Tony Schiavone was originally scheduled to present CM Punk’s AEW debut

Image: AEW

In the latest What Happened When podcast with Conrad Thompson, AEW announcer Tony Schiavone gave some behind-the-scenes details about CM Punk’s arrival last Friday on Rampage, including a scrapped plan that allegedly saw him be the first person to introduce it.

Schiavone said Tony Khan texted him after they were on the show and that he was considering introducing him to Punk. Schiavone said he would be honored, but wanted everything he said to be minimal. After Punk arrived, they discussed it and determined that it would be best if Punk did it alone.

However, Punk said he wanted Schiavone to conduct his interview with him on Wednesday in Dynamite in a traditional style and not pull the microphone out of his hands like others have.

In the build-up to Rampage, including when the team was reviewing the rundown, Punk was only referred to as a “special guest.” Punk’s locker room that night also only said “special guest.”

When Punk arrived he had several people with him including Lou D’Angeli (Sign Guy Dudley in ECW) and another person Thompson suggested to Schiavone not to say because he might be in trouble for it. Schiavone said Punk was a great guy behind the scenes, which Thompson agreed to, recapping their experience at Starrcast.

Punk told Schiavone he wasn’t sure what to say or how, but that he had a lot on his mind. The only thing he was asked to say or arrange was the Darby Allin match for All Out.

Schiavone said he was next to Khan in the starting position when Punk came out and everyone in the back came out to watch the promo unfold, including Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks, so they can feel it behind the curtain. Afterwards, everyone was excited, including female champion Britt Baker who was thrilled that Punk had mentioned her name during the promo.

Later, a group of people including Khan and his girlfriend, Punk and his entourage, Britt Baker, Rebel, Schiavone, Orange Cassidy and Jeff Jones went to dinner around midnight. Schiavone said he stayed awake all night because he got back to his hotel so late and had a flight at 5.30am, but it was such an important moment that he was so excited.

Schiavone said it was a top-five moment for him and joked with Khan about send the tweet that it was the biggest night in the history of the sport that Khan wholeheartedly supported.