Nepotism may be afoot.
WWE’s Vince McMahon named his kids the commissioners of “Monday Night Raw” and “Smackdown” last night. Son Shane McMahon will run the soon-to-be live “Smackdown,” while daughter Stephanie McMahon is set to lead flagship show “Raw.”
The appointments should come as no surprise to anybody paying attention, though the pro wrestling promotion has paraded a number of ex-commissioners out lately, each begging for their old gigs back.
Shane recently returned to his birthright company in time to battle the Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Shane-O-Mac lost that match, which would have given him (fake) control of “Monday Night Raw.”
Stephanie has been front-and-center for years. She’s even married to Triple H, who is the EVP of Talent, Live Events & Creative for WWE, in addition to his side-gig of still occasionally wrestling in main events.
“Smackdown” will move to Tuesdays on July 19, when it will begin airing live. Both it and the always-live “Raw” air on USA Network.