This year was a big one for Shane McMahon, as he finally returned to WWE after a long absence. Shane parted ways with the company in 2009, and although WWE kept things quiet regarding his reasons for leaving, fans assumed that it was due to tension within the McMahon family.
Vice Sports recently put together an extensive and in-depth article looking at WWE and the McMahon empire, and it notes that two senior-level WWE executives claimed a power struggle with Vince and Stephanie was part of the reason why Shane left. The source also noted that there has always been tension between Shane and Stephanie, and that tension still exists today.
However, although Shane McMahon parted ways with WWE in 2009, and didn’t return to television until 2016, Vince, Shane, Stephanie and Triple H all reportedly had a business meeting with Shane a few years ago.
A source speaking to Vice claimed that in 2012, when ratings were down and Triple H was getting preparing to launch the current version of NXT, Vince McMahon called a surprise meeting at the WWE production office, and Shane was in attendance. Shane McMahon brought writer James Frey along with him, and apparently Stephanie and Triple H did not take the news well.
“When Stephanie found out Shane was going to be there, she went white in the face,” the source told Vice. “And Paul freaked out.”
Shane McMahon set up the meeting through Kevin Dunn, and then he pitched an idea for him to take over creative with James Frey and his company Full Fathom Five working as consultants. Ultimately Vince McMahon declined the offer, and Shane didn’t return to the company until February of 2016.
The source also noted that there’s a lot of tension between Kevin Dunn, Stephanie and Triple H, but Dunn is close with Shane, and if Shane had taken over, it would have given Kevin Dunn even more influence over Vince McMahon.
Shane McMahon is currently working as the Commissioner on SmackDown Live along with General Manager Daniel Bryan.
Triple H is currently the Executive Vice President of Talent, and Stephanie McMahon currently serves as the Chief Brand Officer of WWE, and onscreen she also acts as the Commissioner of Raw with General Manager Mick Foley by her side.
