"The Tales of Kane"

By Anthony Cali

No Superstar has made a bigger impact on his arrival in this organization than the seven-foot monster known as Kane. Athletically gifted, with an intensity that appears almost inhuman, Kane has struck terror in much of the locker room. Why is he here? Who is the man behind that mask? Is he man or monster?

Kane's tale is one of mystery and secrets, anger and betrayal, redemption and forgiveness. It is the story of a man in search of himself and his soul. But any discussion of the man-monster would be incomplete without including the two men whose lives will be forever entwined with his: Paul Bearer and Undertaker.

Fans first became aware of the existence of Kane in 1997 when Paul Bearer revealed a deep, dark secret from Undertaker's mystery-enshrouded past: the existence of a heretofore unknown brother. Fans around the world were shocked when Bearer disclosed on WWE Raw that Undertaker was responsible for the deaths of both his parents as well as his brother - as a boy, 'Taker had been playing with gasoline and accidentally started a fire which destroyed his family and the family mortuary business. Undertaker denied Bearer's accusations, not wanting anyone to know the details of his past; he also found it impossible to believe that the brother he believed dead might still be alive. But despite the DeadMan's increasing rage, Bearer cryptically declared week after week, "He's alive Undertaker, and he's coming!"

On October 5, 1997, at WWE Badd Blood, the world was introduced to Kane when he made his debut by ripping off the cage door during a match between Shawn Michaels and Undertaker - the first ever Hell in a Cell. Kane and 'Taker stood toe to toe during a chilling stare down, until the man-monster first kicked the Phenom in the stomach, then tombstoned him in the center of the ring, allowing a bloodied and battered Michaels to pin Undertaker for the victory. When 'Taker recovered, he appeared emotionally distraught and did everything he could to avoid a battle with his long-lost brother. Refusing to fight his sibling, he cited that this was a personal matter, and that he would not wage war against his own flesh-and-blood in front of an audience.

Led by his manager Paul Bearer, Kane conducted a rampage of "hellfire and brimstone," leaving behind a trail of destruction. He defeated numerous opponents in the organization, carving his name into an elite list of title contenders. However, Kane wasn't looking for a championship title, but rather a confrontation with his brother.

Bearer threatened Undertaker by saying that Kane would destroy everyone in the company until he got what he wanted. Bearer schemed of a way to break down Undertaker and get the siblings in the ring against each other. The plan unfolded when Kane came out while 'Taker was in the ring - and dropped to one knee saluting him. Undertaker responded to his brother's gesture by saluting back, leaving onlookers in shock at this spectacle.

As time went on, various incidents lead spectators to believe that a reconciliation had occurred. Kane came running down to the ring to make a save after seeing his brother attacked by D-Generation-X. The mystery surrounding Kane and 'Taker's relationship was solved, and it looked as though an unholy alliance had been forged. But this was not what Paul Bearer desired. Still wanting to enrage 'Taker, Bearer told a story of how he got lonely one night at the funeral parlor and had an affair with Undertaker's mother; he revealed that Kane was actually his son. Instead of full brother's, the two were in reality half brothers.

At the WWE Royal Rumble in 1998, Undertaker again faced Shawn Michaels, this time in a casket match. The DeadMan actually had the match won until Michaels' cohorts ran out to interfere. When Kane made his way to the ring, everyone believed he was going to save his brother again; however, this wasn't the case. Kane chokeslammed Undertaker into the casket, slamming the lid shut and assuring Michaels the victory. But Kane wasn't finished. Following the instructions of Bearer, he grabbed an ax, chopped away at the casket, poured gasoline on it, then ignited it. As the inferno raged, completely engulfing the casket, it appeared that Undertaker's career was over.

Kane thought he had rid the organization of his brother, until 'Taker issued a challenge to fight him at WWE WrestleMania XIV. Kane had crossed the line, causing Undertaker to ignore their blood ties and wage an all-out war.

At the crown jewel of sports-entertainment, the half-brothers clashed in an intense match. Kane proved to be one of 'Taker's most difficult opponent's; it took three consecutive tombstones before he was finally pinned. Although he lost the match, Kane proved that he was not a fly-by-night Superstar and that his blood feud was only beginning.

At WWE Unforgiven on April 26, 1998, Kane and Undertaker fought one of the most brutal and dangerous matches in history. The ring was surrounded with fire that increased in both size and intensity each time one of the Superstars hit the canvas. The brothers locked up in the scorching heat of the squared circle, each hoping to set the other on fire. As the flames rose higher, 'Taker managed to set Kane ablaze and score the victory.

