Real Reason Tony Schiavone Missed AEW Dynamite

By Andy H Murray / January 9, 2025

Tony Schiavone's absence from Wednesday's AEW Dynamite was unrelated to a since-deleted tweet telling NJPW announcer Chris Charlton to "GFY."

ROH's Ian Riccaboni occupied Schiavone's usual role as an announcer and in-ring interviewer on Dynamite, with the company line being that Tony was "away on assignment." This came just two days after the Charlton tweet, creating speculation that the two things were related.

This is not the case. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that Schiavone missed Dynamite due to a "family situation," and assumed that he'll be back for Saturday's Collision. Meltzer added that the situation wasn't "anything to be alarmed about."

The Chris Charlton controversy began during the NJPW X AEW Wrestle Dynasty event on 5 January. On English commentary for NJPW, the analyst called AEW owner Tony Khan a "money mark," criticising the American promotion for how it had handled the various ex-New Japan wrestlers it has signed over the years.

Most of Charlton's passionate comments came during Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd. While they may not have been out of place for a heel colour commentator, this typically hasn't been Chris' role in New Japan, where he is typically tasked with adding context and providing extra analysis for English-speaking viewers. Thus, the "money mark" comment, in particular, was jarring.

Charlton has since been suspended from NJPW for two months.

On 6 January, Tony Schiavone posted - and quickly deleted - the following tweet:

"Hey @reasonJP speaking for all of us in AEW, GFY. And speaking for all of us who have been around you, take a shower once in a while."

The post was barely up for two minutes before Schiavone deleted it.

On a post-Wrestle Dynasty WOR, Meltzer reported that people in NJPW were "very unhappy" with the situation. Takaaki Kidani, a director for NJPW parent company Bushiroad, was "furious" primarily for Charlton disrespecting a business partner in AEW.