MID-Tier Match Reviews: A Collection of KANE Matches

Kane is one of my favorite wrestlers ever but let’s face it: he was never going to top any greatest workhorse list. That’s by design: as a supernatural monster, Kane was never meant to be an in-ring marvel. Rather, his purpose has long been to tell stories, squash jobbers, punish anyone who defied the authority figure du jour, and menace anyone who crosses his path. For twenty-something years he has been, for the most part, very good at his job. Even if he rarely won as much gold as his fans hoped he would, Kane found job stability by being loyal and willing to work with whatever material he was given. So with that, let’s look at a series of random Kane matches to see how well they hold up.

Kane vs. Big Show – RAW #476, May 8, 2006

The Story: That date is important because this was around the time WWE was doing the “MAY 19^TH” gimmick which was an obvious promotional vehicle for the upcoming WWE Film production See No Evil. WWE really hammered that date over audience’s heads and shoehorned it into a storyline that would involve retconning previously-established Kane lore and bring in a fake masked Kane (played by Luke Gallows) to take on the real one. Kane’s tag partner at the time, Big Show, was upset that these “memories” cost them the tag titles so he was trying to bring Kane back to sanity by…chain grappling?

The Match: They bump fists and start with a lock-up. Show lands an amateur take-down and float-over. Kane bounces off the ropes but BIG SHOW does a DROP TOEHOLD. Show’s all “happy giant” as we get a Greco-Roman knuckle lock. Kane powers up so Show lands an overhead throw and ~maintains wrist control~. Then we get an armlock exchange into a drop-down spot and an exchange of hammerlocks. Show rushes into a corner but Kane toeholds him into a turnbuckle. Kane ascends the top rope but then a vignette plays. Another May 19^th message. Kane snaps and attacks Show with a chair for the DQ.

Winner via Disqualification after 5:16: The Big Show

You can watch the full match here.

Review: Haha, what a disaster. This was five minutes of lackadaisical motion without movement. I mean, sure, they showed they could do the technical stuff, but that by itself is meaningless unless there’s reason behind it and here, there wasn’t. The moment the video came up everything before it was thrown out the window. If Show was trying to “wake Kane up” then he should’ve resorted to more immediate methods instead of chewing the scenery with moves he and Kane had no business doing. All in all one of the sillier moments in both wrestlers’ careers.

Final Rating: ¾*

Kane vs. Albert – WWF SmackDown #98, June 28, 2001

The Story: Kane was embroiled in a feud with Diamond Dallas Page alongside his brother The Undertaker while Albert was doing a whole lot of nothing following the dissolution of Team T&A. Then one day Albert earned a shot at Kane’s WWF Intercontinental title with their title bout taking place in WWE’s favorite venue, Madison Square Garden.

The Match: This is a No-Disqualification. Kane rushes Albert on the entrance ramp and the brawl is on. Kane throws right hands until Albert bicycle kicks his way out of a corner. A big splash gets Albert a two-count so he lands corner kicks and a short-arm clothesline. Kane reverses being smashed into the ring steps but hits back using the ring bell for another near-fall. Kane avoids two corner splashes and lands a HURRICANRANA which gets a huge pop. Kane fires up and counters a charge with a powerslam. Albert avoids a Chokeslam but Kane boots him, hits his diving clothesline, and lands his second Chokeslam. But here’s DDP to hit the Diamond Cutter. Albert gets up first and lands a Chokebomb to get the pin and the title!

Winner and NEW WWF Intercontinental Champion after 4:53: Albert

You can watch the full match here.

Review: Decent match and about what you’d expect of two 300-plus-pound behemoths having a five-minute bout. It was solid given the timeframe with both wrestlers playing the hits and showcasing their skills. The biggest surprise was Kane’s Hurricanrana (or do we call it the FranKANEsteiner? HurriKANErana?) which definitely tickled those who like to see wrestlers do things far out of their usual wheelhouses. Kane was his usual self but Albert looked out of his depth so of course he had to win by capitalizing on interference. Too bad this title win didn’t lead to much and it remains one of the most random title changes of that era.

