By Jason Powell
The following are the highlights of Mick Foley’s interview with Shane McMahon that was broadcast on the WWE Network on Monday, May 23. ATTENTION APP USERS: If you are reading this on the Prowrestling.net app, our mobile website will refresh more frequently than the latest updates than the app will. CLICK HERE to see the very latest updates to this article throughout the show.
-Mick Foley told Shane McMahon that he had nothing to be nervous about. Foley said he contacted Steve Austin before agreeing to take the interview assignment. He noted that Austin had shoulder surgery and gave his blessing.
-Foley asked if Shane was going to tell all. Shane said he was ready. Foley asked Shane about returning to WWE television for the first time in years. Shane spoke about how great the experience was for him.
-Foley asked what it was like to grow up the son of Vince McMahon. Shane spoke about how his father was gone a lot and said that he missed him a lot when he was on the road. Shane went on to say that he’s accustomed to his father being a larger than life personality.
-Shane was asked what the maddest his father was at him while he was growing up. Shane said he was wild and he’s a bit of an adrenaline junkie. He spoke about how his friend had a motorcycle and his dad told him not to ever get on the bike. “Your dad was being the voice of reason?” Foley said. Shane did and “exceeded the speed limit a lot.” Shane didn’t realize his father was home. Shane said he was imposing and pissed.
-Shane spoke about how his father and Pat Patterson worked on booking around the family pool. Shane said Patterson always set up someone and that person always ended up being pushed into the pool. Shane said it was an ongoing gag. Shane said he decided that it needed to be Vince. Shane recalled pushing Vince into the pool. Shane said Vince was throwing a temper tantrum in the air. Shane said Vince would have killed him, so he got in his car and drove away, then called his mom to see how Vince was handling it. “I embarrassed him,” Shane said.
-Foley asked if Shane was bulled. Shane said no. He said he never started a fight, but he could handle himself well.
-Shane spoke about being proud of how the company has gone from an armory to what it is today. He spoke about wanting to be Andre the Giant’s tag partner, and how much he loved Superstar Billy Graham’s act. He also spoke about the ribs that the guys in the locker room did to him as a kid “were brutal.” He recalled Don Muraco putting him in a trashcan and rolling it down a few steps. He said it was all in fun, and spoke about being stretched.
-Shane said he picked up a lot of things from his father almost through osmosis. He said he learned the business backwards in that he learned psychology first. Foley said Shane didn’t start at the top. Shane spoke about setting up the ring, and Foley said he takes pride in starting the same way. Shane spoke about working as a referee and having Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard taught him about where to be and when.
-Foley asked if Shane always knew he wanted to be a wrestler. Shane said no, but he did want to be a wrestler as a kid. He figured he would play football and become a wrestler. He said he always knew he wanted to be involved in the business. He spoke about spending holidays at his grandfather’s home, and how his grandfather could push his father’s buttons better than anybody. He spoke about them playing pool and it was always competitive, and his grandfather would tell Shane in front of Vince that his father couldn’t handle the pressure when he’d miss a big shot. Shane said they had some hellacious pool games. He said Stephanie beat Vince once, he told her she should retire, and she did.
-Foley asked Shane why he wanted to wrestle when he started around age 25. Shane said he wanted to play college football, but a knee injury came up and his father talked him out of it, so he never got to show off his athleticism like he wanted to. Shane recalled being in the ring with Tom Prichard and credited him with teaching him so much. Shane also mentioned Al Snow. Foley said he makes light of Snow a lot, but he’s one of the great teachers. Shane agreed that he learned a lot from him.
-Shane was asked if the trainers went easy on him because he was Vince McMahon’s son. “Oh, definitely not,” Shane said. He also spoke about going to Tommy Dreamer when he has to get ready for a match. Shane recalled meeting Foley in his first match and tasting Mr. Socko. Shane spoke about how Foley talked him through the match and how he took a stiff knee and said it was probably his fault in that he probably moved when Foley told him not to. He said Mr. Socko tastes horrible.
-Foley said Shane did a great job of playing a coward, yet he grew to think that Shane was fearless. Foley asked him about wanting to impress the boys, yet playing a coward even though he was fearless. Shane said he was playing a role. Shane spoke about winning “the coveted European Title.” Foley noted that line. Foley asked how important it was to have the respect of the boys in the locker room. Shane said it was extremely important back then and it still exists today.
