The May 6 episode of AEW Dynamite opened with an emotional tribute to late media icon Ted Turner following news of his passing at the age of 87 earlier in the day.

Turner played a historic role in professional wrestling through his ownership of WTBS, WCW, TNT, and TBS, helping bring wrestling to national cable television for decades.

Ted Turner Tribute Opens AEW Dynamite

Tony Schiavone opened the broadcast by speaking directly to viewers about Turner’s importance to the wrestling industry and his personal passion for the business.

Schiavone described Turner as “someone that changed pro wrestling forever” and praised the former media mogul for believing in wrestling, its audience, and its place on national television.

He also reflected on his own history working on Turner networks and credited Tony Khan for continuing wrestling’s legacy on TNT and TBS through AEW.

“Through Tony Khan’s leadership, wrestling still survives. We are here today because of him,” Schiavone said.

Schiavone then introduced Sting, who made a surprise appearance. It marked Sting’s first AEW appearance since he was present for Darby Allin winning the AEW World Championship last month.

Sting entered the arena in full face paint but without entrance music as the arena remained focused on the tribute.

During his speech, Sting spoke about his long relationship with Turner and how important he was to both wrestling and the careers of many performers.

“Both Tony and I knew Big Ted very well,” Sting said, adding that Turner made it possible for him and Schiavone to share four decades together in wrestling.

Sting also praised Turner’s dedication to the industry.

“Can you imagine an all-in billionaire that loved pro wrestling?” Sting asked the crowd.

He recalled Turner defending wrestling within the Turner organization and joked that Turner would tell executives at CNN Tower that he had “some deep pockets” whenever people attempted to push wrestling off television.

Sting then thanked Turner once more and said there would be no TNT Championship, no Sting, and no Darby Allin without him. He also referenced Tony Khan as “a second all-in billionaire keeping wrestling going.”

Following the speeches, Sting and Schiavone remained in the ring for a ten-bell salute as the screen faded to black before Dynamite officially began.

Turner’s influence on wrestling history remains enormous, particularly through the rise of World Championship Wrestling and the Monday Night Wars era that changed the industry forever.

Sting And Tony Schiavone Pay Tribute To Ted Turner On AEW Dynamite

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