It almost seems as if Vince McMahon wants his company to go under at this point. With all the hatred being poured by fans online via Twitter and Instagram. With the WWE Champion in 2019 being under discussion, it seems as if McMahon genuinely asks himself the question, “What could I possibly do to tick these people off even more?” Insert Shane McMahon.
Since returning to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) back in 2016, after a 7 year hiatus from the company; the “prodigal son” made his way back into the squared circle. Mainly, to do his father a favor, in wrestling an already aged Undertaker inside Hell in a Cell at WrestleMania XXXII at AT&T Stadium. This would determine if Shane won, he received control of Monday Night Raw.
Well, Shane would lose the match and gain control of Monday Night Raw, regardless. After a few weeks of fighting over control of the show with his sister, Stephanie McMahon, Shane would be named Commissioner of “Smackdown Live!” where it was considered to be the “land of opportunity”.
For the most part, during the first few months of the brand split in 2016, Smackdown Live was just that. The WWE universe was treated with fresh feuds and matchups that they’ve never seen before, such as Randy Orton versus Bray Wyatt, AJ Styles versus John Cena and even the pairing of Dean Ambrose and James Ellsworth!
But then WWE creative decided to reward AJ Styles, who held the WWE Championship for 4 months while defending the title in classic matches against the likes of John Cena, Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler & Baron Corbin, by putting him in a one-on-one match at WrestleMania XXXIII, against Shane McMahon.
Not that AJ Styles couldn’t turn this contest into a show stealer (which he did. The phenomenal one could have been utilized much differently at the show of shows that year. With the likes of Finn Balor and Samoa Joe sitting in catering at the event.
In the fall of 2017, WWE launched a program between Shane McMahon and Kevin Owens, which although had it’s big moments, including Kevin Owens head-butting Vince McMahon on Smackdown Live. This faded out into irrelevancy as Shane and Daniel Bryan would ultimately go over Owens and Sami Zayn at WrestleMania XXXIV In New Orleans, after months of build up.
Despite these booking decisions, it doesn’t hold a candle to what WWE decided to book at “Crown Jewel” in Saudi Arabia in October of 2018. As the event hosted a world cup tournament to determine “The Best In The World”, pitting various superstars up against one another, while presumably taking a dig at CM Punk in the process.
With the likes of Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, The Miz, Drew McIntrye and Rey Mysterio involved, there were many predictable outcomes.
Shane McMcMahon: The Best In The World
Then came the outcome no one thought about. The outcome that made no sense at the time, and the outcome that makes no sense now. The Miz and Dolph Ziggler earned their way into the final round of the tournament, with both superstars in prime position to push themselves with a win.
With The Miz going down with a kayfabe knee injury, Shane McMahon would insert himself into the contest with Ziggler. McMahon would pin the former world champion in the middle of the ring to become “The Best In The World”.
This made millions of fans watching around the globe scratch the heads, as either The Miz or Dolph Ziggler would have benefited largely with a victory at Crown Jewel. That evening with both superstars directions being vague at the given moment.
The world cup victory for McMahon was meant to be the beginning of what is now a very large heel run, however, no one expect it to take over RAW and Smackdown Live.
Burying Talent
On June 6, 2019, at WWE Super ShowDown, Shane McMahon pinned Roman Reigns in the middle of the ring, 1-2-3.
Roman Reigns, main-everted four consecutive WrestleManias from 2015-2018, He is a 3x WWE Champion and Grand Slam Champion in WWE. Reigns, the biggest babyface in the business, was pinned at the hands of a 49-year old man who technically isn’t even a wrestler.
Shane has also defeated The Miz on THREE separate occasions. This includes a Falls count Anywhere match at WrestleMania XXXV, a Steel Cage match at Money In The Bank, and in singles action on Smackdown Live.
With the help of Drew McIntyre and Elias, Shane McMahon has won two separate feuds with two of the top babyfaces in WWE today.
Also, McMahon has managed to bring down top talents such as Drew McIntrye and Elias. The two superstars have been reduced to being Shane O’Mac’s lackeys over the past number of weeks on both brands.
McIntyre, once a promising talent on NXT, has had his heel run halted with the latest current events. Elias, on the other hand, has been robbed of his weekly guitar solo promos. His latest work being reduced to interfering on behalf of McMahon.
Not only has WWE’s massive push of Shane McMahon’s derailed the careers of Drew McIntyre, The Miz and Elias. Also handcuffed by WWE’s creative team this allows no room for wrestlers such as Aleister Black, Ricochet, Cesaro. Randy Orton also lost in the mix. The superstars have no valuable TV time in order to create meaningful storylines.
Here Comes The Money: Shane McMahon
Now, with WWE’s massive push of the “prodigal son”, word has made way that Shane McMahon could potentially be ending the WWE title reign of Kofi Kingston. This could happen as early as SummerSlam in Toronto. The WWE Universe is not happy.
With the launch of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), and their massive success after “Double Or Nothing”. Vince McMahon’s billion-dollar corporation is in a position where they cannot afford to do any wrong. Which it seems they continue to do everything wrong.
McMahon Will Lose Talent
Having Shane McMahon as the WWE champion in 2019 sends a very negative message to a locker room. There are talents such as Ricochet, Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, Roman Reigns, Finn Balor, Aleister Black, Rusev, Shinsuke Nakamura, Daniel Bryan, and others, who have worked hard. They just seemed to be buried.
In Vince choosing his 49-year old son over some of these young talents, he is leaving the door open for many superstars to exit WWE.
Once their current contracts expire to they would more then likely join other wrestling promotions such as AEW, New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) or Ring Of Honor (ROH).
Tweets
If we’re being perfectly honest, Shane McMahon is probably the first one to tell you. He shouldn’t be WWE Champion in 2019.
