Former TM61 member Shane Thorne revealed that Vince McMahon once thought he was Austin Theory!
Shane Thorne signed with the WWE in 2016 and worked for the company until his release in November of 2021. He recently took to social media and hilariously revealed that Vince McMahon once confused him for Austin Theory during his time with the company.
“Vince once thought I was Austin Theory”
Vince once thought I was Austin Theory 😏
— 'Hysterical' Shane Haste (@ShaneTMDK) April 4, 2022
Fellow released WWE Superstar Mia Yim replied to the tweet and confirmed Thorne’s claim, saying “True story.” Yim and Thorne worked together as members of the RETRIBUTION stable on Monday Night Raw before being moved to SmackDown, something that was reportedly done without Thorne’s knowledge. Shane Thorne replied back to her, laughing that he never spoke to Vince McMahon again after the incident.
“… and then we never spoke again”
😂😂… and then we never spoke again
— 'Hysterical' Shane Haste (@ShaneTMDK) April 4, 2022
When Mia Yim said that Shane should’ve just run with the idea and let McMahon think he was Austin Theory, Thorne said that at the time he was set to be in a more prominent position with the company, but that the tables have turned now.
“Well to be fair at the time I was set to be in a better position… jokes on me”
Well to be fair at the time I was set to be in a better position… jokes on me pic.twitter.com/wzHVFjjOkH
— 'Hysterical' Shane Haste (@ShaneTMDK) April 4, 2022
Vince McMahon and Austin Theory have been aligned on television for quite some time, and at WrestleMania, Vince was ringside while Theory took on SmackDown commentator Pat McAfee. After the match, McAfee called Vince McMahon himself into the ring and the WWE Chairman proceeded to have a wrestling match of his own, defeating Pat McAfee.