A photo of Tony Khan and Shane McMahon went viral on Wednesday. The photo reportedly shows the duo in a meeting, although the topics of conversation are undisclosed. Nevertheless, the image has fueled the rumors that McMahon could potentially team up with Khan in AEW.
A photo of Shane McMahon and Tony Khan having a meeting this week.
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) July 31, 2024
(Image obtained by @WrestleTalk_TV) pic.twitter.com/0r3RpDPOR8
In a recent episode of the "Grilling JR" podcast, veteran commentator Jim Ross shared his belief that McMahon could help AEW in multiple ways.
"I think he could help us in a lot of ways, strategically," Ross said. "As a TV character, obviously the main thing. So we’ll just have to wait and see how that works out. I don’t have any outstanding hope or any inside info that he’s the guy, but he might be a new addition at some point in time. And if so, between both their creative abilities, it would be entertaining."
McMahon was a prevalent piece of the "Attitude Era." His outlook on wrestling and vast experience in the industry would be a valuable addition to AEW. He could also provide some in-ring opportunities for the company.
Nevertheless, McMahon's true value would come in the creative department. Between him and Khan, they could take AEW's storytelling to another level while staying true to Khan's vision of a heavy focus on in-ring performance.
However, McMahon's history with WWE could be a stumbling block.
Khan must avoid the draw to bring in too many former talents and names from the industry leader. Otherwise, it could hurt the reputation of AEW in the long term.
Therefore, using McMahon in a primarily behind-the-scenes role would be the smartest choice. His impact would still be felt throughout the company's programming, while his potentially sporadic on-screen appearances would produce maximum impact.
Currently, the viral image appears to be nothing more than two members of the wrestling industry comparing notes. However, if McMahon was looking to get back into the industry, AEW would be a fresh opportunity for him to explore and potentially have a significant impact.
AEW has been trending upward in recent weeks. A big part of its turnaround is a commitment to better storytelling. If they can add McMahon to their roster, the sky would be the limit.
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