wwelive

...Or better late than never?

'The Big Red Monster'. 'The Big Red Machine'. 'The Seven Foot Monster'. Whatever Kane has been known as throughout his career it has been a very long time since he has been able to justify any of these monikers. Whether it's the apparent voluntary modesty of Kane's willingness to sit back and allow fresher, younger stars to go over or the WWE managements inane choice of booking, either way, it has frustrated so many fans (yes fans, not WWE Universe. *cringe*) for a considerable amount of years. Week after week watching this so called 'Monster', continuously hyped for his stature, dominance and size by our wonderfully patronising announcers that it often borders on the line of ridiculous. Yet we hardly ever see these attributes utilised to even near full effect when it comes to booking him.

It seems all too long ago that Kane could truly be regarded as a Monster. Far too long in fact. So long that we had all, reluctantly for most, resigned to accepting Kane as a mediocre, fat, bald jobber for the past several or more years who will never again even get close to reaching the top of the WWE mountain again, let alone actually get there. It's almost considered a shock to even see him in the line-up for a pay-per-view these days. Even as recent as last night's SmackDown Money in the Bank Ladder match commenced... hell, even as recent as the last seconds of the match with Kane climbing the ladder alone, edging perilously close to the briefcase and right up until the very moment he unhooked it from the latch it was still inconceivable to any wrestling fan that possesses any basic knowledge about how the business/industry functions that Kane would come out of this match as the winner. For the majority of wrestling fans, me included, in their early twenties, the best part of their lives as fans has been spent thinking, no... KNOWING that whenever Kane is in ANY sort of #1 contendership match for a World title, no matter how far he comes or close he gets, he won't win it. Be it a Royal Rumble, a Fatal Four Way, a six man Hell in a Cell (yes I know he wasn't in it) or as we all undoubtedly expected last night, in a Money in the Bank Ladder match too. When pay-per-views come around and you look down at the snazzy little prediction sheet you so artistically designed on Powerpoint and you see that Kane is going to be involved in the type of match such as sunday night’s you almost immediately eliminate Kane from even contending in your thoughts. And don’t deny it. You know you all do it. When I spoke with my colleague at work whilst we were churning our brains hard for a decision on each match I said this, and I quote: ‘Well, Kane won’t win it so we can forget about him straight away. He’s only ever in these matches to fill a space’. Hmmm… that was spot on wasn’t it? It doesn’t speak volumes for my wrestling punditry, put it that way.

What Kane is however, is one of the very few examples of the older more experienced generals that have succeeded in the world of professional wrestling that are willing to do what’s best for their respective business. As opposed to most who continue to steal the limelight trying desperately to hold onto the glory of their heyday for dear life all the while denying pathetically that their bodies are deteriorating with age thus denying the future progress of prospective young stars along with the overall progress of the industry (and breath...), individuals like Kane are happy to take the back seat when they realise it’s time to step aside and allow the evolution of the future to take it’s natural cause. Although it may be difficult to suspend any sort of belief that someone of such power, strength and size can be brushed aside and defeated so effortlessly on such a frequent basis by men much smaller than himself, Kane is certainly a breath of fresh air in a day and age where in any sport, egos and reputation appear to prevail quite convincingly ahead of pride, dignity and integrity. I'm sure Kane would even lie down for Hornswoggle if he was asked nicely enough. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if they had to persuade Kane to accept a World title reign in the creation of this storyline. The man is so incredibly dedicated and loyal to WWE that it's only right that he is finally rewarded properly with what he has always ultimately deserved right from the very first months of this epic tale of a career he has embarked on, because despite the considerable lack of World title’s there is no denying that he has still been involved in some of the greatest WWE moments in history... and worst.

Personally, and this is just my opinion, but I honestly believe that giving Kane a World title is the best move the WWE has done in a very long time. Just as long as he is provided with a reign of at least a slightly dignifying length of time, but I won't hold my breath. He may be 43 and hurtling towards the end of his career now, he may be less mobile and not as half in shape as he was back in the 'masked' days, but I still think that Kane will make a hell of a good Champion if booked correctly and in the way he was perceived during the attitude era. For me, that would have been the ultimate combination. The younger, in shape and dominant masked Kane bulldozing through his path of destruction just as he did at the time, but with a World Championship in possession along with it. Even if they resurrect the dominant Kane of old and combine it with this current World title reign it won't be half as effective as it would've been had he been given a lengthy World title reign back in the prime period of the attitude era. When Kane WAS the 'Big Red Machine. When he WAS the ‘Big Red Monster'. With such little effort, Kane cut this monstrous figure of such inhumane proportions. A simply magnificent creature that was so unstoppable that he threw regular men around like they were mere toy soldiers. Just by the way he walked maniacally towards the ring, tightening his oversized black leather glove was enough to intimidate and scare the holy mother of Jehoshaphat out of you. Can you remember when you starred in awe at his mask as you could only imagine what on earth that face looked like? That was the core of the Kane character. The enigma that simple mask brought to his already phenomenal presence. Just imagine the possibility of Kane looking like he used to and doing what he used to do... as World Champion? It would have been nothing short of epic and it's such a crying shame that the WWE didn't realise this. To have only given this man a DAY as WWE Champion until now is utterly ludicrous and something I, and many others, have cursed since the day it happened. As ludicrous as the anti-climax of the Gobbledy Gooker? As incredibly stupid as a geriatric hand birth being the logical conclusion of an 80 year old woman and a 400lbs African American male dating?! As ridiculous as WCW’s well executed introduction of ‘The Shockmaster?’ Not quite… but still difficult to understand.

So my views and opinions stated above are why I think its ten years too late, BUT... I am still ecstatic that the WWE have finally seen sense. I’m probably feeling significantly happier than I would've felt had they given him a second World title reign several years before, but that's purely because they've taken so damn long that the anticipation has ascended beyond any reasonable level. What I am most happy and satisfied with is though, is that the WWE have decided to ultimately reward Glen Jacobs' loyalty, dedication and hard work for the past fifteen years in the best possible way.

Though, the main talking point here really is what will the WWE do with Kane now? Being WWE fans I’m sure we can’t help being pessimistic by now because we’ve become so accustomed to WWE’s ways over the years that it’s difficult to muster up any substantial faith in their future usage of Kane with a World title. Despite everything I’ve said it’s still too early to assume anything. As religious people will tell you… ‘God works in mysterious ways’. Now I don’t believe in God. I’m an atheist, but this statement is ironically a very fitting and apt description of our beloved Chairman, Vincent Kennedy McMahon. Which is why I don’t for one minute believe that Kane will be made to appear like the destructive, unstoppable monster he once was with this title run. It’s merely out of hope. Hope that has been restored after they did the right thing last night. Even when this current Undertaker storyline began I’ve been convinced it’s only ever going to culminate in one possible way. He is going to job to The Undertaker… again. What I think, and it’s also what plenty of others I’ve spoken to think as well, is Kane is the one who put his brother in a ‘vegetated state’ and it’s only his characters delusional, demented mind that’s forcing him to blame everyone else on the roster. It will inevitably lead to a short and unflattering World title reign, thus restoring Kane’s credibility back to mediocrity with Undertaker taking the title at SummerSlam. Now this is what my instincts tell me. But is it right? Is it wrong? I can’t help but believe that giving Kane the World Championship is nothing more than a stunt that will eventually benefit The Undertaker. For once WWE. For crying out loud… just once! Prove me wrong.
Ex- TNA Wrestler Christopher Daniels to return back to Ring