Shane McMahon Reveals Why He Left WWE In 2009, Relationship with Vince, Stephanie, Triple H & More

Shane McMahon took part in a "tell all" interview with Mick Foley on a special live podcast on the WWE Network on Monday night. 

Below is the full recap courtesy of WrestlingNews.co:M

Shane talked about his return to WWE in Detroit back in February. He said that it was humbling because he was not expecting the reaction from the crowd. He said that the reaction gave him goosebumps. Mick said that he was excited to see him return. Mick said that the reaction wasn’t just because he was gone but it was respect for Shane.

Mick asked about growing up as Vince’s son. Shane said, “my dad was gone a lot and like any child, all you want is your father to be there.” He said that all he wanted was to be around his dad. Shane talked about seeing his dad on TV for the first time at 3 years old. He said that he grew up always wishing he was around more. Shane said that he’s accustomed to people treating his dad like an icon.

Mick said that Shane was a handful as a youngster. He asked what was the maddest Vince ever got at him. Shane said, “it was one time time…there were several but one specifically.” He added, “I was 17 and a buddy of mine came over on his motorcycle.” He said that Vince would tell him never to get on it. “So, anyway one day I got on it and I ran out and I was wearing shorts, sneakers and my hat backwards and I took off on that bike and you could hear me fly down the road.” He said that he was definitely exceeding the speed limit by a lot. He said that Vince came out and that’s the most he’s ever been mad.

Shane said that he learned a lot from his dad and Pat Patterson. Shane said that anytime someone would come to see Vince and Pat at the house, they’d always end up in the pool. So Shane decided that he needed to do it to his dad. He pushed him hard into the pool and Vince threw a temper tantrum and came out of the pool. Shane took off in his car and disappeared for the rest of the day.

Mick asked if Shane ever had problems with bullies. Shane said that he would never start a fight but he could handle himself pretty well.

Mick asked Shane what it was like to grow up around WWE personalities. Shane said that it’s been a wonderful and invaluable experience to see those characters and the maturation of the business. He said that there was one specific time (in the early 80s) that there was a riot and his dad put him under the bleachers with a security guard. “If you look at going from a little armory to where the business is today…it’s very impressive.”

Shane talked about being influenced by Andre The Giant and Superstar Billy Graham. He talked about some backstage ribs from when he was a kid. He said that he would get locked in lockers or trash cans and he would get stretched but everything was part of the learning process. He said that he is proud of Vince but he learned so much differently than his father. He said that he learned about psychology first.

Shane said that he was on the ring crew when he was 5 or 6 years old. “I took such pride in it because that’s where our athletes perform.” He said that he learned to referee and he got to listen to the psychology. He said that he learned from Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard’s matches. At the time, he wasn’t really thinking about getting in the ring but he always wanted to be involved in the business. Shane joked that grandpa Vince Sr. was the only person that could push Vince Jr. around. Vince Sr would say “you see that? your dad can’t handle the pressure.” Vince Sr. and Jr. were always competitive. Vince and Steph have had some hellacious pool games too.

He did up getting the itch again to become a wrestler. He said that Dr. Tom Pritchard helped him learn how to work. He also credited Al Snow. Mick called Al one of the underrated teachers in the business. Mick asked if he felt that they went easy on Shane. Shane said, “definitely not.” He also credited Tommy Dreamer for helping him before matches.

Mick said that Shane did a great job as playing the ultimate coward as a heel and he did a great job of being fearless. Shane said that he was having so much fun doing those things. Shane worked with the stooges in his second match and his first big PPV was against X-Pac at WrestleMania for the European title. Shane said that it was extremely important to have the respect of the boys in the dressing room because it was instilled in him since he was very young in the locker room.

Mick said that Shane did things that defied belief in the ring and people slowly took notice. Mick felt that Shane had arrived with the match with Kurt Angle in 2001 at King Of The Ring. Shane said that he wanted to go that extra mile and stand on his own and not just be the bosses kid. He thought at first that he would just have a limited run but then he wanted more each time. “I always wanted to do better than I did last time and I want to steal the show.”

His favorite match (besides this years’ WrestleMania) is the match with Angle at King Of The Ring 2001. “Walking through the curtain when the match was over I was told that we got a standing ovation. That didn’t happen a lot back then and it was kind of new.” He said that when he walked backstage, the boys in the back were all clapping their hands saying “that was an amazing match. That to me was one of the greatest feelings that I’ll ever have.”

