AEW does not need Shane McMahon in any form

A picture is worth a thousand words. But that doesn’t mean those words can’t be an expletive-laced tirade. A picture of Tony Khan and Shane McMahon meeting set the wrestling world ablaze Wednesday morning as WrestleTalk and Fightful reported on the news. That led to a discourse within the IWC about what a potential McMahon in AEW could do. There’s hope that AEW fans would push back on the idea because at the end of the day, All Elite Wrestling does not need Shane McMahon.

So, let’s get the hilarious positive opportunity out of the way. Yes, it would be comedy to see Christian Cage in his current gimmick run down Shane McMahon for all the transgressions of his father. It would be interesting to see how that was broached, as Cage is doing some of the best heel work in professional wrestling. But that’s where it ends. There doesn’t need to be a match or even multiple segments. Get the cheap pop and move on.

But the reality is that McMahon should not be anywhere near All Elite Wrestling.

First, there’s the looming legal matter that Shane’s father, Vince, is facing within the Janel Grant lawsuit. While the sins of the father shouldn’t always hinder those of the son, there’s still a level of apprehension any promotion should have when it comes to working with Shane. There’s no telling what may come out as that case progresses and rather than must be reactive to bad publicity of being linked to a McMahon, the safest bet would be to avoid that family name at all costs until the entire matter is solved.

Second, when’s the last time McMahon has been involved in any wrestling creative that has been positively received? He was widely blamed for booking one of the worst Royal Rumble matches in recent years. He was consistently booked in positions that other wrestlers needed, but his last name opened doors that were firmly shut for others. AEW doesn’t need to put him on television to take time away from an already crowded roster with several who do not get enough time on television.

Third, there’s an idea that McMahon would be good for business backstage. Based on what? McMahon founded Ideanomics in 2004, the same company that was delisted by Nasdaq in July 2024. Maybe his name can open doors in wrestling for AEW, but many would think the company is on the way to those opportunities without him.

Tony Khan is a professional wrestling fan like millions around the world. But the big difference is that he has the money to book an organization to his liking. Still, All Elite Wrestling does not need Shane McMahon in any form.