AEW's Tony Schiavone Praises WWE's Michael Cole

The longtime wrestling commentators have found themselves on opposite sides of the industry's biggest rivalry.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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AEW commentator Tony Schiavone recently praised his WWE counterpart Michael Cole, acknowledging Cole's skill at calling matches and creating excitement for the audience. This is not the first time Schiavone has complimented Cole, despite the two being on opposite sides of the longstanding rivalry between their respective companies.

Why it matters

The praise between Schiavone and Cole is notable given the intense competition and perceived rivalry between AEW and WWE. It suggests that even top talents on opposing sides can recognize and respect each other's abilities, despite the corporate tensions.

The details

During a recent episode of his podcast "What Happened When", Schiavone relayed a story of hearing Cole call matches at the 2026 Royal Rumble. Schiavone was highly complimentary of Cole's skills, stating that he had to "walk away" because he didn't want to be influenced by Cole's style. Schiavone has praised Cole in the past, despite the two having never crossed paths professionally, as Schiavone's one-year stint in WWE ended seven years before Cole joined the company in 1997.

  • Schiavone's comments were made during a recent episode of his podcast "What Happened When".
  • The specific event Schiavone was referencing was the 2026 Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

The players

Tony Schiavone

A veteran wrestling commentator who currently works for AEW.

Michael Cole

The lead commentator for WWE, who has held that role for over 20 years.

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What they’re saying

“The other day, I guess...on Saturday, we were in Dallas, right? And somebody had the Royal Rumble on the phone, because it was early in the day, right? And I can hear Michael Cole call a match. And I remember thinking 'That f****r knows how to call a match, and he knows how to create excitement. But I've got to walk away from this, because I don't want to be [influenced] by Michael Cole.'”

— Tony Schiavone, AEW Commentator (What Happened When)

The takeaway

Despite the long-standing rivalry between AEW and WWE, the mutual respect and admiration between top talents like Schiavone and Cole suggests that the 'war' may not be as intense at the talent level as it is portrayed in the media. This speaks to the professionalism and camaraderie within the wrestling industry as a whole.