As reported by Wrestling Inc, Tony Schiavone has seen it all in the wrestling industry, including a number of talents using blood in their matches, otherwise known as “donning the crimson mask”. His thoughts on it has changed since the days of yesteryear. The legendary announcer joined co-host Conrad Thomspon for a watch along of two Undertaker matches on AdFreeShows.com, and the topic of blood gets discussed. Thompson spoke about how blood has changed for American sports since Magic Johnson came out as HIV positive in 1991, and the concept has bled over into the world of wrestling too. Schiavone was infatuated with blood in wrestling growing up as a fan, but today he realizes it’s not necessary.
“I’ve seen enough of it now (I’m on the different side of the camera now) to where I think sometimes it’s too much,” Schiavone said, recalling when he’d go to spot-shows that featured blood, growing up in Virginia. AEW has had its fair share of blood on its television product, but Schiavone notes that it’s an industry-wide issue that blading can be foreign territory for younger talent. “You see kids, I’ll call them kids who don’t have the experience of blading themselves as they should, and sometimes it’s too much blood because they don’t know how to do it,” he said.
Schiavone and Thomspon agree that their AdFreeShows.com colleague and wrestling legend Ric Flair has bladed himself at least a thousand times over the course of his career. Schiavone shares a story about one of “The Nature Boy’s” fellow Four Horsemen. One time Tully Blanchard came backstage after a fight and told Schiavone something a little alarming.
“Tully said, ‘F*cker hit me so hard, I almost swallowed my blade.’ He said that,” Schiavone laughed. “And of course, Tully used to wrap the blade up and put it in his mouth.”
Author Kurt Teale
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