Former WWE ring announcer Tony Chimel appeared on the Behind The Turnbuckle podcast with hosts Jonathan Coachman and Tommy Carlucci. Chimel was on the show to tell some stories about his career in the wrestling business. Chimel talked about his full-time job at Trader Joe’s and what he does for AEW.
Chimel said, “My main job now is I work at Trader Joe’s grocery store…I love that place and I love working there. I also work for AEW a couple times per month. I love working there as well. That still keeps me a little bit on the wrestling scene and a little bit on the road and stuff like that. I don’t travel the way I used to which I’m very happy about because I don’t want to. I love both gigs now that I’m doing.”
Chimel talked about his early days with the World Wrestling Federation when he and Joey Marella (Gorilla Monsoon’s son) helped to set up the ring. Chimel on his pay during those days: “When I first started, we were hired as employees. We had to go up to Stamford, Connecticut. We signed all the paperwork [and] we got hired by Titan Sports. Joey was making $20,000 a year and I was making $16,000 [in] November 1983. Then I remember a few years later when Joey got off the ring and was refereeing, I got to take over the ring truck and I was the head guy and I got to make the 20 grand.”
Chimel also talked about working with names like The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Edge and many others.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Behind The Turnbuckle with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