Shane talked about the Montreal screw job. “It was a really big buildup and I don’t know how much has been told. My dad and the build up to it…he was heartbroken and he was distraught and didn’t want things to go down.” He said that Vince was begging Bret and Bret had a different view because it was in Canada and it continued to build over the weeks and finally there was such an impasse that Vince made a call. He called it a “ballsy call” to protect the business and it wasn’t to be spiteful towards Bret.

Shane talked about the backstage atmosphere after the match in Montreal. “Vince knew that he was gonna face Bret.” He added that Vince walked into the locker room in front of all of the boys so he could take it like a man. He said that Vince said, “He gets one shot.” He said that when he walked in there that Bret hit Vince right in the jaw and everyone broke it up. He said that Vince took it on the chin like a man like he should have.

Mick asked about the final Nitro. Mick said that he saw Stephanie in tears because the war was over. Shane said that it was interesting being in Panama, Florida in the WCW locker room. Shane said that he walked backstage in the WCW locker room and told everyone that WWE had purchased the company but they could continue with WWE. He said that some were happy and some weren’t and it was an awkward and tough setting.

Shane talked about his relationship with his dad. Vince was the best man at his wedding. Vince was tough on him because his expectations are extremely high. He says Vince was tougher on him because he’s Vince’s son and he rarely got a pat on the shoulder from his dad. “He still loves me and he’s a great dad.”

Shane talked about his departure from WWE in 2009. “It was a decision that had been building for a while.” He noted that Vince Sr. was against his son Vince Jr. bringing in Hulk Hogan and making him the champion. “I think with any parent-child relationship it’s tough with the older guard allowing the newer guard to flesh out ideas.” He said that Vince was not open enough to Shane’s ideas. “It stopped being a collaboration and it stopped being fun. I wasn’t going allow a deteriorating business relationship to affect our personal lives.” He added, “when you are the child of a successful parent you want to know if you can stand on your own two feet.” He said that he was able to become successful outside of the business and he could look at the wrestling business from afar and with fresh eyes. He said that the wrestling business needed a little boost. Vince reaction? “It was shocking and extremely emotional.” Shane thanked him in 2009 for everything and told him that it was time to go. He thinks Vince was hurt, shocked and proud.

Shane said that his relationship with Stephanie is fine and the same as it’s always been. The relationship with Triple H “didn’t change.” He said, “he makes my sister happy and I’m very happy that he does that.” Mick said that his answer sounds evasive. Shane said that it’s not an adversarial relationship. Shane said, “it’s the truth. You can accept it or not.”

He said that Steph and Triple H’s relationship was kept from him for a while when they first got together. Mick asked if there’s any jealousy towards Steph or regrets for taking so long off. Shane said no. A phone call from Vince 3 weeks prior to his return in Detroit was what brought him back to WWE. He said that he always knew that he’d return but under the right circumstances and his kids never got to see him live.

The conversation turned to the match at WrestleMania with The Undertaker. He and Taker are friends and they would always talk about a singles match but it never panned out in the past. He said that Taker was flattered that he would have the confidence to have the match with him. That’s when Shane told his wife, Marissa, that it was the right time to come back. About 7 minutes before his entrance at Mania, he asked his kids to come out with him. Shane said that he got choked up seeing his kids running down to the ring with him and he was so proud to be out there. Shane talked about the changes in the product and the new generation and he feels that the product is starting to get the buzz again. Mick asked about the jump off the cage at Mania and said that everyone thought it was a bad idea. Mick said that he was terrified in 1998 when he flew off the cell but Shane knew the price he would pay. Shane did it because he felt that the match needed it. He said that he’s an adrenaline guy and he needed to “feel.” Mick was the first person Shane saw backstage after the match. Mick said that Shane reached out right after Mick’s dad passed away and he hopes that Shane remembers the moment backstage after the match with Taker.

Before Mick could switch to the final topic, Shane decided that they would go longer than the allotted time on the network.

Shane said that Undertaker is iconic and to have been chosen by Vince and Taker, he is proud of that entire match and being in there with Taker. He and Taker are longtime friends and they pulled everything off and being able to tell the story with Taker and “dare I say, steal the show, I don’t think it will be replicated.” He feels that things lined up perfectly. Shane hugged his dad backstage and then broke down into a “sobbing mess.” The dynamics of being at Mania, being away for 7 years, thinking about his grandfather, etc. all came flooding through. He said that it was a magical moment that he will never forget and it was the greatest Mania ever for him because his entire family was there. Shane got a pat on the back from Vince that night.

Mick thanked Shane for being so open. Shane asked if they were getting cut. Mick said that this is the perfect way to end the podcast. Shane said that they could talk about the current product during part 2.