CATCHING FIRE

With two huge wins over Kane, 'Taker believed their rivalry was over, and he was free to move on to bigger and better things, specifically a title shot. Vince McMahon devised a match between the brothers where the winner would become the No. 1 contender and battle the current World Champion, Stone Cold Steve Austin. With the aid of Mankind, Kane won the encounter, earning an opportunity to compete for the title.

On June 28, 1998 at WWE King of the Ring, Austin and Kane clashed in a First Blood match - the first competitor to make his opponent bleed would win the match - and as an added stipulation, Kane promised that if he lost the match, he'd set himself on fire.

This match gave Kane a distinct advantage over Austin: since he wore a mask and costume, it was nearly impossible to confirm if he was bleeding. During the match, the referee was knocked out, and Undertaker ran to the ring to interfere. He missed a chair shot on Kane and nailed Austin in the head, busting him wide open. Even bloodied, Austin continued the assault on Kane, but when the referee regained consciousness, he awarded the match to Kane. 'Taker later revealed that he intended to bust open Stone Cold so that Kane wouldn't set himself on fire.

The next night on WWE Raw, Mr. McMahon decorated the ring with a red canvas and crowned Kane the new World Champion, only eight months after his thrilling debut. In one of the shortest title reigns ever, Kane lost his title to Austin later that night.

A few weeks prior to WWE King of the Ring, Kane and Mankind had won a Tag Team Royal Rumble to become the No. 1 contenders for the titles. They received their title shots and defeated the New Age Outlaws to become Tag Team Champions.

Shortly after their victory, a rumor circulated throughout the organization that Kane and Undertaker had settled their vendetta and were secretly in cahoots. Questions were raised for weeks about a possible alliance, but nobody was speaking. Kane and Mankind were enjoying a comfortable reign after regaining their titles - which they had lost at WWE Fully Loaded - from Austin and Undertaker when the truth was finally revealed.

On August 24, 1998, during a memorable WWE Raw, Kane and Undertaker came down to the ring side by side. Kane severed all ties - first, by attacking his manager Paul Bearer, then delivering a spike piledriver to his partner Mankind, the co-holder with him of the Tag Team titles. With Kane's departure from the team, Mankind was left alone to defend their titles against the New Age Outlaws at WWE SummerSlam. However, during this match, Kane jumped out of a dumpster and hit Mankind in the face with a sledgehammer, costing not just Mankind, but himself, the tag team title.

Following these stunning events, Kane and Undertaker began a reign of terror by demolishing everyone who stood in their way.

After arranging a business deal with Vince McMahon, the Brothers of Destruction secured a Triple-Threat title match against Stone Cold Steve Austin at WWE Breakdown. Kane and 'Taker worked together throughout the match as they tried to destroy the Texas Rattlesnake. They eventually succeeded, by simultaneously pinning Austin. However, their actions resulted in a questionable victory: Who should rightfully be named the new World Champion?

On WWE Raw the next night, Vince McMahon promised to name either Kane or Undertaker the new World Champion, but Stone Cold interrupted the ceremony by driving a Zamboni to the ring and attacking the Chairman. McMahon was so incensed with 'Taker and Kane for not stopping the attack that he decided not to crown either of them champion. Instead, he declared the title vacant and arranged for a title match between the two at WWE Judgment Day - with Austin as the special referee. The enraged Brothers of Destruction turned their combined forces on McMahon, assaulting the Corporate Chairman with the ring steps and breaking his leg.

During the contest at WWE Judgment Day, Paul Bearer came to ringside and struck Kane over the head with a chair. When Kane sought retribution, his brother crushed him from behind with a chair. The match was thrown out when Austin attacked both competitors and declared himself the victor.

Undertaker and Paul Bearer went on to create the Ministry of Darkness, leaving Kane alone for the first time in his career.

A BURNING RAGE

Without his former manager and brother to turn to for guidance, Kane wreaked havoc in and out of the ring, and began showing signs that he was out of control. Because of the danger Kane posed to the entire organization, the McMahon's gave him an ultimatum: Join the Corporation or be permanently institutionalized. Kane reluctantly agreed to their terms, and became their secret weapon, beginning 1999 as a Corporate puppet.

The Corporation treated Kane monstrously, making him destroy adversaries, while humiliating him on a regular basis. On one occasion, Shane McMahon ordered Kane to drop to his knees and apologize for making mistakes. An infuriated X-Pac attempted to stop the mistreatment, offering Kane a spot in D-Genreation-X. But the McMahon's control over Kane was too strong, and he choke-slammed X-Pac.