-Foley said Shane became a fearless competitor “and a great in-ring wrestler.” Foley said people slowly took notice of Shane’s work, and said people felt Shane had arrived as a world class performer by the time he faced Kurt Angle. Foley asked why Shane felt the need to become that good when it wasn’t necessary. Shane said being the boss’s kid makes you want to stand on your own and go the extra mile. Shane spoke about pride and always wanting to do better than you did the last time and wanting to steal the show.
-Shane was asked to name his favorite match. Foley said the match with Undertaker is off the table. Shane said he was going to say that match. He thought about it and listed the match against Kurt Angle. “It was an immense amount of fun and pride,” he said. He spoke about getting a standing ovation. Shane said it was amazing to both he and Kurt, who was fairly new at the time. Shane said the greatest compliment you can get.
-Foley brought up how Shane was there the night of the Montreal Screwjob. Shane said it was a really big buildup and he doesn’t know how much has been told. Shane said that in the buildup to it, his father was distraught and heartbroken. Shane said Vince didn’t want things to go down and was literally begging Bret. He said it’s not healthy for the business to go about it the way Bret wanted to. Shane said it built throughout the week and Vince made the call. “And by the way, a very ballsy call,” Shane said before adding that it was to protect the business.
-Foley recalled leaving the company for all of one day in protest until his wife got involved. Foley said Vince shook his hand and welcomed him back.
-Shane spoke about the locker room scene. Shane said he asked his father if he wanted to walk in the locker room and approach Bret to take it like a man. Shane recalled telling Vince that Bret was going to hit him. Shane said Vince told him that Bret would get one shot. “Bret cold cocked him right in the jaw,” Shane recalled. Shane said Vince stumbled a bit and “took it like a man, like he should have.” Shane added, “Kudos to my pops for that.”
-Foley brought up the end of the Monday Night War and Shane appearing at the final WCW Nitro and whether he had any trepidation. Shane said of course. He said he knew some of the guys who were in WWE at one point, but he also didn’t know what everyone would be like. Shane said he walked into the locker room where then WCW employee John Laurinaitis had gathered everyone. Shane said he spoke to them about how they had bought the company and there would be some opportunities. He said there were some looks of happiness and “if looks could kill” looks from others.
-Foley recalled that Jim Norton was the comic and Shane’s river cruise bachelor party. He said Norton felt he bombed badly, but the thing that stood out to him was the father and son bond that Vince and Shane had. Foley said that despite that, he had always heard that Vince could be tough on him behind the scenes. Shane said he asked Vince to be his best man because he felt he was the best man for the job. Shane said they could come up with more creative words than toughness to describe his father. “Brutal is another one,” Shane said. Shane added that his father’s explanations of him were high.
-Foley recalled having trouble with Vince when he worked as a color commentator. He asked if Shane thinks Vince was tough on him because he’s his son. Shane said definitely. He said it made him better to a point, but he spoke about how he didn’t get that pat on the shoulder from his father, which surprised Foley, who said he got those from Vince at times. “He’s a great dad, don’t get me wrong there,” Shane said of his father.
-Foley asked about Shane’s departure from the company. Shane said his father had different ideas. He said Vince’s and his father went through the same thing. He said his grandfather objected to brining in Hulk Hogan to be the champion. Shane said that with any parent and child relationship, it’s tough for the old guard to let the new guard try their ideas because they are guarded.
-Foley asked Shane to sum up the reasons he left. “It stopped being a collaboration and it stopped being gun,” Shane said. “WWE defines my father and I wasn’t going to allow the deteriorating business relationship to affect our relationship.” Shane said he also got to prove that he could stand on his own two feet. He said being away gave him an amazing look at the business because he was away from it. Shane said sometimes people in the business can’t see the forrest through the trees. Shane said it needed a little boost.
-Shane spoke about leaving “a boat-load of cash” when he left WWE. Foley asked how his dad responded. Shane said it was emotional when he thanked his father for everything he taught him and told him he was leaving. Shane said Vince was shocked. Shane said it was bittersweet. He said thinks Vince was “hurt, shocked, proud.” Shane said he can’t speak for Vince, but that’s what he feels. Shane said some people looked at it as an insane decision, and he looked at it as growth.
-Foley asked about Shane’s relationship with Stephanie. Shane said it’s fine. He said he’s proud of her accomplishments. Foley asked if it changed at all before he left. Shane said it never did. Foley asked about his relationship with Triple H. Shane said he makes his sister happy. Shane said it’s not adversarial. Foley said he would accept that. Shane sad it’s the truth and Foley can either accept it or not.
