5 Major twists in Shane McMahon's return to WWE

Will Shane be sent to hell or will he find an escape route (image courtesy WhatCulture)The Prodigal Son returning to his homestead, being welcomed by his family with open arms, a great celebration, blah blah ,yeah yeah, Tarzan music. This is a stark reimagining of the Parable. One where the lost child comes back to spit in the father’s face before seizing his fiefdom and spitting in the elder (younger) sibling’s face too.Shane McMahon’s return was one of the best in years. It made up for the lack of surprise entrants in the Royal Rumble and the subsequent Fastlane which kicked and sputtered to reach mediocrity. For all the flak they’ve received over the last few months, WWE Creative pulled off a master stroke by introducing this storyline. Not only will the WWE Universe gobble it up and crave more, but the genuine animosity between Stephanie, Shane and Vince will be the wonder fuel that keeps the engine steaming its way to much needed ratings.Like the toughest boss in the last level of a video game, Vince McMahon stands guffawing at Shane-O trying to pull off the unimaginable by taking out his underboss (sorry), the Undertaker. Or does he?

#5 Shane vs Triple H

There’s no way the Undertaker could or should lose to Shane McMahon at WrestleMania 32, the question of would being mooted for our present purposes. So Simba and the Deadman put on a hellraising show, with both busted open and Shane showing off some off that Muay Thai he’s been working on with Phil Nurse.

But like Judgement Day being inevitable, Taker cannot be stopped, and he lays Shane to rest in the center of the ring. The Deadman sets the record for the most number of Hell in a Cell matches won (14) and looks down at the pulp that he just beat. Taker stands Shane up and just when it seems like he’ll atomize him and turn heel like it’s been rumored, he raises Shane’s hand, acknowledging the fight in him.

Shane-O, reinvigorated by the recognition from a legend, tells the Universe he isn’t done, and that he wants to take out of the desert and into the Promised Land. He shows up at Vince’s gates once again, only to be met by his brother-in-law, Triple H.

The Game tells Shane that there’s no chance in hell that he’ll give up control of the lion’s share of the business he’s poured himself into over the years and brings out his troops. But Shane’s got reinforcements of his own; the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Y2AJ etc.

So with each side equally armed to the teeth, the generals decide a duel to the death is the apt decider. A hardcore match at Payback, perhaps?

#4 Shane\'s army

It’s a well known fact that TNA’s coffers are empty and the company’s up for sale. They’ll be loath to sign on the dotted line on a contract from the WWE, but that doesn’t mean the talent can’t disinvest themselves and make the move to the WWE.

Three of TNA’s erstwhile biggest names in AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Austin Aries have already transitioned with great success so why can’t the others? Especially in the case of a brand split?

So Shane loses, Undertaker’s record extends in his favour and the Deadman raises Shane’s hand after the match in respect, thereby putting him more over. Shane walks off dejected as it seems like a black hole suddenly opened up over the AT&T Center and drained all the spirit out of the audience.

RAW next morning, Vince McMahon turns up to gloat, saying how his master plan worked perfectly and how Shane lost the only opportunity for control of RAW. Interruption. ‘Here comes the money’ rings out and Shane hobbles out, saying that despite getting the beating of his life at the hands of the Undertaker, he’s not throwing in the towel yet.

Shane-O says that Vince has won just one battle and that there’s a whole war left to fight. Shane brings out his army – ex-TNA members like Drew Galloway, EC3, James Storm, the Hardy Boyz, Bobby Roode, Lashley and Tyrus to name few, and declares war on papa McMahon for control of the WWE.

Vince could enlist the likes of the League Of Nations, the Dudleys and few others for the battle for the WWE. The bigger picture is the brand split everyone’s talking about. Shane should lose the power struggle and instead reform SmackDown, because being spoilt for choice is never a bad thing.

#3 The Roman-McMahon Dynasty

With an aging Cena being out of commission more frequently, the WWE has found his (would be) successor. Vince’s bias to big, muscled alpha-males is no secret, except that very few of them have had the charisma under the layers and layers of muscle.

And Roman Reigns is no exception. Setting aside his mic skills that are doomed to forever be a work in progress, the best the WWE could do is to increase his wrestling skill set. Or could they?

Though it sounds light years from credulity, what if Shane beat the Deadman with a little help from Reigns (a bonafide WTF moment) and took control of RAW? The Samoan Superman beats Triple H and begins his rumoured long reign, but as a heel and hand-in-glove with Shane McMahon.

This turns out to be just the historically proven shot-in-the-arm that Reigns’ character needed, and at some point, he will turn face after dropping the title to someone. And it would also create room to work in not a brand split, but a war of two factions.

#2 Bulletproof Balor Club

He has an aura to match that of the Undertaker

Cut to after the sepulchral organ and smoke and the lights come on. The Undertaker makes his first appearance on RAW in the new year. After the longer than usual feting, the Phenom speaks.

In a voice like one emanating from the top of Mount Olympus, ‘Taker asks Vince how dare he assumes that he’d be a pawn in his power struggle. The Phenom, who owns one of the most legendary legacies in history, turn wilful henchman?

Not a chance, after a brief moment where the Undertaker sports an expression that prompts us to imagine smoke and fire billowing from his nostrils, he tells Vince that he will do exactly the opposite and champion Shane instead.

The roof is blown off the arena! After the roar dies down, ‘No chance’ blares out across the arena and to everyone’s astonishment, Vinny Mac swaggers out. He says he hasn’t made it to where he is without being prepared and grins ear-to-ear as he reveals his ‘Plan B’ – The Balor Bulletproof Club.

Vince, reeking of narcissism, yells that he will beat the Undertaker’s defiance out of him in a 3-on-1 handicap tag match. The obligatory interference from Vince and Shane is of course, expected, and Balor, Gallows and Anderson are introduced as the newest bad boys in town. Shouldn’t be too bad. Remember the last time there was an NXT invasion?

#1 McMahon vs McMahon

The ultimate decider. Father vs Son. The craggy old lion against the swaggering new threat. Following Undertaker’s aforementioned defiance and a Nelson Muntz-esque ‘haha’ from both Shane and the Universe, Vinny Mac has to save face.

And being the megalomaniac he is, the CEO of the WWE, spittle flying from his mouth that’s contorted like a Brothers Grimm witch, screams that he’ll be only too glad to give Shane one more beating like he did back in the day.

And what’s Shane’s reaction? Is he shocked? Injected with sadistic anticipation? Nope. Unperturbed, he says I’ll see your hand and raise you a stipulation. A WEAPONS MATCH!!!

Let’s face it. Both are far beyond their in-ring prime and wouldn’t be too thrilled at the prospect of taking too many bumps, not to mention their paucity of moves. Vince depended on his opponent to sell the match and Shane’s USP was his daredevilry.

It’s not plausible that son would divebomb father or something of the sort. And with a streetfight already on the cards and the very real danger of a PG Hardcore match bombing, this is the only match that could sell. I’m sorry, I didn‘t catch that, could you please repeat it? Oohh, ticket sales.