The Piledriver Report 10.21.09: Dissecting the Departure of Shane McMahon

Posted by Ronny Sarnecky on 10.21.2009

Last Friday, the WWE and Shane McMahon announced the resignation of Vince’s only son from World Wrestling Entertainment. This week, The Piledriver Report takes a look at the possible reasons why Shane may be leaving, and where he will go from here.

There goes the money! Well, more like, there goes the fourth generation McMahon from the World Wrestling Entertainment empire. On Friday, October 16th, Shane McMahon announced his resignation from the WWE effective January 1st, 2010.

"It is with great sadness that I announce my resignation from the WWE, effective January 1, 2010.

I have never even considered a future outside the walls of the WWE. However, sometimes life takes an unexpected turn and while it is the most difficult decision I have ever made, it is time for me to move on.

First and foremost, I would like to thank my father for the incredible education working with him has provided and for giving me the opportunity to play a role in building WWE into the global phenomenon that it is today. I am extremely proud to have been the 4th generation in this business, and I am grateful for everyday I was able to work along side not only my own, but the entire WWE family.

Thank you to all of the WWE Superstars both past and present for your passion, pride and dedication. You are truly the engine of the organization and it has been a pleasure to work with, learn from and get to know all of you. Thank you for the privilege of sharing the stage with you and for allowing me to become but a momentary member of your elite brotherhood. I have so much appreciation for the many sacrifices you endure, both physically and personally, to make this business the success that it is. The respect I have for each of you is immeasurable.

Finally, there are no words to express my gratitude to WWE fans the world over for supporting this company through good times and bad and for your unbridled passion that fuels the Superstars' performances. I am profoundly grateful to have been able to entertain you both in front of the camera and from behind the scenes. You are the greatest fans in the world.

I will always love this business and will remain a fan forever.

Shane"

THE FIRST FAMILY OF WRESTLING



It was the shot heard around the wrestling industry. Shane McMahon leaving the company has stunned everybody around the wrestling world. Who would have thought a McMahon would leave the company business. Since Stephanie McMahon graduated from Boston University in 1998, and began working full-time in the WWF, the wrestling promotion became a true family business. The cornerstone of the WWE was Vincent Kennedy McMahon, Jr. Along side Vinnie Mac stood his wife, Linda McMahon as CEO of the WWE, and their children Shane McMahon, Executive Vice President, Global Media, and Stephanie McMahon-Levesque, Executive Vice President, Creative Development & Operations as the leaders of the sports entertainment giant.

Over the last month, the family foundation has been cracked within the walls of Titan Towers. On September 16th, Linda resigned as CEO of the company in order to make a run at a Senate seat representing the state of Connecticut. Now, Shane leaves the fold.

Linda's exit, while surprising, it is not expected to be a major blow for the company. Vince will assume her duties during her political campaign, and if Linda fails in her quest to win the Republican nomination, and later the Senate seat, chances are that she will be reinstated as the CEO of the WWE. However, Shane's departure is much different.

STEPHANIE STANDS ALONE



When Vince McMahon retires, or passes away, most assumed that the team of Stephanie and Shane would create a two-headed power structure in the WWE. Stephanie, and husband Paul Levesque, heading the creative aspect of the company. Meanwhile, Shane McMahon would man the business side of the company. Shane's announcement on Friday appears to change all of that.

With Shane McMahon about to be out of the picture, only father and daughter will be the only McMahon's running the company. Is this a good thing, or a bad thing? It's hard to say. From a creative standpoint, everything will remain status quo. While Shane was a "contributor" to the creative team, he was not an integral part of that unit. Where Shane's absence will be felt is on the business side. Shane's responsibilities included international business development, and digital media division.

As valuable as Shane is in his ability to strike business deals, the WWE will survive his exit. After all, this country is filled with bright business minds that can handle the same tasks that Vince's son took care of. This isn't to say that Shane wasn't an important cog in the company. It's just that the odds are that he isn't irreplaceable, unlike his father.

WHY SHANE WHY?



There are two big questions surrounding Shane's resignation. The first question asks Shane "why now?" What happened to trigger Shane decision to leave the company? Was it that Shane McMahon will be turning forty years old on January 15th, and he wanted to step out of his father's shadow, and pave his own path to greatness? After all, as long as he is in the WWE, he will always be "Vince's son." By leaving the company, Shane becomes his own man. Whether he succeeds or fails at his new career, he will be doing it on his own. He will sink or swim as Shane McMahon, and not as the boss' son.