-Shane said the thing that didn’t sit well with him is that the relationship between Hunter and Stephanie was kept for him, but he got over that. He said it’s great that they are happy and they have great little girls. Foley asked if he has had any jealousy toward Stephanie as she progressed through the business. “Zero,” Shane said.
-Foley asked why he returned. Shane said it was one phone call from his father, and another from Undertaker. Shane said he always knew he wanted to return, but it would have to be under the right circumstances. He spoke about his children never seeing him wrestle live as well. Foley said he wanted that one last match for his kids too. He said he wanted to be in the Royal Rumble match and his pitch was, “No one man can ruin the Rumble.”
-Shane said he got the call about returning three weeks before he did in Detroit. He said he and Taker had been friendly. Foley brought up all the injuries at WrestleMania time. “Hence the phone call from my dad,” Shane said. He added that he was flattered that Undertaker had the confidence in him and wanted to do the match with him. Shane said he told his wife that it was the right circumstances and it was time to go back.
-Foley asked about Shane’s entrance at WrestleMania with his children. Shane said he thought of it and asked his kids about seven minutes before the entrance if they would give him the honor of coming out with him. “They said absolutely,” Shane recalled. Shane said that when his boys came out with him it was one of the proudest moments of his life. Shane said he was giggling to himself too because his boys were not intimidated and were having a great time. Shane spoke about how proud he was to be out there. He said he mentions 100,000 fans being in attendance, and one of his son corrects him and says 101,000 fans.
-Shane said wrestling has started to get that buzz again and it needs it. Foley spoke about moments that make great matches that fans hold onto for decades. Foley brought up Shane’s leap off the top of the cell. Foley spoke about how he didn’t know what he was getting into. Foley said that if he could have found a graceful way to climb back down the cell he would have done it because he was terrified. He also recalled Chris Jericho saying he considered it, but the people looked like ants.
-Foley said Shane knew what he was getting into and he did it and then questioned why. Foley said the cell Shane leapt from is “considerably higher” than the one he leapt off. Foley asked if Shane “wanted to or needed to” leap off the cell. Shane said he wanted to do it. Shane pondered the question of whether he needed to do it. “Probably,” Shane said. Shane said he’s an adrenaline guy and he needs to feel. Foley said it was important to him to be the first guy that Shane saw when he walked through the curtain that night and a photo of the two of them was shown. Foley said Shane told him, “You set the bar.” A photo was shown of a teary-eyed and red-faced Vince hugging Shane backstage.
-Foley and Shane spoke about going long with the interview, and Foley made a crack about how Shane has no idea that he was being told to ask about the current product.
-Shane spoke more about working with Undertaker at WrestleMania. He noted that Vince and Taker both asked him to do the match. Shane said he is very proud of the entire match. Shane spoke of Taker being “one of my longest and truest friends.” He said there are a bunch of moments in the match that “are only special to us.” Shane said that it won’t be replicated from his standpoint because everything with his kids being there as well lined up so perfectly.
-Shane said that once the match was over, he hugged his father and he broke down. “I was kind of a sobbing mess,” Shane said. He spoke how all of the emotions of the situation came flooding through and they both cried. Shane said it was the greatest moment ever because his entire family was there. “By the way, I got one of my first pats on the back that night,” Shane said in regards to his father.
-Foley thanked Shane for having him as the interviewer. Shane asked if they were getting the wrap. Foley said they could have done more on the current product, but he felt there was no better place to end than with the story of Shane getting his pat on the back from his father.
Powell’s POV: A very good interview with some very truthful moments from Shane about his relationship with his father. Shane was always very respectful of his father, yet he also was honest about the things he was looking for in the relationship that he did not get. He got a little tense when discussing Triple H and Stephanie. He kept his answers short and got a little defensive at one point when Foley said he would accept his answer. Foley did a good job. I’m sure he’ll catch some hell over his endorsement of Shane’s ring work, but it seemed very sincere and not a case of him kissing ass. Foley performed some huge stunts during his career, so I don’t think it’s that illogical to think that he would have an appreciation for some of the big stunts that Shane has performed. Foley got a lot out of Shane they really crammed a lot into the roughly 70 minutes. Shane had a line about saving something for part two when they were talking about wrapping up the interview. I would enjoy that. Shane come off as guarded about his relationship with his sister and brother-in-law (and perhaps it’s even storyline driven), but he’s much more of an open book than his father or sister have been in the same setting.
Be the first to comment