While it’s usually difficult to separate reality from fiction in the world of professional wrestling, wrestlers and bookers often use real life instances as storyline fuel. Real life experiences tend to lead to better storylines and believable storylines. One of the current ones in AEW that has a lot of people scratching their heads is Britt Baker referring to Tony Schiavone as a “sh-tty barista” in a recent heel turn. As luck would have it, Tony Schiavone was a barista for Starbucks and so much more.
A solid career
We all remember Tony Schiavone as the lead voice of WCW during the Monday Night Wars, but he also worked for the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance(, specifically for Jim Crockett Promotions that would eventually be bought and become WCW.
He worked a year with the WWE (April 1989- April 1990). During that time, he worked mainly on the smaller broadcasts and produced WWE VHS recordings (Coliseum Video). His two big broadcasts were the 1989 SummerSlam and the 1990 Royal Rumble with Jesse “The Body” Ventura.
He went to work for WCW and Turner Broadcasting from 1990 to 2001.
Things change
According to ringsidenews.com and various interviews, Tony Schiavone could’ve stayed with the WWE, but Stamford, Connecticut was too expensive to live in. so he had to go elsewhere.
About a week into his WCW tenure, he regretted the move after seeing what the Turner Broadcasting System had done to the former Jim Crockett Promotions, and contacted McMahon about getting his old job back. Vince declined so Schiavone wouldn’t have to move his young family again, but he was open to working with Schiavone in the future.
Schiavone recently spoke about wanting a change of pace and to do something new following the Monday Night Wars. From Why It Ended and ringsidenews.com:
“I started working for Starbucks because I had some extra time. Not because I was desperate and needed money, but I love Starbucks and I had extra time on my hands and I thought, ‘You know what, I’m gonna give it a shot.’ And I did it for 15 months and thoroughly enjoyed it and you know what the hell?
“I mean look, Tony Schiavone never ever, never ever shied away from doing work. I always rolled up my sleeves and worked harder than anybody and the fact that you’d see me at Starbucks working the window or mopping the floors or whatever, what the hell? Why not? So I really enjoyed it for 15 months then I got so busy with the Georgia Bulldogs and doing baseball and then started doing the podcast and doing appearances and things like that that I just told Starbucks ‘I just don’t have time for it, I’m sorry.’
“But the fact that you know that somebody says, ‘Oh Tony went to work at Starbucks because he’s desperate.’ No, Tony went to work for Starbucks because he always wanted to give it a try and he had some time to do it.”
His reasoning is definitely understandable, but I’m glad to have him back in the wrestling broadcasting booth. He has a distinct voice that’s engaging and relaxing to hear. He doesn’t take over a broadcast with cutesy or funny one-liners, but keeps it grounded. Having him with Jim Ross is an added bonus.
Definitely more to Tony Schiavone the barista than we knew.
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