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AEW fans have been speculating over Shane McMahon's potential move to the company ever since his reported departure from WWE. Vince McMahon's son was reportedly sent home following the disastrous booking of Royal Rumble 2022, which he was heavily involved in producing.
Shortly after the news hit, Tony Kahn announced that a major free agent would be showing up on Dynamite. While this turned out to be former NXT Champion Keith Lee, it didn't stop wrestling insiders from discussing the possibility that AEW might contact Shane O'Mac over a potential business partnership.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Khan said he'd take Shane McMahon's call if the possibility of signing him ever arose. The AEW President admitted it was almost impossible for that to happen, but concluded by saying that in wrestling, one can never say anything for sure:
“I’d certainly take the call. I’m sure he’d be an interesting person to talk to about wrestling. I’m not sure exactly if he'd be a fit. I haven't heard from him, and I don’t expect to hear from him, but in this business, you never know."
Shane McMahon's arrival at AEW would create tremendous buzz for the company. Here are three reasons why it'd be a great move and two reasons why it wouldn't.
#3. Why he should – Shane McMahon could appear as an on-screen authority figure in AEW
AEW lacks an on-screen authority figure pushing storylines forward on Dynamite and Rampage. Whether it's a General Manager or Commissioner, WWE has utilized this TV trope to great effect.
While it's common knowledge that Tony Khan heads the creative direction, he has mostly kept himself off-camera. Having an authority figure to announce matches and resolve conflicts opens up a ton of narrative opportunities.
Shane's no stranger to this role as he was a Commissioner on SmackDown in 2016, and was famously the leader of WCW and The Alliance in 2001. While he doesn't run the show behind the scenes, it'd be cool to see him interact with the AEW talents in this manner.
#2. Why he shouldn't – Shane McMahon could return to WWE
AEW is still relatively fresh in the eyes of wrestling fans. It's the first time there's a true alternative to WWE. Despite the supposed in-fighting between father and son, Shane's loyalty to his father's company is not in question.
Even if he does make the jump to Tony Khan's company, it feels like a short-term move. If the two McMahons manage to set aside their differences, Shane could return to WWE, where he has a history and legacy.
There's no reason why Tony Khan would want to sign Shane other than to stick it to his father. As for Shane O' Mac, his motivations for joining AEW will inevitably be questioned as soon as he walks through the doors.
#2. Why he should – Shane McMahon could wrestle sporadically in AEW
While no one's clamoring for Shane McMahon to wrestle full-time in 2022, he's still able to put on an entertaining match if used sparingly in sensible storylines.
At age 52, his daredevil ways might be over, but it could be interesting to see him face the likes of Bryan Danielson, Kenny Omega, and Chris Jericho in a legends bout. His name will have star value, and he'll be an attraction in any match he wrestles.
While his departure might put a stop to that, there are a plethora of young talents in AEW that he can give a rub to, such as TNT Champion Sammy Guevara and Darby Allin.
#1. Why he shouldn't – Shane McMahon carries the baggage of his last name
AEW fans and talent might not want McMahon to be associated with the company in any way. Regardless of Shane the person, his last name will count against him as it's intrinsically tied to WWE.
While Tony Khan is open to doing business with the younger McMahon if he were to reach out to the owner, there's so much baggage that it might not be a wise decision. Family ties will always trump company loyalties, so Shane will have an uphill task to prove that he's fighting for the good of AEW and not just treating the potential signing as a way to get back at his old man. It has to be for the right reasons for this partnership to work.
#1. Why he should – Shane McMahon could excel in a backstage role in AEW
On the latest episode of The Bro Show, Vince Russo, who has experience working with Shane in the Attitude Era, assured him that he never faced any issues with him during his time there:
"I was in a position as the head writer. I worked with a lot of people in management that were on TV. And bro, a couple of people really made it all about them. They were very overbearing, constantly talking about what they were doing, not caring about the rest of the roster. I got to tell you, both Vince [McMahon] and Shane [McMahon] never made it about them. We would write the show and say 'Shane, this is what I need you to do', 'Vince, this is what I need you to do'. You would tell them one time, and that would be it. So when people are talking about Shane and his ego, that's not the Shane I knew, I can tell you that based on experience."
Before the recent drama, Shane's reputation seemed to be well-liked by wrestlers and officials alike. He could be an asset to Tony Khan in a corporate sense if given the right role. His business acumen shouldn't be underestimated.
His vast experience and wrestling knowledge could help AEW grow. Essentially, he can carry out Triple H's role as an EVP and help scout talent or run programming for Dynamite/Rampage. The possibilities are endless.
