Shane McMahon: Encyclopedia II - Shane McMahon - Career

Shane McMahon - Career

Shane attended Roger Williams College in Rhode Island before transferring to Boston University. Following Shane’s graduation from Boston University in 1993, he worked in WWE’s television production, sales, marketing, and international business development divisions, before he helped form the company’s digital media department in 1998. Shane and his team launched WWF.com in 1998, a site that has more than 7 million unique visitors a month. Due to a legal trademark conflict with World Wildlife Fund in 2002, WWF.com was changed to WWE.COM, following the change of its parent corporation's name. Since July 2003, Shane has served as Executive Vice President of WWE Global Media, overseeing international TV distribution, live event bookings, digital media, consumer products and publishing.

The beginnings of WWE as we know it today began when Shane’s parents Vince McMahon and Linda McMahon purchased the Capitol Wrestling Corporation from Vince’s father in 1982. Just as Vince brought the WWF from a regional operation to a national enterprise recognized around the world, Shane is expanding WWE’s global business significantly, building upon WWE’s North American business success.

In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Shane has also contributed to WWE’s programming as a talent and creative contributor. "Shane-O-Mac", Shane’s stage name, has thrilled WWE audiences around the world.

Beginning his on-screen career as a referee in 1990, Shane was the first performer to walk out to greet the audience at WrestleMania VI. Soon leaving behind the blue shirt and bow-tie, Shane became a backstage official, reappearing at WrestleMania VIII in attempt to break-up a brawl between Randy Savage and Ric Flair. Finally reappearing in 1998, Shane McMahon was once a color-commentator on Sunday Night Heat. He left his job to become a heel loyal ally to his father, Vince. During his occasional runs as a competitor, he captured the now-defunct Hardcore and European championships. His notable feuds includes with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, personal friend Steve Blackman, Test, and X-Pac just to name a few. He later turned face by betraying the Mean Street Posse. Later he turned heel again by reuniting with his sister, Stephanie McMahon. In 2001, after his father Vince had publicly asked his wife Linda for a divorce on SmackDown!, Shane's mother suffered a nervous breakdown. During Linda's convalescence, Vince began a very public affair with Trish Stratus. Learning of his father's despicable acts, Shane turned face again and attacked Vince. On the next night Shane got pedigreed by Triple H and Vince told him that he would never forgive his mom (Linda) for giving birth to him. This would lead to father versus son at WrestleMania X-Seven. As fate would have it, rival World Championship Wrestling was sold to the World Wrestling Federation one week before WrestleMania X-Seven. In terms of the storyline, Mr. McMahon demanded that Ted Turner sign the contract at WrestleMania X-Seven. With Vince's ego getting the best of him, Shane was able to seize the opportunity and purchase WCW. Shane would eventually go coast-to-coast (or from one opposing turnbuckle to attack someone hanging in the other one) to win the match as well.

As weeks and months progressed, Shane began to lead his WCW wrestlers against Vince and his WWF wrestlers, eventually joining forces with Paul Heyman and his band of ECW wrestlers, along with their new owner: Shane's sister Stephanie. Calling themselves The Alliance, they pledged they would finally run the World Wrestling Federation out of business.

However, with the Alliance angle failing to impress wrestling fans, it was eventually ended once and for all at Survivor Series 2001, forcing the WCW/ECW Alliance out of business. The following night on Monday Night RAW, Vince publicly fired both Shane and Stephanie. However, it was at this time it was revealed that before buying both WCW and ECW, both Shane and Stephanie had sold their stock in the WWF to Ric Flair, leaving him to rival with Vince.

Following the destruction of the WCW/ECW Alliance, Shane remained off-screen, eventually briefly reappearing at WrestleMania XIX to check on his father's welfare following a bloody street fight with Hulk Hogan. He turned face once more by getting involved in a rivalry with the already-unmasked then-heel, Kane which culminated in Shane losing a Last Man Standing Match at Unforgiven 2003 and in an Ambulance Match at Survivor Series 2003.

After Survivor Series, Shane left RAW to focus his attention on the executive creative staff and on his new family. At WrestleMania XX Shane appeared briefly on camera with Vince and his baby boy - three generations of the McMahon family. Shane made a short appearance at WWE RAW Homecoming October 3, 2005, where he came out to the ring after Stone Cold Steve Austin had stunned Vince McMahon, and Shane received a stunner of his own.

On the November 28, 2005 edition of Raw, Shane made an appearance to tell Eric Bischoff that he was born to do his job. This marks the second time that Shane has been teased to take Bischoff's job as General Manager.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Career", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki