Tony Schiavone Hopes AEW Makes Hammerstein Ballroom Shows a Yearly Tradition

Tony Schiavone isn’t shy about sharing his love for AEW’s debut at the iconic Hammerstein Ballroom.

Speaking on his What Happened When podcast, Schiavone reflected on AEW’s event-packed weekend at the legendary venue, including AEW Christmas Collision and a special Dynamite/Rampage taping, as well as ROH Final Battle.

“I didn’t know what to expect because I’d never been there before,” Schiavone admitted, but he was blown away by the energy in the historic New York City venue. “Of course I knew about wrestling events being there, and of course ECW being there. I thought we had a great crowd, I thought we had a crowd that was responsive to everything that we did.”

Despite the Hammerstein’s compact size and logistical challenges, Schiavone praised how well AEW made it work. “Regardless of what I had heard about, ‘Well, it’s a very small venue, and there’s not much room to gather or many locker room spaces,’ it worked. It worked for all of us on many, many levels.”

Schiavone also gushed about the rich history of the Hammerstein, calling it a “legendary ballroom” that’s been home to more than just wrestling over the years. “It was the first time I’d ever been at the Manhattan Center. It was a wonderful experience for us, and I thought we gave them some very good matches.”

So, could AEW’s Hammerstein Ballroom shows become an annual event? Schiavone is all in on the idea. “Long answer, yes, I think it’s something that we can do every year, and I hope we can.”

Whether AEW locks in the Hammerstein Ballroom as a yearly tradition or keeps fans guessing, one thing’s for sure—the energy in that historic venue is unmatched. Tony Schiavone’s excitement says it all: this could be the start of something special for AEW and its fans.