Tony Schiavone has addressed his recent absence from AEW Dynamite, which had fueled fan speculation about a potential suspension following a social media incident involving NJPW announcer Chris Charlton.
During the January 8 episode of Dynamite, Schiavone was notably missing from the commentary desk. Excalibur was joined by Matt Menard and Ian Riccaboni instead. This absence came after a contentious week in wrestling circles, as Charlton was reportedly suspended for calling Tony Khan a “money mark” and criticizing AEW’s booking of NJPW stars like Jay White, Kazuchika Okada, and Will Ospreay.
Schiavone defend TK on social media, posting a sharp response telling Charlton to “GFY” and suggesting he shower more often.
The post was quickly deleted, but the timing of Schiavone’s disappearance led to rumors that he had been disciplined for his remarks.
Why Has Tony Schiavone Been Off AEW TV?
Schiavone addressed the situation on his What Happened When podcast, explaining that his absence was due to a family matter. Adding his trademark humor, he playfully dismissed the rumors. Schiavone shared that his wife had undergone hip surgery and was discharged from the hospital the same day as Dynamite. In his characteristic joking style, he quipped about prioritizing work over family:
As a matter of fact, she got out of the hospital on Wednesday, so I just let her walk home from the hospital instead of picking her up, and I went to TV and got suspended. But she made it home about six hours later with her walker on 285 in Atlanta.”
Tony Schiavone explains his absense from AEW
Schiavone’s clarification ends speculation about any disciplinary action, confirming that his absence was entirely unrelated to backstage drama. The veteran announcer continues to manage his personal commitments alongside his role at AEW.
\"What Happened When\" is a comedy-packed retro wrestling podcast hosted by Tony Schiavone and Conrad Thompson. Catch new episodes every Wednesday at 6 a.m. ET on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or the Cumulus Podcast Network.
