"I think Shane's coming in" - Wrestling personality believes Tony Khan intentionally leaked viral photo with Shane McMahon
The wrestling world exploded today when news broke of AEW President Tony Khan holding a meeting with Shane McMahon. A photo of the two was released shortly after, which quickly went viral. Figure Four Online's Bryan Alvarez doesn't think this was an accident.
Rumors of Shane McMahon being interested in joining AEW began circulating last month as the former WWE Superstar reportedly met up with TBS Champion Mercedes Mone at an airport. McMahon hasn't been involved in wrestling since WrestleMania 39, and recent reports have indicated that he is no longer with the Stamford-based promotion.
Judging by the composition, the photo of Shane-O-Mac and Tony Khan appears to have been taken candidly and leaked to the internet via WrestleTalk. However, Bryan Alvarez believes that Khan intentionally leaked the photo. Speaking on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Live, Alvarez said:
"From what I know, stories I've heard, there is no chance somebody walked in on this meeting, took a photograph, Tony [Khan] went, 'Aahh!' and then they fled, and they put it out on the internet. No chance, zero. Zilch, not a chance in the world, okay? So he wants it out there. Why? Well, I don't know what's going on. I don't have any inside information on this one, but I don't know, man. I think Shane's coming in. I think he's coming in."
Alvarez further speculated that Khan wouldn't leak the photo if he wasn't intent on bringing Vince McMahon's son into the fold:
"Why would you leak this? Why would you allow this to go out on the internet if you do not intend to bring this man in?"
Vince Russo believes Shane McMahon could try to buy AEW from Tony Khan
AEW fans are split on whether they want to see Shane McMahon's debut for the Jacksonville-based promotion. However, some believe that the former WWE Superstar's intention is not to perform for AEW but to purchase it.
Speaking on Sportskeeda's The Wrestling Outlaws last month, former WWE writer Vince Russo floated the idea of Shane purchasing All Elite Wrestling on his father's behalf:
"Triple H is married to Stephanie [McMahon], Shane's got nothing to do with that company. Bro, nobody is gonna go in business with Vince McMahon. Nobody. However, Shane McMahon is as clean as a whistle. He's got nothing to do with the new company, he's got nothing to do with the WWE, Vince [McMahon] is cashing out all this stock. You don't think Vince is behind Shane [McMahon] fishing around at AEW?"
It's unclear whether Tony Khan intends to hire Shane and what the latter will do if he does join the young company. Still, the idea of a McMahon appearing in a wrestling promotion other than WWE has intrigued many fans.