Shane McMahon reveals timeline of Vince reaching out for WWE return

Shane McMahon revealed the timeline of events that led to him returning to WWE for WrestleMania Season during his “tell-all” podcast interview with Mick Foley Monday night on WWE Network.

Shane confirmed that his father Vince McMahon reached out to him needing a boost for WrestleMania because of injuries, especially needing an opponent for The Undertaker.

Shane said a phone call from Vince after the Royal Rumble and a phone call from The Undertaker convinced him that it was time for him to return.

Shane said he had been mulling a return to WWE after seven years away from the company, but he did not know what the right time would be. He said he felt humbled and honored by Taker reaching out to request him as his WrestleMania opponent this year after other options were removed from the table due to injuries.

Shane said the initial phone call from Vince came about three weeks before he returned to WWE TV. Shane kept the information tight within his family and inner circle, as word of his return to the company only came out on the Monday afternoon of his TV return at the February 22 Raw in Detroit.

In the family conversations leading up to Detroit, Shane said he told his wife that it was the right time and venue. “It’s right to come back,” Shane recalled to Foley.

Plus, the biggest reason for Shane returning was wrestling in front of his children at an age where they could understand what he was doing in the ring. Shane said it felt like the perfect storm came together, he talked it over with his wife, and he felt like it was the right time to come back for WrestleMania.

Earlier in February, WWE went through the Daniel Bryan retirement, found out that John Cena would not be ready for a match at WrestleMania, and started setting up Triple H vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Title in the WrestleMania main event. Around that time plans were formed for Shane’s return, dressed up as Shane cutting off his sister Stephanie McMahon from receiving the Vince McMahon, Sr. Legacy Award.