Final Rating: **

Kane vs. Mankind – WWF Survivor Series 1997

The Story: This was Kane’s first televised WWF match. His brother The Undertaker was still so distraught over his appearance that he refused to fight his flesh and blood no matter what. In response, Kane, at Paul Bearer’s command, proceeded to run roughshod over the roster and by chance he crossed paths with Bearer’s former charge, Mankind. This was the perfect choice for Kane’s opponent as Mick Foley is exceptionally good at bumping for opponents and making them look good.

The Match: Mankind rushed Kane but the monster quickly overpowers him. Kane completes his entrance – complete with pyro – but Mankind hits back with punches and a Cactus Clothesline. Kane drops him with a clothesline of his own and smashes him with steel steps. Mankind keeps getting up but each time he gets dropped by a right hand or a big boot. Kane follows with punches, choking, and a side slam. Mankind holds onto the barricade to avoid getting whipped into the steps and gets clubbed for his efforts. Mankind ends up sent into the steps but gets a boot up and drops Kane head-first into them on a counter. Mankind chairs Kane’s head and gets into a punch exchange back in the ring. He manages to piledrive Kane and puts the Mandible Claw on Paul Bearer but in the meantime Kane sits up. Kane choke-tosses Mankind off the apron and through a ringside commentary table. They brawl ringside until Kane attempts a Chokeslam but Mankind kicks his groin and DDTs him onto the concrete floor. Mankind lands a Cactus Elbow but Kane jumps onto the apron and throws Mankind from the turnbuckle to the floor. Mankind struggles back into the ring and crawls up to Kane who then spikes him with a Tombstone Piledriver for an easy victory.

Winner after 9:29: Kane

You can watch the full match here.

Review: This was a fun match somewhat hampered by bad artistic choices. The decision to have the entire match under Kane’s red lighting killed the live crowd and made parts of the video hard to watch. What was visible, though, was a solid story in which Mankind did what he did best and bumped for Kane and made the monster’s limited offense look far more formidable. The best spots were when Kane launched Mankind from the apron through the commentary table with little effort and when Kane came back in supernatural fashion after getting spiked on concrete. While not as impressive as his brother’s debut, it still established Kane as a major threat without him needing to do all that much. In terms of story this hit all the right notes but if I was in the crowd I’d be disappointed to see nothing but random shapes and shadows moving incomprehensibly beneath tacky red light.

Final Rating: **1/2

First Blood Match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin [c] vs. Kane – WWF King of the Ring 1998

The Story: Kane and his brother The Undertaker didn’t resolve their problems at WrestleMania XIV; if anything their disputes continued and complicated as they joined forces to create an uneasy and uncertain alliance. On June 1^st Kane defeated Undertaker to earn a shot at Austin’s title, but shortly afterwards he upped the ante by claiming that if he didn’t win the title he’s set himself on fire.

The Match: Austin takes Kane down with a Thesz Press and hits an elbow drop. He smashes Kane’s head with the title belt and removes a turnbuckle pad. Both men resist hitting the exposed corner and Kane attempts a Tombstone but Austin sends him to the floor. Kane lands on his feet but Austin smashes him into the ringsteps as the Cell starts being lowered. Kane sends Austin into the steps and then uses the Cell as a weapon once it’s low enough. Who is controlling the Cell?

A small bloody gash can be seen on Austin’s back but the commentators scramble to ignore it, saying that the blood must come from the head. They continue brawling around the ring until the Cell starts being raised with Kane trapped in the doorway. They continue brawling up the entranceway until Kane counters a piledriver with a back body drop. Kane smashes Austin into parts of the stage and hits him with a piece of metal guardrail. They fight back to the ring and Austin smashes Kane into the exposed turnbuckle. Running hotshot into the ropes. Austin smashes Kane’s head into other objects until Kane choke-tosses Austin into referee Earl Hebner.

Kane lands a flying clothesline but misses a second one. Austin runs wild. But here comes Mankind, who fell from the top of that that cell like thirty minutes earlier, chair in hand. Austin dispatches both him and Kane with Stunners. Now here comes Undertaker with his own chair. ‘Taker swings for Mankind but Mankind ducks and hits Austin’s chair instead, which hits Austin’s head, busting Austin open. ‘Taker shitcans Kane and Mankind and pours gasoline over the ref for some reason. Austin fights Kane off for a bit more and chairs Kane but by that point Hebner has noticed Austin’s bloody head and calls for the bell. Kane has won the World Title!

