Tag: Tony Schiavone

Tony Schiavone Says He’s Not On The AEW Broadcast Team, Details His AEW Role

On the heels of his new multi-year contract with AEW, Tony Schiavone spoke with Wrestlingepicenter.com about what the future holds in his new position. Tony is still in awe that AEW is going to be premiering on TNT, as he remembers how tumultuous things were when WCW was falling apart while under Turner Broadcasting.

“I had a very bad feeling about the Turner people when I left. The good news is, the Turner people that I didn’t have a good feeling towards are no longer around. I’m talking about the people that ran WCW, basically. I never thought I would do it again,” Schiavone admitted. “I never thought wrestling would be back on TNT again because they were very against wrestling. I guess under Brad Siegel and James Kelner – I don’t know the history. They didn’t want wrestling on their networks anymore.

“When I walked away from Panama City that night (the final WCW Nitro), I thought I was done with the wrestling business. I’m like that, James. I like to move on with my life… I’m not good at staying in touch with people; that is my fault. Thank goodness for guys like Arn Anderson and Jim Ross… Guys that are my friends in the business.”

Schiavone revealed that he will be acting as a producer for AEW going forward. He noted that his focus will mostly be on the videos seen throughout the show, and specifically pointed out that he has no intentions of being a part of the broadcast team the company has already established.

“Okay, well, I do know I’m a producer,” Tony stated. “I’m going to be working on a lot of the videos you see in the shows. I’m going to be working behind the scenes when the live shows are going, the TNT shows. I’ve met with Tony Khan, I’ve met with, obviously, Cody. We do some production here in Atlanta… Cody and I actually live pretty close to each other so when I talked to Tony Khan, the idea was that I would do control centers and on-camera stuff, but I would not be on the broadcast team because his broadcast team was in place.”

Schiavone praised the AEW broadcast team for the talent and experience they bring to their craft. He is definitely going to be involved in the production of each AEW on TV episode, however, the more specific details are still being determined by Tony Khan and the other AEW Executive VPs.

“I’m not looking to shoe-horn anyone out of the broadcast team – I’m not!” Tony emphasized. “Excalibur is a great guy. I know that Alex Marvez, gosh, is a very talented guy. But, I know that Jim Ross has always wanted me with him. I know that – He’s pushed for that. So, I told Tony, ‘I really want to work for you, but I don’t want to be the guy who is seen as trying to shoe-horn his way into the broadcast team.’ I don’t know what has happened since Tony and I have talked last, I just know I’m going to be part of the show in some capacity. I didn’t expect that and I don’t expect right now to be a part of the broadcast team. There’s not been any official announcement that has been made about that but I’m just going to have my hand in the broadcasts in some way.”

AEW Announces Full-Time, Multi-Year Contract For Tony Schiavone, Cody Rhodes Comments

AEW confirmed today that former WCW announcer Tony Schiavone has signed a full-time, multi-year deal with the company.

Schiavone will do AEW TV commentary with Excalibur and Jim Ross, and will also serve as a senior producer for AEW events.

Below is the full announcement sent to us today by AEW, which includes comments from AEWExecutive Vice President Cody Rhodes:

AEW SIGNS VETERAN COMMENTATOR TONY SCHIAVONE TO MULTI-YEAR DEAL

August 26, 2019 – All Elite Wrestling (AEW) today confirmed that it has signed renowned commentator Tony Schiavone to a full-time, multi-year agreement.

Schiavone, widely considered to be one of the most important voices in professional wrestling, joins AEW’s television broadcast team of Jim Ross and Excalibur. Schiavone will also serve as a senior producer for AEW events.

In addition to his work with AEW, the versatile Schiavone will continue his role as producer for the University of Georgia Football and Baseball Network, and will call the play-by-play for the Atlanta Braves’ Triple A team, the Gwinnett Stripers.

“Tony ‘The Silver Tongue’ Schiavone was the lead voice of pro wrestling at a time when it was dominating the globe,” said Cody Rhodes, EVP of AEW. “It’s a pleasure to have him join AEW as a senior producer and member of the broadcast team. It doesn’t hurt that he’s a UGA fan either. I think Tony is one of the most underrated lead men with the narrative of pro wrestling there’s ever been. I’m thrilled to get into the studio with him. Let’s welcome Tony to All Elite Wrestling.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Tony Schiavone Signs With AEW, Update On His Status With MLW

One of the signature voices of the Monday Night Wars is on his way to All Elite Wrestling. PWInsider is reporting that Tony Schiavone has become a member of the AEW brand. This is after speculation that WWE had interest in the former voice of WCW.

The report went on to say that Schiavone will be able to continue his color commentary duties with Major League Wrestling, where he signed a two-year deal. It was previously reported that Schiavone’s current contract with MLW would not allow him to work with another company like AEW or WWE. In fact, Court Bauer did not know that Schiavone was going to be involved in AEW’s “Road to All Out” online series, which was shot this past May.

“Unless AEW elects to reach out, Tony Schiavone cannot proceed with AEW or any other company doing anything. I was unaware of him doing the digital stuff until I read it in this week’s Observer,” Bauer said.

