AEW: Tony Schiavone on AEW’s Backstage Changes, Kenny Omega Update, Tues. Dynamite Show for October

Tony Schiavone Comments on AEW’s Recent Backstage Changes

A recent episode of the AEW Unrestricted podcast had co-host Tony Schiavone discuss his thoughts on AEW’s recent changes to their backstage management.

“My job is now Senior Producer and Special Advisor and Talent Relations. I love that special advisor role, it’s like, ‘Would you go advise him on something?’ I do a lot of running during the day, trying to talk to talent.

Basically, what I do [is] walk around during the day and ask people how they are doing and ask them if they’re happy, if there’s anything we can do to make it better and that’s very, very important. I think we’re really making good strides, I really do but I can tell you this, it’s a slow process.

I really think that of all the things that I do for this company, talent relations is the most important.”  

Schiavone also gave his thoughts on the process that led to the changes being made within AEW.

“He and I talked at the party and we talked flying back and I said, ‘Listen, I know your EVPs are the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, they wrestle and they have the final say on a lot of things. I said, ‘But I’d like to work closely with them and help out in any way I can.’ He was very receptive to it.

Then he brought us all in at Universal during a taping at Universal Studios and he says, ‘Guys, I really need your help. This company is going gangbusters but I feel that I can use you in these ways.’ And we said, ‘sure’ and then the announcement was made.

A lot of times things can get crazy in a negative way, that’s the way it happens in wrestling, but now we have the tools in place, the staff in place, to try to remedy that before it breaks bad. We’re not going to be perfect at it but I think we’re going to make it a better place to work, which has already been a great place to work.

Throughout the years in pro-wrestling, there have been a lot of people treated like s**t and we want to change that dynamic, we really, really do. You can’t please everybody and everybody wants to know what their creative is and what their vision is and there is so much to gather up that sometimes you just cannot give each individual person the attention he or she needs.

Now, I’m put in the position to help Tony out with that and let them know, ‘Hey, we care about you, here’s where you are, you’re a big part of this or you know what? You’re not a big part of this right now and here’s your role and just communicate, that’s all, communicate.”

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com


Backstage News on Kenny Omega’s Lengthy Injury Absence from AEW

As noted before, Kenny Omega made his surprise return from injury during Wednesday’s House of Dragon themed episode of AEW Dynamite. Omega had been out of action for AEW since this past November due to multiple injuries.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that Omega had tried but was unable to make his return in time for AEW’s co-promoted Forbidden Door event with New Japan Pro Wrestling this past June.

It was also reported that AEW’s tentative plans for July involving the Young Bucks were shifted several times due to the updates they received regarding Omega’s health status. This reportedly was the reason why plans for a Young Bucks vs. FTR match for the AEW World Tag Team Championship were dropped in favor of putting Omega and the Young Bucks in the AEW Trios Tag Team Championship tournament instead.

It was also reported that Omega had purposely kept himself hidden from the public during his time away rehabbing from injury. Omega reportedly also had an integral role in the development of AEW’s upcoming Fight Forever video game, which one source described Omega’s input as being “crucial.”


AEW Announced Tuesday Dynamite Show & Live Rampage Show for This October

AEW recently announced that they will be holding a special episode of AEW Dynamite on Tuesday, October 18th at the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tickets for this upcoming event was announced to officially go on sale starting on August 26th.

The reason for the special Tuesday date is due to that week’s episode of AEW Dynamite was preempted due to TBS’ MLB Playoffs commitments during AEW’s normal Wednesday night time slot for that night.

AEW also recently announced that they will be airing a live episode of AEW Rampage on Friday, October 28th at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Tickets for this upcoming event was also announced to officially on sale on August 26th.