Former WCW voice and newly-signed All Elite Wrestling (AEW) producer Tony Schiavone was recently interviewed by Wrestling Epicenter to talk about several professional wrestling topics. Schiavone discussed if he ever thought he’d be back with a wrestling promotion on TNT, being pulled back into wrestling, and his role with AEW.
Here are the highlights:
If he ever thought he’d be back with a wrestling brand on TNT:
No, and I’ll tell you why. 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. 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, I thought I was done with the wrestling business. I’m like that, James. I like to move on with my life. People that I’ve worked with in the past… 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.
Being pulled back into wrestling:
I was talking to Gary Jester who is a promoter with Ring of Honor. He used to be with us. I said, “Isn’t this the craziest business.” He said, “Yes, it is the greatest business.” You know, it is like, you get involved in it, and even though the business may crap on you, you still come back to it once you’re in it. It is like the flu!”
His role with AEW:
Ok, well, I do know I’m a producer. 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 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.
If he plans on joining the AEW broadcast team:
I’m not looking to shoe-horn anyone out of the broadcast team – I’m not! 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 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.
Read More: Further Details Regarding Tony Schiavone’s Duties In AEW
