4 Reasons why Tony Khan must not bring Shane McMahon to AEW
Shane McMahon might be heading to All Elite Wrestling very soon. As per recent reports, The Prodigal Son has reached out to AEW talents behind the scenes, enquiring about a possible working relationship with the Jacksonville-based promotion.
Although Tony Khan has denied having any conversations with the former WWE Hardcore Champion, the AEW President seems open to the idea of bringing in Shane McMahon to his company. Last seen at WrestleMania 39, Shane McMahon's possible arrival in the Jacksonville-based promotion could send shockwaves across the wrestling industry.
As exciting as it sounds, certain factors indicate why joining hands with Shane O'Mac might not be a wise business decision for AEW. In this article, let's look at four reasons why Tony Khan should not bring Shane O'Mac to All Elite Wrestling.
#4. Shane McMahon may not contribute much to a wrestling-centric product
Since his 2016 return, Shane McMahon has participated in several exciting matches on the WWE main roster. His matches with AJ Styles and Kevin Owens exceeded all expectations, making fans take note of his exceptional in-ring skills.
Unfortunately, McMahon has not been very impressive with his performances inside the ring since 2019, even for the safer wrestling standards of WWE.
At the age of 54, The Prodigal Son can no longer perform his famous death-defying stunts, which significantly limits him inside the squared circle. Shane O'Mac has become a lot more injury-prone in recent years, as his quads injury at WrestleMania 39 quickly springs up to the mind.
For a company that gives top priority to a performer's in-ring abilities, Shane McMahon may not be the right fit for the Jacksonville-based promotion.
#3. The creative differences could lead to a WCW-type situation
Having been a member of the creative team before, Shane McMahon carries a unique vision when it comes to booking a pro wrestling show. However, his creative input could lead to a difference in opinions between him and Tony Khan, which could make up for a stressful situation behind the scenes.
Having been part of WWE for years, Shane O'Mac emphasizes more on quality storylines rather than the five-star matches that AEW majorly focuses on. Interestingly, Tony Khan has always made his booking decisions around the quality of in-ring competition, despite all the struggles the Jacksonville-based promotion has faced on the ratings front.
Considering their different approaches as bookers, Tony Khan and Shane McMahon are bound to clash over AEW's storytelling methods. It could lead to a WCW-type situation for the Jacksonville-based promotion, where the creative differences between Eric Bischoff and the WCW wrestlers led to a chaotic environment.
After barely recovering from the CM Punk fiasco, AEW may not be able to afford another backstage controversy.
#2. It will hurt the "alternative to WWE" image of All Elite Wrestling
It was the anti-monopoly sentiment against WWE that gave AEW a massive headstart in 2019. Following years of the Stamford-based promotion's stranglehold on the wrestling business, fans quickly got behind AEW upon its inception, as it presented itself as a viable alternative to the Stamford-based promotion.
If Tony Khan secures a business relationship with Shane McMahon, it will deal a huge blow to AEW's image in the wrestling market. After taking a stand against Vince McMahon's outdated booking approach for years, it will send a wrong message to the AEW audience if the company associates itself with the 54-year-old.
The Jacksonville-based promotion could instantly lose the support of its hardcore fanbase, which is the only thing keeping it afloat amid poor ratings troubles.
#1. Shane O'Mac is infamous for stealing the spotlight from talents
Since 2019, Shane McMahon has been in the news several times for his attitude behind the scenes. Despite being past his prime days, Shane O'Mac has tried to keep himself in the limelight on multiple occasions.
At Royal Rumble 2022, Shane created a ruckus backstage with his atrocious booking decisions. After being handed the charge of producing the Men's Royal Rumble Match, Shane O'Mac decided to alter the original plans to book his character in a strong position.
![Shane O'Mac at WWE Royal Rumble 2022. [Image credits: wwe.com]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/294e9-17199902528611-1920.jpg?w=500)
Entering the contest at #28, McMahon shockingly eliminated Kevin Owens, before making it to the final three competitors. Vince McMahon was allegedly very unhappy with The Prodigal Son's backstage attitude, which led to the latter's quiet release from WWE.
If Tony Khan decides to bring Shane McMahon to his company, a similar situation is likely to arise in All Elite Wrestling. With a plethora of international stars on his roster, Khan should refrain from bringing in a figure like Shane O'Mac, who may not add much value to the Jacksonville-based promotion.