As John Cena inches closer and closer to his retirement, a familiar face showed up to support him in the crowd – Shane McMahon. Cena recently fought in a six-man tag team match against the Judgment Day’s Finn Bálor, Dominik Mysterio, and JD McDonagh, only to emerge victorious with Sheamus and Rey Mysterio by his side. This marked Cena’s final RAW appearance.
However, while everyone was too busy watching the match unfold at WWE RAW, a few eagle-eyed fans were able to spot none other than Shane McMahon in the crowd, along with his son, Rogan.
THEY FOUND SHANE MCMAHON IN THE CROWD TONIGHT IN NEW YORK 🔥#WWERAW pic.twitter.com/r30YSP0lD3
He posted himself sitting in the crowd, stating that he was there to celebrate “a true legend in the business” and his friend.
A post shared by Shane McMahon (@theshanemcmahon)
On X, he wrote,
So good to be back home @MSG to watch @JohnCena final show at The Garden.
Fans were left confused as McMahon wasn’t paid any attention to during the night. A user replied, “Why did they not acknowledge you on TV Shane?!“, while another added, “What? Total disrespect by @TKOGrp @TripleH & Nick Khan for not introducing him.“
Why Did Shane McMahon Leave WWE?
Shane McMahon’s father, grandfather, and great-grandfather did all they could to bring WWE to where it is right now. The fourth-generation wrestling promoter has done it all. Starting off his career at 15 when WWE was still known as WWF, he has worked as a referee, producer, announcer, and wrestler.
Eventually, McMahon retired from wrestling in 2024. However, long before his WWE career reached its finale, he had already stepped away from the company once before, in 2009. Why? Well, it seems like he and his father, Vince McMahon, just weren’t seeing eye-to-eye.
In the docuseries, Mr. McMahon (via Fightful), Shane recalled,
It was a really hard decision for me to leave the only thing that I love and the only business I ever want to work in my life, but my dad, especially then, was strong at the helm, and I was like, ‘If this is the time for me to go try certain things, then that’s the time.’
As for Vince, he also opened up about the reason his son walked away from WWE. According to him, Shane was after “the chair” and believed that it was time for his father to pass the torch.
Vince continued,
The reason why Shane left. Shane wanted to take the chair, so to speak, and thought it was time for me to leave. Shane had a lot of value, but it wasn’t his company. It was mine. It’s so difficult for family business. Damn, it’s difficult. It was almost like we were opposed on everything, and we grew apart.
Shane added that while the father-son duo was just not “seeing eye-to-eye on certain things“, Vince was still the boss and what he says goes. At the end, Shane chose to keep his bond with his father intact and walk away. In his words,
When he says to paint something blue, we’re painting it blue. I was just like, ‘I can either stay in here and watch us implode or it’s time to step back.’ He’s my dad, you know? I’m not gonna jeopardize that. So I decided to step away. I thanked him, gave him a hug, and that was it.
Shane eventually returned to WWE in 2016 when he interrupted his father and sister, Stephanie McMahon, just as she was receiving the Vincent J. McMahon Legacy of Excellence Award. Vince placed his son in a Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 32, which Shane lost.
Shane McMahon’s Last WWE Appearance Ended Badly
In April 2023, Shane McMahon made his final appearance in WWE alongside Snoop Dogg. At WrestleMania 39, McMahon’s triumphant return ended badly after he challenged The Miz in an impromptu match.
During the match, McMahon appeared to have blown out his knee during the opening exchange. Later, Triple H confirmed that the wrestler had torn his quad. While medical experts tended to him, Snoop Dogg took it upon himself to win the match, which he did after knocking out The Miz.
OH MY GOD, Shane McMahon just blew his leg out, and Snoop Dogg came in and improvised an great #WrestleMania moment. pic.twitter.com/jHUAOANBKw
Clearly, McMahon’s last WWE in-ring appearance didn’t quite go as he may have hoped. In June 2024, his tenure with the company ended for good.
Regardless, do you think McMahon deserved more than what he received at WWE RAW? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
