The “war” between AEW and WWE could also be raging on stronger than ever nowadays, though it continues to probably not exist at a talent level, with many wrestlers on each side of the aisle wishing the most effective for the others. Most recently, that was best articulated by AEW announcer Tony Schiavone in his attitude towards considered one of his WWE counterparts, Michael Cole.
During last week’s episode of “What Happened When,” Schiavone relayed a story of hearing Cole call matches to Conrad Thompson, and was highly complimentary of Cole’s ability, to the purpose he was apprehensive he would begin to emulate Cole if he listened to him for too long.
“The opposite day, I assume…on Saturday, we were in Dallas, right?” Schiavone said. “And anyone had the Royal Rumble on the phone, since it was early within the day, right? And I can hear Michael Cole call a match. And I remember pondering ‘That f****r knows how one can call a match, and he knows how one can create excitement. But I’ve got to walk away from this, because I don’t desire to be [influenced] by Michael Cole.'”
This just isn’t the primary time Schiavone has praised Cole, having previously done so during a 2024 episode of “What Happened When.” Though the 2 have seemingly never crossed paths during their careers, with Schiavone’s one yr run in WWE ending seven years before Cole joined the promotion in 1997, Schiavone and Cole have often found themselves on opposite sides of the wrestling war. Along with their duties now in WWE and AEW, the 2 were key commentary figures during late 90s, when Cole found himself as considered one of the highest broadcasters in WWE, while Schiavone was the top commentator for “WCW Monday Nitro.”
In case you use any of the quotes in this text, please credit “What Happened When” and supply a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription