WWE News: Update On Shane McMahon Vs Triple H & Stephanie Plans
The hierarchy within WWE that booked WrestleMania is also responsible for putting the card together for Payback, which is coming our way on May 1. Yet the card and the build for the latter has generally been considered much stronger than that for the company’s biggest show of the year. The perception is that with Shane McMahon in charge of Monday Night RAW ever since WrestleMania (despite losing his match against the Undertaker under the stipulation that if he lost, he would not be in power), the product has been vastly superior. Shane is the reason why.
While Shane McMahon’s presence has certainly provided a jolt, he’s under contract strictly as a performer until further notice and not one of those pulling the strings behind the scenes. Instead, WWE appears to be giving into its fans’ demands, but they’re also forced to rely on their full-time roster with special attractions such as the Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, and Triple H taking hiatuses. The influx of new talent is also shaking things up, providing WWE with plenty of options as they move towards the big summer angles.
And speaking of those major summer angles, there could be plenty to choose from in 2016. Finn Balor’s arrival is imminent. Lesnar will be back for a marquee match-up. There’s plenty of buzz about the Bullet Club and what their relationship might be with AJ Styles moving forward. John Cena and Seth Rollins will be making their returns and will look to be inserted into a major program of their own. And then there’s Shane McMahon vs. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon: Shane-O-Mac vs The Authority.
The latest news, according to Daily Wrestling News, is that the family war was originally discussed to begin this past Monday for the RAW episode in London. Ironically, there was some talk of Finn Balor making his debut as well, but both plans were postponed. Those expecting to see Triple H and Stephanie McMahon back on television may now have to wait until after Payback. The reports are that the feud between Shane and The Authority will kick off sometime in May, but no definitive date has been scheduled yet.
The only factor that might change that is the location of next week’s RAW. WWE’s flagship show will emanate live from Hartford, Connecticut, a stone’s throw from WWE headquarters in Stamford and the residences of the McMahons (Shane, however, lives in New York). Hunter and Stephanie could still show up in the ring, but perhaps any angle or interaction with Shane would be pushed until May.
Earlier this week, the Inquisitr reported that The Authority angle would be going away for an extended period of time. At first, it was thought that since neither Triple H nor Stephanie had made a live appearance since WrestleMania, their break had already begun. But then WWE flipped the script and put Shane McMahon in charge of RAW, likely with the intention of building towards a showdown with his sister and brother-in-law. Then, once Shane defeated The Authority, they would be banished from WWE and the angle would disappear.
Ever since Shane McMahon made his return to the company, he has had no interaction with Triple H on-screen. Whether that was by design to save it for this summer or because rumors of the backstage power struggle were real remains to be seen, but it seems definite that the two will come face-to-face within the next month to begin a program worthy of headlining WWE’s summer programming.
The other unsolved mystery floating around this McMahon family drama is the envelope and lock box that were alluded to during the build-up to WrestleMania. Vince McMahon briefly showed us the envelope the night after, but there has been no mention since. Tying up that loose end may be best for business.
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