Kane‘s departure from active in-ring competition in 2018 saw the end of a spectacular career. The real-life Glen Jacobs did show up as a surprise entrant at the 2021 Royal Rumble. His received his much-deserved Hall of Fame induction during the WrestleMania 37 weekend.
The former Big Red Machine worked 21 different WrestleMania matches during his illustrious career. He shared the ring with the likes of some of the greatest wrestlers in the history of this business. Let’s take a look at Kane’s five best WrestleMania matches.
Kane vs. Big Show vs. Raven (Hardcore Championship Match – WrestleMania X7)
Kane had a brief run with the Hardcore Championship in 2001. The Big Red Machine collided with fellow giant The Big Show and the iconic Raven in a three-way match at WrestleMania X7. The Anything Goes, No DQ stipulation allowed the three men to beat each other backstage.
From Kane throwing Raven through a glass window to the leg drop from the top of the stage to the floor, the Hardcore Championship Match gave fans the right dose of action and drama.
Kane vs. Randy Orton (WrestleMania 28)
After going without his signature mask for eight years, Kane returned to WWE with a new look in 2011. The Big Red Monster had a brief feud with John Cena that capped off with a win for the Cenation leader.
Kane then focused his attention on Randy Orton. Both men did a solid job selling the feud that at one point got extremely personal. The pair met in singles action at WrestleMania 28. This match followed the stinker between Sheamus and Daniel Bryan.
Safe to say that it ended up bein a positive highlight of the night!
Kane vs. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania X8)
Kane versus Kurt Angle was a major feud on WWE’s undercard in 2002. Angle had already solidified himself as an in-ring technician at that point. The Olympic Gold Medalist walked into the SkyDome with the sole purpose of defeating his much larger opponent.
However, Angle had to struggle for nearly 10 minutes to score a win over Kane. This match was a fine display of skill and power with the Big Red Machine being able to more than hold his own against the Wrestling Machine.
Money in the Bank Ladder Match (WrestleMania 21)
The first Money in the Bank Ladder Match introduced the WWE fans to a bold new concept with added risks. The iconic bout featured six of the most accomplished superstars on RAW at the time. Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Christian, Edge, Kane, and Shelton Benjamin competed in the high-stakes match-up for the briefacase.
A former ladder match winner himself, Kane entered the contest with the strength advantage. The Big Red Monster relied on a variety of moves as well as the ladder to keep his opponent at arm’s length. Unfortunately for the big man, a certain opportunist with far more experience in ladder matches picked up the win that night.
Kane vs. The Undertaker (WrestleMania XIV)
Kane’s greatest WrestleMania match also happens to be his debut on the Biggest Show of the Year. The Devil’s Favorite Demon first showed up at Badd Blood: In Your House 1997. He ripped the Hell in a Cell door with his bare hands to the shock of The Undertaker.
Kane would deliver a tombstone piledriver on his own flesh and blood to kick off one of the greatest rivalries in company history. After confronting each other for months, the siblings would finally meet one-on-one at WrestleMania XIV.
The match lived up to its hype as a clash of two unstoppable forces. Kane would manhandle his big brother for the most part of the match before Taker finally managed to put away his younger sibling with a third tombstone piledriver.
Honorable Mentions
- Money in the Bank Ladder Match (WrestleMania XXV)
- Kane & The New Age Outlaws vs. The Shield (WrestleMania XXX)
- vs. Triple H (WrestleMania XV)
- Kane vs. The Undertaker (WrestleMania XX)
- Money in the Bank Ladder Match (WrestleMania XXVI)
Also read: Kane Will Always Leave The Door Open For One More Match
