WWE News: Shane McMahon delves into his past on latest podcast

ESPN proudly announced recently that they have opened a new section on their website specifically for the WWE. The ESPN-WWE relationship has been getting stronger and stronger. First, Off The Top Rope with Jonathan Coachman linked the two, where Coachman interviewed a specific WWE superstar for a few minutes. Then, this year in March, Jonathan Coachman announced that SportsCenter would be covering Wrestlemania 32. This was unprecedented and undoubtedly a big deal for WWE.

Shane McMahon was named the Smackdown Live commissioner on Raw a week before the draft, and on the final Raw before the draft that took place on the first ever Smackdown Live, Daniel Bryan was announced as the Smackdown Live General Manager, while Mick Foley was named by Stephanie McMahon as the Raw General Manager.

Shane McMahon appeared on the ESPN podcast known as Cheap Heat podcast, wherein he went in depth on several aspects of his life in the business and the current role as well. Below are some of the highlights of the interview:

#1 Shane and Daniel Bryan (especially Bryan) are very involved in Smackdown Live and making creative decisions.

#2 Shane says they have personal pride in Smackdown and they're "out to win". They want everything to be better than Raw. Admits deck is stacked in RAW's favour.

#3 The picture used on Raw (months back) during the angle with Vince McMahon was his first memory of the business and pro wrestling, and Shane went to his first show around that time.

#4 Shane revealed that wrestlers would always mess with him backstage as a kid. Superstar Billy Graham would get physical to try and toughen him up. Some guys would give him a shot in the ribs or a knee in the chest in passing. Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund taught him legit moves and techniques.

#5 Vince flew to Europe while Andre the Giant was filming a movie and pitched him the match with Hogan at Wrestlemania 3. Andre had to have a back surgery before he could do it (says doctors were afraid because of how much anesthesia they needed to keep him sedated), and went to Vince's house every day to train and rehabilitate afterwards.

#6 Shane's childhood dream was to grow up to be Andre's tag team partner.

#7 Very proud of the match with Angle; Would love to do it again. Says if the right scenario comes up and people want it, he would like to have another match.