On February 22, 1999, Undertaker and Kane met in a second Inferno match on WWE Raw. Vince McMahon devised the match hoping that Kane would destroy his older brother, eliminating him from the company forever. But Kane lost the match when his foot caught fire.

The next week, Vince publicly fired Kane for not beating 'Taker as he was ordered, and sent a team of sanitarium workers to capture the man-monster. At this latest humiliation, Chyna came to his aid, helping him ward off his attackers and persuading Mr. McMahon that Kane could still be a valuable asset to the Corporation. It appeared that Kane at last had a friend in whom he could trust.

At WWE WrestleMania XV, Kane found himself attacked by "The Famous San Diego Chicken" before his match. One tombstone piledriver later, and the chicken had clucked it's last. However, despite his success with this annoyance, Kane found himself betrayed once again - when Chyna turned on him during his match with Triple H.

Even at a towering seven feet, Kane was still a child in many ways, and like a child he longed for friendship and acceptance. Remembering how X-Pac had defended him, Kane returned the favor by standing up for the smaller Superstar when he needed help. The twosome began tagging together, and by May 1999 were defending their Tag Team Titles at WWE Over the Edge. Sadly for Kane, X-Pac's friendship was a masquerade, and he would later happily betray Kane as an initiation into the recently re-formed D-Generation-X.

As autumn began, Kane had made another friend in Tori. It didn't take long before Kane's friendship went from a juvenile crush into full-blown love for the beautiful Diva. And, it was Tori who remained by Kane's side after his betrayal by X-Pac.

In an effort to hurt his former friend, X-Pac, along with his DX cohorts, continued to put pressure on Kane, pitting him in handicap matches or aiding his opponents whenever the opportunity presented itself. But nothing could have prepared Kane for what lay ahead as the yuletide season approached.

Looking to exact more revenge on Kane, X-Pac kidnapped Tori and apparently brainwashed her against him. Kane was emotionally devastated, because the one person he cared for was being held captive, and he had been powerless to prevent it. Hoping to further humiliate Kane and break both his spirit and his heart, X-Pac and Tori later revealed that the entire kidnapping was just an elaborate hoax. Despite his anger toward Tori, Kane, at first, refrained from hurting the woman he once loved. But DX pushed Kane to his breaking point, and he finally took his revenge on his ex-girlfriend with a devastating chokeslam.

Confused, hurt and lonely, Kane did what any child would: he sought out his father.

Whatever one might think of Paul Bearer and the suffering he put Kane through in his childhood, he was there for his son during this trying time. And Kane would need that emotional support as he continued his longstanding feud with X-Pac and the other members of D-Generation-X.

At WWE WrestleMania XVI, Kane and Rikishi battled X-Pac and Road Dogg. The Phat Man proved to be a good ally, as the twosome scored an impressive victory over their opponents.

Undertaker returned from a lengthy injury at WWE Backlash 2000, immediately leaving fans wondering where he and his brother stood in relation to each other. For a brief time, they managed to co-exist peacefully, until their thirst for the Championship tore them apart. The brothers commenced a bitter rivalry, each believing that a win over the other would bring him into championship contention. However, blood proved thicker than their desire for gold, and they have reached an uneasy truce.

UP FROM THE ASHES

In the weeks preceding WWE Royal Rumble 2001, Kane and Undertaker were united. The brothers agreed to watch each other's backs, guaranteeing sure defeat for the other 28 participants who would enter the ring for the Rumble match. While Kane didn't win the match, his showing came close to breaking a Rumble record - he lasted 58 minutes in the ring and eliminated 11 opponents.

After his impressive showing at the Rumble, Kane revived his career and jumped right back into the title hunt in both the singles and Tag Team Divisions. In April 2001, he and 'Taker won the Tag Team titles from Edge & Christian. But that was not to be Kane's only brush with gold. He would go on to win the Hardcore title from Rhyno, and later, the Intercontinental Championship from Triple H.

Has Kane laid the demons of his past to rest? While no one's certain, it does appear that he has come to terms with who he is and what he wants. His willingness to stand by his brother and sister-in-law, Sara, during a recent stalking incident by Diamond Dallas Page reveals that there is desire within him to re-establish the bonds of family - but on his terms. And as Kane continues to gain ring experience and savvy, his wins continue to pile up. Only time will tell what the future holds for him, but it's almost certain that before all is said and done, Kane will once again hold the WWE Championship.

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