dynamite commentary last week. Schiavone’s absence led to fan speculation that he was being punished for a tweet he had sent out about NJPW commentator Chris Charlton, but that was not the case.

Charlton is on indefinite hiatus from NJPW commentary after anti-AEW comments he made during Wrestle Dynasty, which took place at the Tokyo Dome on January 5 and featured wrestlers from NJPW, AEW, Stardom, CMLL, and ROH.

“Hey [Chris Charlton] speaking for all of us in AEW, GFY. And speaking for all of us who have been around you, take a shower once in a while,” Schiavone tweeted before deleting the post.

Tony Schiavone update following AEW Dynamite absence

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A family situation caused Tony Schiavone to miss Wednesday night’s edition of AEW Dynamite.

Schiavone was not on commentary for last night’s show from Clarksville, Tennessee. Ian Riccaboni and Matt Menard called Dynamite alongside Excalibur, who said that Schiavone was “on assignment.” The absence led to fan speculation that Schiavone had been punished for a now-deleted tweet he sent out earlier this week aimed at NJPW commentator Chris Charlton, but Dave Meltzer says that is not the case. Schiavone missed the show because of a family situation but should be back soon.

“He wasn’t on the show tonight, and it’s nothing big or anything like that,” Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio. “When he wasn’t there, I started getting all these people going like, ‘Oh my God, did he get suspended for that [tweet]?’ But it was just a family situation. He’s fine, he’ll be back, you know, I presume on Saturday. It’s not anything to be alarmed over. It was just a family situation, he missed one show. So that’s the situation there.”

Meltzer reported on Monday that Charlton is on “indefinite hiatus” from NJPW due to negative comments he made about AEW on commentary during Wrestle Dynasty at the Tokyo Dome, which featured wrestlers from NJPW, AEW, Stardom, CMLL, and ROH.

In response to Charlton’s comments, Schiavone tweeted the following before deleting it: “Hey [Chris Charlton] speaking for all of us in AEW, GFY. And speaking for all of us who have been around you, take a shower once in a while.”

AEW Collision is taking place live from Athens, Georgia this Saturday (January 11).

Daily Update: Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul, Tony Schiavone

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • The new issue of the Wrestling Observer is up on the site right now:
  • The updated details of the biggest lawsuit that ever faced TKO
  • Build to SummerSlam and All In
  • Updated PPV numbers on Forbidden Door, Money in the Bank and Diaz vs. Masvidal
  • G-1 is starting and a look at the first week of the tournament
  • The first Fantastica Mania show in the U.S.
  • The latest moves by Janel Grant’s legal team regarding Vince McMaahon’s doctor, the motion, why they are doing this and more on Vince’s doctor including bigger celebrities than Vince that he’s worked with along with legendary fighters
  • Pro Wrestling NOAH runs Budokan Hall with A.J. Styles
  • A look at the N-1 tournament
  • Longtime NOAH star retires
  • NOAH star joining New Japan and Bullet Club
  • A look at Marigold’s biggest show in its history with Iyo Sky plus Sareee vs Giulia
  • Giulia timeline updated of going to WWE
  • Upcoming Marigold PPV shows
  • A look at the Category A Observer awards and favorites after six months of 2024, who should win MVP in pro wrestling and MMA, match & fight of the year
  • The closing months of  WCW looked at as Lenita Erickson says she played a part in killing Eric Bischoff’s TV deal that would have kept the company alive
  • Lots of talk regarding different negotiations to get the company
  • The most detailed look at the ratings from the past week
  • What place did the pro wrestling and MMA shows finish in the ratings
  • How the different shows did  with ratings, segment-by-segment, competition and placings as well as other notes on viewership
  • Lots of big things coming to Arena Mexico
  • Leyenda de Plata tournament
  • 11 companies join together with a united front to government
  • Death of Ken Hoffman and the major title change that happened because of what he wrote in the newspaper
  • Notes on a number of wrestling movies and documentaries
  • MLW with big show with lots of CMLL talent
  • More on Bloodsport with WWE talent
  • TNA looking at biggest crowd in years
  • As AEW talks with WBD about  a new deal, lots of things are going on in that world
  • International ratings and streaming numbers
  • Advance ticket sales for all upcoming AEW & WWE shows
  • More on Nate Diaz lawsuit against promoter
  • Peacock raising prices
  • WWE Survivor Series notes
  • Lots of new WWE dates
  • Cody Rhodes talks AEW