At the time, Schiavone was just helping out Cody Rhodes. It is unknown what specific role he will have with the organization. AEW’s current broadcast team is comprised of Jim Ross, Excalibur and Alex Marvez. They also have Chris Van Vliet and Alicia Atout as backstage interviewers.

Whatever his role may be with AEW, Schiavone will return to TNT for the first time since WCW’s run when the brand ended in 2001.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Tony Schiavone Discusses How He Blew His Chance To Work With AEW

So many wrestlers, announcers and producers have had their names linked to AEW and Tony Schiavone is the latest. It doesn’t hurt that he hosts a podcast with Conrad Thompson who is good friends with AEW owner Tony Khan, and Schiavone talked about the promotion’s launch when he spoke to Wrestling Inc. on the WINCLY podcast recently.

“I think it’s come out of the love of independent wrestling and the love that people want from something other than just the WWE,” stated Schiavone.

“I think what happened with Starrcast and how well it was received, it opened everyone’s eyes to a niche for something that has great talent, can be promoted and doesn’t have a boss that’s an idiot.

“It opened everyone’s eyes that we can do something big.”

The next big step for AEW is to land a television deal and Schiavone says that MLW ending up on BeIN Sports is a positive and shows that there’s a want out there. He also says that a lot of people who grew up pro wrestling fans are now television executives and that’s only helping the business.

From Schiavone’s history with Dusty Rhodes in WCW, he’s known Cody since he was a kid and he praised Cody for his business mind.

“Cody is…I’m not going to use the word “brilliant” because I haven’t worked with him that long and I think brilliant is an overused term. But Cody is a smart kid and has a great business head on his shoulders,” said Schiavone.

“[AEW has] a pretty good list of talent that is going to be very good. I just hope they can put it together and put together a TV show.”

Schiavone then went into detail about his memories of Cody has a kid growing up in Georgia.

“I had a son who wrestled in Cobb County [Georgia]…and he wrestled about five miles away from where Cody wrestled and Cody was state champion. Amongst parents and kids in Georgia, Cody was kinda like the big guy,” revealed Schiavone.

Schiavone said that Cody’s parents would always help out at the wrestling meets just like any other parents and Dusty often served as a voluntary usher.

“Dusty was helping people find their seats. He was just another parent,” stated Schiavone.

As for him working with AEW, Schiavone says he’s not currently involved but had an opportunity to get in AEW’s inner circle. However, he “Schiavonied” himself at an AEW mingling event by declining an invitation to go to Cody’s house for a party in which he could have met AEW president Tony Shan.

“Conrad Thompson said, ‘I set it up where you can meet Tony Khan and you did a no-show. You Schiavonied,'” stated Schiavone before mentioning that Schiavonied is now in Urban Dictionary and is defined as “To squander opportunity by putting in minimal effort.”

AEW has reached out to lots of people, but to date Tony Schiavone is not yet one of them.

“I have not talked to them,” revealed Schiavone. “I signed a three-year deal with MLW. I know they’re not using me right now but I do intend to honor my contract.

“I know [Jim Ross’] contract is coming up to an end at the end of the month. The feeling is that he’ll end up there, but I don’t know if that’s the case.”

Schiavone doesn’t know if he’ll ever end up in AEW as he is staying busy with all of his other projects.

“I have a lot on my plate. This podcast is taking up a lot of time and now I’m making appearances.…There’s a lot going on and we’ll just see. The older I get, the busier I get and it’s a great way to end your life,” said Schiavone.

The full audio from Wrestling Inc.‘s exclusive interview with Tony was included in a recent episode of their WINCLY podcast. It can be heard by clicking on this link. During the full interview Tony discusses working with Eric Bischoff, Bruce Prichard re-signing with WWE, his memories of Cody Rhodes as a child, how WrestleMania compares to Starrcade and more.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Tony Schiavone Signs Multi-Year Deal With MLW

Tony Schiavone signs with MLW

Just a month after signing a new television deal, Major League Wrestling announced on their website Thursday they have signed former NWA, WCW and WWE play-by-play announcer Tony Schiavone to a multi-year contract as the primary voice of the company.

Schiavone began his broadcasting career at Jim Crockett Promotions in 1984 before moving to Turner Broadcasting starting in 1984 until where he hosted World Championship Wrestling broadcasts along side David Crockett on TBS. In April of 1989 Schiavone left Turner Broadcasting after signing a one year deal with then the WWF. He would later return to WCW in 1990 as the lead announcer for WCW Saturday Night and was the main voice for WCW Monday Nitro and Thunder until the company was purchased by WWE in March 2001.

MLW CEO Court Bauer had the following to say about the signing:

“For three decades, Tony has been one of the most prominent voices calling the action. His work is the soundtrack that fans grew up listening to and today we are thrilled to know he will continue in this high visibility role for years to come. Tony’s standards, historical knowledge of the sport and enthusiasm for sharing the backstories of the wrestlers who enter the ring enriches the broadcast experience for the MLW and beIN SPORTS audience.”

You can read the full press release at MLW’s website.

Source: WrestleView