Butts In Seats: The Tony Schiavone Story

The Rated R Superstar Adam Copeland recounts his surprise debut at AEW WrestleDream, and shares how he passed the time while hiding out near the venue before his entrance. He talks about guerilla-filming his intro vignette with Darby Allin around the Seattle area, how they secured the muscle car, and why it was so important for him to debut with his “Metalingus” theme music. Adam also shares how his acting career has helped his return to wrestling, how the pandemic influenced his in-ring storytelling and promos, and who in the AEW locker room he’s most looking forward to working with. He also comments on the TNT Championship, Sting, moves versus memories, and that hockey fight during his I Quit match with Christian Cage. AEW Unrestricted video episodes available Mondays at 1pm Pacific on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ4e4Lb87XTzETPZyj7nZoJ4xPBjKdzgy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AEW Dynasty is this Sunday, April 21st live from the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri! The stacked card features an epic showdown between Current AEW World Champion Samoa Joe and Swerve Strickland, and Swerve explains his confidence going into this match, and the work he’s done in preparation to ensure he walks away with title in hand. Willow Nightingale has plenty to say about challenging Julia Hart for the TBS Championship, and all that Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway have done to support her quest for championship gold. She also comments on new friends Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston and ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe. Plus, there’s discussion about the AEW World Tag Team Championship and The Young Bucks and FTR’s quests to become 3x champs; Roderick Strong defending the AEW International Championship against longtime friend Kyle O’Reilly who recently made his triumphant return to AEW; PAC challenging Kazuchika Okada for the AEW Continental Championship; and the dream match between Bryan Danielson and Will Ospreay. And there’s a special message from a very special VIP guest. AEW Unrestricted video episodes available Mondays at 1pm Pacific on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ4e4Lb87XTzETPZyj7nZoJ4xPBjKdzgy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AEW EVP and Head of Global Production Mike Mansury shares a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring AEW to your TV screens every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday! He also details Revolution and the preparation and care that went into Sting’s final match and retirement, including his sons’ involvement in the show, the archival footage of Surfer Sting from New Japan, and making sure Dr. Martha Hart felt comfortable with Sting doing one final repel into the ring! Mike talks about his first-time in the director’s chair, his headset style, his relationship with Tony Khan, working with the other EVPs, Nicholas and Matthew Jackson, producing a live stadium pay-per-view in another country (All In London), and Mercedes Mone’s electric debut in Boston. Plus, Mike reveals what inspired the throwback branding for Dynamite200 as well as the new set designs for AEW Dynamite and Collision for 2024. AEW Unrestricted video episodes available Mondays at 1pm Pacific on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ4e4Lb87XTzETPZyj7nZoJ4xPBjKdzgy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s Billie Starkz versus Queen Aminata for the inaugural ROH Women’s Television Championship at Supercard of Honor tomorrow, Friday, April 5th in Philadelphia, and Billie joins to talk about the importance of the championship and what it would mean for her to be the first-ever title holder! Billie talks about her AEW debut on Dark and how that eventually led to her signing, how & when she found out she was challenging Jade Cargill for the TBS Championship at Battle Of The Belts VI, and what it was like to be a competitor in the first-ever Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament. She also details her storyline with Athena, what inspired the whole minion storyline, and how she managed to keep a straight face in the ring when Lexy Nair became the valedictorian at the minion graduation ceremony. Plus, Billie talks about starting her pro wrestling training at the age of 13, balancing high school and her wrestling career, and what she learned (and loved) about wrestling in Japan. AEW Unrestricted video episodes available Mondays at 1pm Pacific on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ4e4Lb87XTzETPZyj7nZoJ4xPBjKdzgy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Queen Aminata speaks 4 languages, has a Masters degree in Private International Law, and is the first-ever African born woman to be signed to a major wrestling company! Aminata shares the story of how she came to the United States, what made her want to pursue wrestling, how her culture and homeland inspired her character, and why her AEW signing made her cry. She talks about her friendship with Skye Blue, wrestling in Japan, and the life lessons she’s learned from Kobe Bryant! AEW Unrestricted