Tony Schiavone, Augusta County native and AEW TV commentator, was noticeably missing from last night’s edition of “Dynamite,” but it reportedly wasn’t because of his graphic social media takedown of a New Japan announcing talent from over the weekend.
“It was just a family situation,” reported Dave Meltzer, the editor of the Wrestling Observer newsletter.
Schiavone, a Buffalo Gap High School and JMU alum, who got his start in broadcasting at Staunton’s WTON, tweeted, and since deleted, a response to commentary on the “Wrestle Dynasty” pay-per-view over the weekend from Chris Charlton, who, in character, played up the rivalry between the New Japan and AEW promotions.
Charlton, in commentary during the show, referred to AEW president Tony Khan as a “money mark,” and criticized AEW’s booking of several former New Japan stars.
The comments from Charlton led to New Japan announcing a two-month suspension for Charlton, though, this being the wrestling business, it’s not entirely clear if the suspension is real or a work.
It had better be a work; otherwise our guy TK has even thinner skin than we’d previously thought.
Schiavone, in his now-deleted tweet, directed Charlton to “GFY” – shorthand for “go f–k yourself,” adding, “speaking for all of us who have been around you, take a shower once in a while.”
It’s not clear if Schiavone was working here, or if he was genuinely upset, and unaware that Charlton was working.
Anyway, Schiavone’s absence from the commentary desk last night wasn’t the result of action having been taken against him.
At least, that’s what Dave Meltzer is saying.
Gotta be careful about taking anything Dave Meltzer says as being 100 percent gospel truth.
Nothing personal there aimed at Dave: it’s just, it’s wrestling.
“He’s fine, he’ll be back, I presume, on Saturday [for Collision]. It’s not anything to be alarmed over. He missed one show,” Meltzer said.
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