Some people want to speculate something more sensationalistic. There have been rumormongers that have brought up the story that perhaps there was an internal blow up between Vince and Shane. Or perhaps, Shane McMahon was tired of being ignored in creative meetings, and just wanted out of the company. Only one person can tell us the real reason for Shane's resignation. That person is Shane McMahon. Unfortunately, his not talking, and if he does talk, it is highly unlikely that he would air the family's dirty laundry IF the reason for his departure is one of the juicy stories that are circulating.

WHICH WAY DOES HE GO? WHICH WAY DOES HE GO?





The second question is where will Shane McMahon go from here? Some have speculated that Shane may go into the mixed martial arts business. It is well known that Shane McMahon is a big fan of the MMA industry. In November 2006, the WWE had talks with Dream Stage Entertainment, the parent company of PRIDE, about doing some possible business with each other.

A venture into the field of mixed martial arts would make sense for Shane McMahon. After all, the business model for sports entertainment and mixed martial arts isn't that different from one another. Shane should feel right at home with an MMA company. If he decides to go that route, the big question would be, what MMA company would he seek employment with? Would he decide to work with "Vince McMahon: The Next Generation" in Dana White, or would he try to invest in another mixed martial arts company, like Strikeforce? Throughout his WWE career, Shane has overseen international TV distribution, live event bookings, digital media, consumer products and publishing. He would be a huge asset to UFC or Strikeforce, as both try to expand globally. I can't see Shane working for somebody else. He has enough money where he can be his own boss. He has enough experience in event marketing/production/sales, where he should be his own boss.

Another possibility revolves around Mama McMahon. With Linda actively campaigning for a seat in the Senate, it isn't out of the realm of possibilities that Shane would go work for his mother's political campaign. However, if this were to be the case, the WWE and Shane would have probably announced this intention along with his statement regarding his resignation.

One of the more funny rumors going around is that Shane McMahon will buy TNA. Of course, this rumor is more of a joke then an actual possibility. Imagine if Shane really did purchase TNA. It would be the real life version of when Shane O'Mac purchased World Championship Wrestling under Mr. McMahon's nose. It would be one thing if Shane wanted to start his own wrestling company, and purchased an indy federation, such as Ring of Honor. However, to buy, what is viewed as, the number two promotion in the United States, would certainly be a slap to the family's face. I don't care what kind of possible fallout Shane may have had with the WWE, I cannot see him taking things to the extremes where he would purchase TNA.

Looking at Shane's decision and his future, I believe his resignation is based one a couple of factors. I think turning 40 has something to do with his leaving the WWE. He is probably looking for a new challenge after being one of the main leaders of the WWF/E for the last decade. He probably wants to get out, and enter a new phase in his professional life before he is viewed by the business world as being "too old."

I have a feeling that Shane's career path will take him away from the world of sports entertainment and the mixed martial arts industry. Shane will probably go into an industry that nobody sees coming, where he will be an instrumental part in shaping the business model of the company that he enters or creates.

THANK YOU SHANE



While the WWE may not miss a beat from a business standpoint with Shane McMahon leaving the company, the son of Vince will be missed by the fans. The fans never got to see the fruits of his labor that Shane put in behind the scenes to help build the WWF/E into an international entertainment conglomerate. Nor could they appreciate all that Shane has done for the WWE from a business standpoint. However, what the fans will remember, and appreciate, is the performer that Shane was in front of the cameras. Out of all the McMahon's, Shane was the closest thing to Vince McMahon as an on-air performer. Shane has a camera presence and charisma that you can't teach. He also was a hell of a worker for a non-wrestler. There was no bump too crazy that Shane would not attempt. From a dive off a scaffold, to performing the Van Terminator, to getting thrown through a plate glass stage set at King of the Ring in 2001, Shane took no liberties with his body. As the son of the owner, Shane didn't have to go to the lengths that he did when he worked a match. However, he made sure that the fans would leave the arena knowing that he held nothing back.

Even when he won the European title and Hardcore championships, the fans weren't irate that a "non-wrestler" was given the titles. You would figure there would be some backlash, especially knowing that the new champion was the boss' son. However, because he risked life and limb, and held nothing back in the ring, the fans respected him enough to believe that he was worthy of holding these third and fourth level WWF/E titles.

In the end, I wish Shane McMahon all the best in his future endeavors. Geez, I sound like WWE.com. He will be missed. Hopefully, on the December 28th Monday Night RAW, Vince McMahon will announce to the crowd that this will be Shane's last appearance on WWE-TV. Hopefully, we will get one last Shane McMahon match, complete with one last crazy bump. After a short speech by Shane following the match, "Here comes the money!" will blare over the PA system as we fade to black. A fitting tribute for the end of the Shane McMahon Era in the WWF/E. You did your family proud.