Winner and NEW WWF World Heavyweight Champion after 14:52: Kane

You can watch the full match here.

Review: You standard Attitide-Era brawl-heavy match done to mask Austin’s physical limitations without hindering his megastar aura. Kane looked like an absolute beast despite his limited offense and took hits like a planet. They worked the match’s stipulation as best they could and tried to cover for Austin’s unexpected gash with whatever excuse they could find. That said, the Cell being inexplicably lowered and raised didn’t make much sense and the interference was tacked on a tad forcefully. While this is far from the most dynamic of matches, it’s a product of its time in which pure chaos was emphasized over in-ring variety. Under those parameters these two wrestlers plus their supporting characters worked this as best they could – though personally I would’ve preferred Kane winning by his own hand than by a random fluke.

Final Rating: ***

World Heavyweight Championship match: Chris Benoit [c] vs. Kane – WWE Unforgiven 2004

The Story: Kane won a #1 Contender’s Battle Royal on the May 17^th episode of RAW. Over the following weeks Kane would assault different wrestlers including Benoit himself earlier on the same show to cost Benoit the World Tag Team Titles. Kane’s sole reason for all of this was envy, and that he coveted Benoit’s title. Sometimes that’s all the justification one needs.

The Match: Kane throws Benoit into a corner but Benoit fights out. Benoit goes for an arm wringer but Kane biels him across the ring. Benoit attempts a shoulderblock but Kane knocks him down and he falls out of the ring. Kane boots Benoit again and elbows out of a German Suplex attempt. Benoit lands an enzuigiri and attempts a Sharpshooter but Kane kicks him away. Kane escapes a Crippler Crossface so Benoit starts working the arm by smashing it into a corner. Kane counters a standing armlock with Snake Eyes and smashes him into the edge of the ring. Kane lands a stungun into the ropes followed by more choking. Benoit tries a comeback but gets stopped by a falling neckbreaker. Benoit fights out of a neck crank so Kane shoots him into a corner and lands a sidewalk slam for two. Another long neck crank spot. Benoit escapes a back suplex but fails on another Sharpshooter attempt. Benoit fights free but Kane sends him back to the floor.

Benoit escapes from Kane’s grasp and shoves Kane into a ringpost. Back in the ring, Kane lands a big clothesline for a double-down. Benoit fires back by attacking Kane’s knee. Kane blocks more Sharpshooters and attempts a corner boot but misses, which allows Benoit to attack the knee some more. Sharpshooter applied. Kane gets a ropebreak. Benoit his triple Germans and goes to the corner but then Kane sits up. More Germans out of nowhere. Feels like Poland. Diving head-butt connects. Kane sits up again and fights out of another Crossface. Kane lands a big Chokeslam but delays covering long enough for Benoit to kick out. Benoit escapes a Tombstone but eats a big boot. Kane tries his flying clothesline but Benoit counters it with a Crossface. Kane fights to his knees so Benoit tries readjusting his hold and then counters with a crucifix-type cover. One, two, three! Benoit retains!

Winner and STILL World Heavyweight Champion after 18:20: Chris Benoit

You can watch the full match here.

Review: This was way better than initially expected. Kane was never the most limber or energetic wrestler so it takes exceptional talent to bring him to that higher level. They worked a classic David versus Goliath dynamic with Kane being too tall and too heavy for Benoit to deal with, and with his reach advantage Kane had an easy time dropping Benoit before he could get close enough to apply his strongest techniques. Benoit had to think outside the box a bit and worked around Kane’s overwhelming power advantage to score a quick victory out of nowhere. While Kane no longer had the same aura as when he was masked and had arms thick as tree trunks he was still a believable threat given how he made Benoit rely on speed and the ropes to make any progress. This wasn’t a Benoit carry job by any means; Kane was smart enough to hold his end of the bargain and play the menace as best he could. All in all a sleeper hit that’s worth the rewatch.

Final Rating: ****

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