In a recent episode of his podcast “What Happened When,” Tony Schiavone, a renowned broadcaster for AEW, shared his thoughts on the vital role house shows play in wrestling.
Here are some key takeaways from the podcast:
Discussing his experiences at WCW house shows, Schiavone said, “I’ve conducted a lot of house shows as the ring announcer. The atmosphere at a house show is unique on many fronts. The guys think ‘This might get televised, so it doesn’t feel like a typical house show’ when cameras are present. However, it was always a fantastic experience to join the team at a non-televised show away from the normal TV setup. I was a part of countless such shows during the JCP era and absolutely adored them.”
Schiavone discussed the distinctive qualities of house shows, saying, “I do miss house shows, I won’t deny it. They have this different energy, a certain thrill. Wrestlers approach them differently. House shows have become a long-lost art form of sorts. Take college football, for instance. It’s not merely a game nowadays; it is a television spectacle. TV and streaming services have drastically altered everything, thanks to the colossal amounts of money they’re pouring into sports. The current state of college football is largely due to the enormous investments by networks like ESPN, CBS, and Fox, FS1.”
He continued, “The way sports are consumed has changed significantly. Back in the day, they didn’t take all these television timeouts as they do now. Why? Because that’s where the money lies. The same is true for wrestling. The main income for house shows comes from gate receipts or if someone has paid for a show. Television brings the ad revenue.”
The episode “What Happened When: WCW In the UK” can be watched here, featuring more exciting discussions.