“Vince wanted me to come there to fire me,” AEW personality suspects malicious intent behind Vince McMahon wanting to sign him in 2019

AEW personality Tony Schiavone previously worked for Vince McMahon in 1990 for a short one-year stint.

“Vince wanted me to come there to fire me,” AEW personality suspects malicious intent behind Vince McMahon wanting to sign him in 2019

Tony Schiavone suspects Vince McMahon wanted to fire him (via WrestleTalk/Wrestling News)

Tony Schiavone is a well-respected veteran of the professional wrestling industry. The on-screen figure is currently signed to AEW, often working as an interviewer and commentator for the company. Recently, Schiavone revealed that he suspected Vince McMahon after the chairman offered to sign him in 2019. 

While speaking on the What Happened When podcast, he reminisced about the time he was an announcer during the Royal Rumble in 1990. Interestingly, Schiavone worked for McMahon for a year before leaving for his then-rival promotion, WCW.

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Vince wanted to hire me to keep me away from this upstart company AEW. COVID happened, they cut back, why not cut back on one of the newest guys that just arrived? There is no question I would have been let go.
Tony Schiavone on why Vince McMahon wanted to hire him

Despite that, there was no animosity between the pair, who remained in touch. However, when WWE offered the veteran a second stint, he suspected Vince of malicious intent. According to the AEW personality, McMahon wanted to hire him to keep him away from the Jacksonville-based company.

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Tony Schiavone has proved to be a pivotal figure on-screen and behind the scenes for AEW. The 66-year-old also works as a senior producer for the company’s live events. Needless to say, Schiavone has found peace with his current job and may have ‘dodged a bullet’ when he declined Vince McMahon’s offer in 2019.

Obviously, this might come as a shock to many fans. However, Vince McMahon has a history of showing no remorse when it comes to releasing WWE talent. The chairman was heavily criticized for firing several personalities during the COVID pandemic. Furthermore, this came at a time when the Stamford-based promotion displayed record profits.

When Vince McMahon humiliated Jeff Jarrett on national television

Without a doubt, Vince McMahon is one of the most significant figures in professional wrestling. As a result, the chairman has had to make some harsh decisions throughout his career. Therefore, the 78-year-old is portrayed as a real-life villain, which played well into his on-screen persona as well. Most notably, when he bought World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 2001. Moreover, McMahon’s first step in owning his former rival’s promotion was to publicly fire Jeff Jarrett.

Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon (via WWE)

The former Intercontinental Champion had left WWE in 1999, demanding a six-figure payment from his boss. After the latter reluctantly paid the sum, Jarret became a hated man backstage. Therefore, McMahon decided to exact his revenge a couple of years later, humiliating him on national television.

The animosity between the two men was later resolved years later when Jarrett was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Needless to say, Vince McMahon sent a message on the night he fired JJ after purchasing WCW.

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