Shane McMahon’s 10 Most Ridiculous Ego Trips
2. The (Second) Best In The World
After adding star power to a WrestleMania 32 card thin on big names thanks to an injury crisis, Shane McMahon has become one of a lucky few guaranteed to get a match at the 'Show Of Shows' regardless of what they're doing over the rest of the year.
Main roster members sometimes subtly allude to their distaste with the principle, casually remarking that there may not space for them on the six hour supershow after 'the Triple H match, The Undertaker match, the Brock Lesnar match'. 'Shane-O-Mac' is the latest to be assured of an opportunity to steal an opportunity from a hard-working regular.
Worst still, there's little evidence to suggest that he's particularly keen to make the big night about his opponent, rather than himself. Diving from the Cell at 32, his WrestleMania 33 contest with AJ Styles was an intelligence-insulting mess.
Styles, by consensus, was the best wrestler in the world thanks to an incredible maiden year in WWE that saw him effortlessly slot in to a company many thought he'd never appear for. McMahon matches are notable mainly for stunts, and do at least get attention, so it was teeth-gnashing compromise for AJ fans that 'The Phenomenal One' took on the boss' son.
What wasn't acceptable was the contest's arc. Rather than Styles abusing Shane, he was instead out-wrestled and out-performed by the evergreen and multi-skilled part-timer. Far from being a one-sided beating, the match turned into a Bret/Owen back-and-forth. AJ deserved so much more, and naturally Shane warranted far, far less.