In April of 2020, former WWE Star Shane Thorne, who ended up becoming Slapjack of RETRIBUTION and WWE RAW Star Austin Theory, who was in a stable with former WWE Star Andrade, Angel Garza and Zelina Vega and later with former WWE Superstar Buddy Murphy and Seth Rollins, were called up at the same time to the WWE main roster.
Austin Theory would then become the protégé of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and compete at last night's WrestleMania 38 Night Two Event against WWE SmackDown commentator Pat McAfee, but would end up losing to the WWE SmackDown commentator, while Shane Thorne was released by the WWE last November 18th, 2021 reportedly due to budget cuts.
Thorne took to his Twitter shortly after WWE Chairman Vince McMahon called Austin Theory a future WWE and WWE Universal Champion and revealed that the WWE Chairman once mistook him for Austin Theory. The former WWE Star didn't explain how the WWE Chairman and CEO once mistook him for Theory, but Mia Yim, who is a former WWE Star as well, confirmed Thorne’s story.
You can check out the tweets below:
A selfie with Mr. McMahon! 🤯#WrestleMania @austintheory1 @VinceMcMahon pic.twitter.com/nW31hoXATk
— WWE (@WWE) April 4, 2022
Vince once thought I was Austin Theory 😏
— 'Hysterical' Shane Haste (@ShaneTMDK) April 4, 2022
True story.
— Mia Yim (@MiaYim) April 4, 2022
😂😂... and then we never spoke again
— 'Hysterical' Shane Haste (@ShaneTMDK) April 4, 2022
Should’ve just ran with it.
— Mia Yim (@MiaYim) April 4, 2022
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
@austintheory1 is a champ, now and in the making. pic.twitter.com/wQpMgtLBzp
— 'Hysterical' Shane Haste (@ShaneTMDK) April 4, 2022