video episodes available Mondays at 1pm Pacific on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ4e4Lb87XTzETPZyj7nZoJ4xPBjKdzgy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harley Cameron has some specific opinions when it comes to cutlery on live TV (knifey-spoony, anyone?), and a few theories on how she ended up at AEW so quickly after deciding to become a wrestler! She talks about training with Shawn Spears, the AEW Dark match that led to her signing, developing her original AEW character to take on The Acclaimed, and bringing both her rap and flirting skills to the ring! Harley also talks about learning from Billy Gunn, honing her comedy chops, and adapting her professional singing career experience to work in a wrestling ring! Plus, Harley shares the story behind teaming up with Saraya, how she and Mariah May became besties in real life, and what led to her performing comedy bits on the Jericho Cruise with Colt Cabana and RJ City! AEW Unrestricted video episodes available Mondays at 1pm Pacific on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ4e4Lb87XTzETPZyj7nZoJ4xPBjKdzgy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bryan Keith is ripping faces off at AEW! The Houston native recalls his first AEW opportunity in Texas in a match against former AEW World Heavyweight Champ Hangman Adam Page, and the role that Top Flight’s Darius Martin played in making that happen. He talks about his introduction to wrestling, training at PWA with Booker T, the evolution of his Bounty Hunter character, and the Sammy Davis, Jr. television role that inspired it. Bryan also speaks to his Swishahouse sponsorship, his love of Japanese wrestling, his recent trip to Japan to work for DDT, and the first time he met Bryan Danielson. AEW Unrestricted video episodes available Mondays at 1pm Pacific on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ4e4Lb87XTzETPZyj7nZoJ4xPBjKdzgy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnny Loves Taya, starring Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie, is the new, original scripted comedy series running on AEW’s YouTube Channel. Taya & Johnny explain what inspired the idea, how they pitched it to AEW, and what it’s been like to film. They talk about their puppy co-stars Presley and Bowie, shark parties, parkour injuries, Bearicane, John’s Hot Girl Valet era, and why they chose to base everything on their real lives! They also share stories about the Johnny Loves Taya theme song, the rom-com marketing posters, Slam Town, ROH, Dalton Castle, Killswitch, RJ City, Johnny Valkyrie, and amazing exits! Watch new episodes of Johnny Loves Taya every Wednesday at 9am: https://t.co/kib8AKKeNd AEW Unrestricted video episodes available Mondays at 1pm Pacific on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ4e4Lb87XTzETPZyj7nZoJ4xPBjKdzgy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AEW Revolution is this Sunday, March 3rd live at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina! The history-making card features Sting’s final match of his career, an epic battle between newly-All Elite Will Ospreay and Konosuke Takeshita, and many AEW championships on the line! Current AEW World Champion Samoa Joe joins to preview his big title defense in a three-way match against Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland. He also comments on Sting’s extraordinary career and legacy. Daniel Garcia has plenty to say about his upcoming bid for the TNT Championship against The Patriarchy’s Christian Cage, and the role that “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard has played in his life and career. And The American Dragon Bryan Danielson has a few choice words for Eddie Kingston ahead of his challenge for Eddie’s Continental Crown Championship. Plus, there’s discussion about AEW International Champ Orange Cassidy defending his title against Roderick Strong, Deonna Purrazzo’s chances at capturing the AEW Women’s World Title from “Timeless” Toni Storm, and FTR versus the Blackpool Combat Club. AEW Unrestricted video episodes available Mondays at 1pm Pacific on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ4e4Lb87XTzETPZyj7nZoJ4xPBjKdzgy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sting’s FINAL match of his career is Sunday, March 3rd at AEW Revolution, and in honor of the bittersweet milestone, Ref Aubrey & Will Washington take a look back at some of their favorite Sting matches at AEW. They share some great behind-the-scenes stories and memories about Sting’s AEW debut at Winter Is Coming in December 2020, his first AEW Revolution appearance in 2021 when he and Darby Allin took on Team Taz in that incredible cinematic match, the important Double or Nothing 2021 match against The Men of The Year, and the Sting & Darby vs Jericho & Sammy Guevara ladder match. They also reveal what Sting has meant to AEW as a company, and the locker room specifically, and the importance of AEW Revolution 2024 taking place at Greensboro, North Carolina. AEW Unrestricted video episodes available Mondays at 1pm Pacific on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ4e4Lb87XTzETPZyj7nZoJ4xPBjKdzgy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices