AEW commentator Tony Schiavone has admitted that he initially had concerns about the company’s experimental Clockwork Carnage match at WrestleDream 2026, revealing that even those working behind the scenes were unsure how the concept would unfold.
The eight-man main event took place at the October 17 pay-per-view and featured AEW World Champion Will Ospreay defending his title against Samoa Joe, Adam Copeland, Ricochet, Kazuchika Okada, Darby Allin, Konosuke Takeshita, and Mike Bailey.
The match introduced an elimination and points-based format, with Ospreay ultimately retaining the AEW World Championship.
Speaking on a recent episode of his What Happened When podcast, Schiavone explained that the unusual stipulation created uncertainty backstage despite meetings being held to explain the rules. “I didn’t know what to expect [from the match]. Nobody did, nobody. We’re in the back, we’ve had meetings, we’ve been told what’s going to go on…but we still didn’t know what to expect, and I’m thinking ‘this could really not turn out too good.’”
Although Schiavone entered the match with reservations, his opinion changed after watching the action unfold.
The veteran commentator praised the execution of the concept and highlighted the dramatic moments that developed during the closing stages. “But I thought it was good. I thought it was very good, and I thought there was a lot of drama.”
Schiavone explained that while he appreciates impressive athletic performances and technical wrestling, he places just as much importance on the emotional investment and storytelling that make a match compelling. “I love matches where guys do a lot of great spots and can work and sell, and all the things that go in to make a good match, but I love the drama. I thought we had a lot of drama at the end of that match, and I thought that (Clockwork Carnage) was very, very good.”
Despite his positive assessment, Schiavone acknowledged that he had not followed the online reaction to the match and was unaware of how fans had responded to the new stipulation. “So I enjoyed it, I don’t know how it was received online, because I don’t look.”
While Schiavone initially questioned whether the Clockwork Carnage concept would translate successfully to a pay-per-view main event, he ultimately came away impressed by the drama and execution.
His comments offer a behind-the-scenes perspective on AEW’s decision to introduce the new match format, particularly the uncertainty surrounding how it would play out in front of a live audience.