This Week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Tuesday Update

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the entire segment featuring CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and Drew McIntyre from last night’s Raw.
  • McIntyre is featured in the poster of Batista’s upcoming film The Killer Game.
  • Regarding CM Punk’s new merchandise, McIntyre wrote on X: “‘I ain’t ever had to put another man’s name on a shirt to sell it’ aging as well as “hey Colt Cabana how you doing?”
  • The US Olympic Committee has filed a lawsuit against Logan Paul and Prime Energy, accusing the brand of trademark infringement.
  • Shawn Michaels announced that WWE will allow fans to watch the next set of WWE tryouts that will take place on August 2, one day before SummerSlam.
  • The Ringer has an article on the 35th anniversary of the Ric Flair/Terry Funk I Quit match from 1989.
  • WWE Vault has added Sheamus vs. Randy Orton from SummerSlam 2010.
  • Akira Tozawa recently celebrated a birthday.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • AEW showed footage of Tony Schiavone being presented the Gordon Solie Award by the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in Waterloo, Iowa.
  • The company has brought back their Road To series ahead of Wednesday’s Blood & Guts event.
  • Minoru Suzuki on X: “I’m going to America. I want to fight in a way that shakes my soul. I’m sure you’ll let me do that, right? Chris Jericho!”
  • Brian Cage will be reprising his role as He-Man in the upcoming fan film Fall of Grayskull: Rise of the Horde
  • This week’s TNA Xplosion is now available.
  • TNA has uploaded the entire Emergence event from 2021 on their YouTube channel.
  • The NWA has announced that President Willaim Patrick Corgan, Natalia Markova, Bryan Idol, Ella Envy, Baron Von Storm, Reka Tehaka, Taylor Rising, La Rosa Negra, and announcer Kyle Davis will be a part of NWA 76 on August 31 in Philadelphia.
  • Pro Wrestling NOAH have unveiled the full card for their Manchester event on September 7.
  • The Great Sasuke will make his GCW return during their Japan tour on August 13.
  • During a recent interview, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was asked about her thoughts on Hulk Hogan being a speaker at the RNC. Whitmer replied she was an Iron Sheik fan, confusing the former WWE star with Michigan native The Sheik, uncle of Sabu.

Tony Schiavone loses voice during AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Tony Schiavone was absent for part of AEW Dynamite.

Although Schiavone started the show along with Taz and Excalibur, by the end of Wednesday’s program he was no longer around. When someone asked regarding his whereabouts on X, Schiavone revealed he had lost his voice, something he had been struggling with since the weekend.

“Lost my voice,” he wrote. “It was giving me problems all weekend. Thanks for asking.”

Schiavone handles announcing duties for all three of AEW’s shows, and was on call for last weekend’s Collision. He has been with AEW since its inception in 2019.

Another AEW commentator, Jim Ross, has also been dealing with health issues. On Tuesday, he announced he was back in the hospital after having difficulty breathing. He had previously planned on being at Forbidden Door after being unable to attend Double or Nothing due to health issues.

AEW will tape the next episode of Collision following Dynamite. With Rampage being taped last week, it is the final set of tapings before AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, which will take place this Sunday in Long Island.

Tony Schiavone says AEW Dynamite reaction was to ‘put more heat’ on Young Bucks

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Tony Schiavone has responded to his viral moment.

Before The Young Bucks showed footage of the All In altercation between Jack Perry and CM Punk on last week’s Dynamite, Schiavone appeared flustered at what was about to go down. On his podcast What Happened When, Schiavone said the reaction wasn’t about the footage being shown, but about putting heat on The Young Bucks.

“My facial reaction to what happened was…trying to put more heat on The Bucks for being a*******. I did not have any reaction to the footage we’d seen because I don’t give a damn,” he said. “So what? So f***** what. So I was not upset at the promotion, I was not upset at Tony Khan, I was not pissed off about what we had shown, I was trying to be fully in the moment of the angle, which is The Bucks b******* about FTR, not wanting to shake their hands and getting f****** around…I’m sincere when I say I don’t care. It has no impact on my life.”

Schiavone also rejected the idea of AEW airing the footage being similar to tactics WCW pulled toward the end of their run.

“Some people are saying oh, the footage you were showing is like the finger poke of doom moment for AEW. Well you know what, that’s what you want it to be because you want to see us fail,” he said. “And there is no way because I was in both companies, there is absolutely no way that you can compare us to WCW, you can’t. You may want to, you may think you’re right, you’re wrong. You cannot compare us to WCW, I was there for both, you were not.”

In storyline, The Young Bucks used the footage to play into their match against FTR at AEW Dynasty on April 21, using it as the reason they lost their last match against FTR on that night. They went as far as to accuse FTR of being the masterminds behind the altercation, but immediately recanted as their accusation was “unprofessional.”

Tony Schiavone on CM Punk’s AEW comments: ‘I don’t give a sh–t’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Tony Schiavone sees no reason to address CM Punk’s comments on The MMA Hour earlier this week. 

On Monday, Punk told Ariel Helwani that it was Schiavone who asked him to speak to Jack Perry backstage at AEW Collision when Perry wanted to smash the window of a rental car. Punk claimed Schiavone said that Perry had been cussing him and others out backstage and Schiavone wanted Punk to talk to him.  

Schiavone was asked about the situation on his What Happened When podcast and said he has not listened to Punk’s interview but others have told him what was said. 

“I really don’t give a s–t about it,” Schiavone said. “I’m not going to get into this. I know what he said and let him talk if he wants.” 

“I don’t give a sh–t, that’s all I can say. I can’t get into that. It would be stupid for me to get into that. I have no idea what he said with the exception of someone told me ‘Oh, he brought up your name, and here’s what he said.’ And I went, ‘So, what?'”

Thompson emphasized that Punk was not being negative about him but Schiavone still said there was no reason for him to address the issue. 

“No, I know, that’s why I’m saying, so what? If he was critical of me, people who say ‘Oh, Shiavone on his podcast is going to defend himself..’ I have nothing to defend.”

Earlier in the conversation, Schiavone praised multiple AEW staff and talent for the support they showed him following the passing of his beloved pet dog, Bug. He also complimented AEW president Tony Khan, calling him, “one of the nicest people I’ve ever been around.” 

“This is to everybody out there who likes to rip on Tony Khan,” Schiavone said. “He is genuinely one of the nicest people I’ve ever been around in my life. He really is. And you may say, ‘Oh, you’re sucking up to the boss.’ If that’s what you think, go f–k yourself because I’m not.”