Mercedes Mone details chance airport meeting with Shane McMahon

On her way home after competing at Forbidden Door, AEW star Mercedes Mone had a chance airport meeting with Shane McMahon.

PWInsider first reported that Mone and Shane were spotted speaking with each other at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on Monday morning. In her fan newsletter this week, Mone confirmed the encounter, writing that she was in line by the bagel shop when she looked up and saw Shane.

“After it all, by only the fates aligned – I walked into the airport, was in line by the bagel shop when I suddenly looked up, and there he was, just as surprised as I was. My first day being a double title holder and the first wrestler and former WWE Superstar I see is [Shane] McMahon….come on, if that isn’t the universe working in divine timing, I don’t know what else it could be,” Mone wrote. “I’ve always loved Shane. When we locked eyes, we both kind of looked at each other like IS THAT YOU? Our faces lit up as we got to talking a bit and before he boarded his flight, he gave me his number… the rest as they say [is] history or maybe a mystery!”

Rumors that the 54-year-old Shane could be interested in appearing for AEW became a discussion point on social media after Jim Ross brought up the idea on his podcast last month, saying it’s so crazy that it might work. Ross’ co-host Conrad Thompson later said the idea wasn’t as crazy as some might think and that Shane had reached out to AEW wrestlers to hypothetically discuss the possibility.

Dave Meltzer followed up on the rumor by reporting what he had heard in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

“One person noted to us that there was a conversation between [Shane] McMahon and an ex-WWE talent in AEW and it was described as not a pitch to get in or anything, just two people chatting when McMahon said something to the effect of can you imagine if I walked out there on Dynamite?, not as if he was pitching anything,” Meltzer wrote. “They said it wasn’t serious and that would explain why no key people in AEW had even heard of it before Thompson talked about it. Thompson didn’t talk about it seriously as if it would happen either, just that he had knowledge of the conversation.”

While Tony Khan has never met or talked to Shane, Khan told Sports Illustrated he would always be welcome in AEW.

“I heard the rumor he might be interested,” Khan said. “I’ve never met Shane, but we have a lot of mutual friends. I have a lot of respect for him as an executive and a professional wrestler. Shane is always welcome in AEW.”

Shane last competed for WWE when he suffered a torn quad during a surprise appearance at WrestleMania 39 in 2023.

Mone now holds both the AEW TBS Championship and NJPW Strong Women’s Championship. After defeating Stephanie Vaquer at Forbidden Door, Mone was confronted by the returning Britt Baker. The two went face-to-face on Dynamite last night.