References, allusions, and in-jokes do not equal a concerted effort by hundreds of people over two decades to give a single story multiple endings.
Think about the wire. Stratford upon Avon was where Shakespeare was born. Shakespeare's biggest rival was named Marlowe. This doesn't mean we need to force every plot point in the wire into Shakespeare's plays, Marlowe's plays, or their lives. It could be a stand alone reference to rivalry.
"Oh Slim Charles represent Robert Greene cause he was friends with both of them"