Shane McMahon’s Next Move
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Those within and out of the pro wrestling community have now
had a full week to digest, fathom and eventually speculate the huge news story
involving Shane McMahon handing in his resignation to the WWE as EVP of Global
Media.
The news caught everyone off guard from the purveyors of
wrestling gossip online right on up the WWE food chain to the executive branch
of the company.
There is little in the way of news because Shane McMahon is
not talking. Until January 1st 2010 it looks as though speculation
and gossip will be the sole source of Shane McMahon discussion as he allows his
days to wind down one by one.
There are a number of options for Shane McMahon and here are
the ones people are most curious about.
MMA
Most people are speculating that this is the direction we
will see Shane head towards.
First you have the worldwide industry leader, the UFC. The
obvious reaction is ‘why would the UFC want Shane McMahon?’ The UFC has never
been shy about their business model and patterning it off of the WWE template.
The UFC right now is primarily driven on two revenue streams – pay per view and
live events. The WWE has been able to stay profitable for the past decade
during strong times and bad through their model of diversification and creating
multiple pillars for financial intake. A key to this success while business was
down in the U.S was creating a strong international network where the product
thrived to fans that had never seen the WWE product. The UFC has worked
vigilantly to spread their wings into the international markets and having an
ally in Shane McMahon, who has done business with an international array of
television executives is a huge benefit for the foreseeable future within the
UFC. McMahon also brings hands on experience from the WWE model and would be a
key component in expanding the UFC’s online initiatives, merchandise expansion
and further enhance licensing of the UFC brand far beyond their current scope.
Would Shane be willing to come into the UFC as an executive
without a stake in the company? My gut tells me yes.
This is the first assumption many associated with Shane’s
decision to leave the company but it is also the most volatile option for Shane
when it comes to relations with his immediate family, who would take this
decision to work for the UFC as a direct slap in the face.
Shane McMahon is well liked by the UFC brass and has
attended shows in the past. Back when the Fertitta’s were looking to sell in
2004 it was Shane McMahon who took a huge interest and saw potential in the UFC.
Don’t forget that the Zuffa umbrella also houses the smaller
WEC promotion where Shane could easily come in and have a much bigger role
alongside Reed Harris. If the goal of this branching out is to create a name
and legacy for Shane himself, than walking into an environment that pales in
comparison to the one he is leaving shouldn’t be a barrier but rather an
inevitable challenge.
The Strikeforce promotion is an interesting option as well.
Until the CBS numbers come in for the November 7th show than the
value of Strikeforce is unknown. If the show tanks and CBS drops the
programming it will be a huge blow to a promotion that is attempting to expand
and will be compacted by their only television exposure coming in the form of
Showtime.
McMahon has the money to become a bigger player in the
Strikeforce picture whereas he is not even in the league of the Fertitta family
when it comes to personal wealth. McMahon’s experience on the international
front is a huge asset to Strikeforce if the goal for Scott Coker is a worldwide
brand – a huge step to be taking for a promotion that only one year ago was a
regional outfit out of San Jose.
When it comes to the MMA universe, Strikeforce is a far and
away number two competitor to the UFC and will require a lot of money, time and
dedication from Shane if his goal is to take this promotion and make it a
viable competitor to a promotion that has stormed off all forms of competition
since 2006.
WRESTLING
Is Shane’s heart really in pro wrestling? Very questionable
in 2009.
Buying TNA simply isn’t going to be happening. A lot of
people tend to associate the wealth of the WWE being on par with the wealth of
the McMahon family. The fact is Bob and Dixie Carter are more than financially
set and McMahon would not have the funds needed on his own to purchase TNA.
There is without question a giant hole in the appetites for
pro wrestling fans in 2009 that are dying for a product that isn’t WWE or TNA.
The reality is the talent is not available for a third national promotion nor
would securing a major TV deal be an easy task for a pro wrestling show, even
with the name McMahon attached to it.
Ring of Honor? Not a chance.
LINDA McMAHON’S
SENATE RUN
It seems like the most natural connection to make sense out
of this decision but if that was the case than why such an ‘out of left field’
approach by Shane?
If it was simply a case of Shane going to work for Linda,
than it would have been well known within the company and it would have been
handled much more smoothly on the website rather than sending the entire
company into a panic mode over Vince’s son leaving the company. It would not
surprise me at all to see Shane work on the campaign but could not see him
returning to the company a year from now without something else he is keeping
close to his chest.
OUTSIDE BUSINESS
OPTIONS
It could be Shane’s decision to branch out of the worlds of
pro wrestling and MMA and try and make a name for himself in an industry where
his name doesn’t come with a track record behind it.
From everyone that has worked with Shane – he is incredibly
tech savvy, constantly looking at what will be making an impact tomorrow and a
general attitude of embracement.
This is the wild card option and could be the most logical
when you think about things.
This is a pivotal point in the career of Shane McMahon and
one that will ultimately succeed or fail with his reputation being written as a
result.
Until McMahon sheds light on his next project, the
speculation will continue and invariably the expectations will grow by the week
and with expectations comes an enormous amount of pressure for the 4th generation McMahon to fill his legacy’s namesake.
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