As passionate wrestling fans, we can’t help but kick back and create our own fantasy matches in the arena of our imaginations. The best part of these fantasy match ups is that we’re not limited by the confines of time and space, meaning we are able to make the impossible possible. That certainly is the case in today’s Fight of Fancy as we pit a man against a mirror imagine of himself. Taking a page from Mortal Kombat, we ask who would win in a fight if the Big Red Machine Kane battled the Big Red Monster Kane.
Kane has had a number of incarnations throughout his career, and he has progressed towards a clear evolution throughout his nearly two decade career with World Wrestling Entertainment. Every time fans believe he is headed towards retirement, he finds a way to reinvent himself and add value to WWE programming. One of the more drastic ways Kane has reinvented himself was the removal and subsequent addition of his mask. It still remains a large part of his identity, and as fans it is only natural to wonder which side of Kane’s personality was more powerful? Masked Kane, or Unmasked Kane?
(Editor Note: No, this is not a reference to the bizarre “May 19th” angle where a doppleganger Kane showed up for a few weeks before being thrown out of the arena, played by the man who would become Luke Gallows. This is Glen Jacobs and his two personas.)
Masked Kane (1998-2003, 2011-2013, 2014)
Kane made his debut in memorable fashion, not only affecting the outcome of the first ever Hell in a Cell match, but delivering a tombstone to the shocked Undertaker, who was revealed to be his half-brother. Once established, Kane began ripping through WWE staff left and right. Often utilizing supernatural powers like lightning bolts and a strange ability to control fire, Kane was seen as an equal to his half-brother, until they met at Wrestlemania XIV where he was defeated by the phenom. The Brothers of Destruction would continue to have a love/hate relationship throughout the years.
During this time, Kane would capture his first WWE World Championship defeating Stone Cold Steve Austin in a First Blood match at the 1998 King of the Ring. The match would not be without controversy, as the victory would come after interference from both the Undertaker as well as Mankind. Kane would lose the championship back to Austin just 24 hours later on RAW, but would bounce back, forming a championship tag team with Mankind. Although it was short lived as well, two championships within your first year in WWE was very impressive. His championship days were far from over.
Kane would eventually break away from the grasp of his father Paul Bearer and begin teaming with X-Pac, aligning himself with D-Generation X and becoming a fan favorite. The move would add a new layer to the Kane character as he began to express himself more and lead to another Tag Team Champion run, this time with new friend X-Pac. That friendship would quickly dissipate as well, leading Kane to fly truly solo for the first time since his debut.
It would prove to be a good experience for the Big Red Machine who set a record at the 2001 Royal Rumble that would go unchallenged for 13 years, in which he eliminated 11 wrestlers in a single Rumble match. In 2001, Kane would collect more gold, adding the WWE Hardcore, Intercontinental, and Tag Team Championships to his resume, as well as a run with the World Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship, also with the Undertaker. He would repeat that success in 2002 and 2003, winning tag titles with The Hurricane and Rob Van Dam, and challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship, but failing to capture it. This would lead to the infamous Katie Vick angle, involving Triple H, and eventually leading to his first unmasking on RAW.
It would take nearly ten years and an injury at the hands of Mark Henry to get Kane to return to his mask in 2012. Upon his return, Kane immediately went after top fan favorites John Cena and Randy Orton before forming the odd couple tag team Team Hell No with Daniel Bryan. The two would capture the WWE Tag Team Championship and reign with the titles for 245 days. The emergence of the Wyatt Family would prove to be problematic for Kane, as he would become their first major victim. After his Ring of Fire match with Bray Wyatt, Kane was attacked and taken out of the arena, and wouldn’t be seen again until months later, where he pledged his allegiance to Stephanie McMahon, and voluntarily gave her his mask to become the Director of Operations for the Authority.
Kane’s mask would return one last time in 2014, to take out former partner Daniel Bryan. While Kane’s mask marked a new viciousness, it also made him hard to control, and oftentimes the Authority found themselves working just as hard against Kane as they did working with him. This became a problem and eventually Kane would relinquish his mask to Stephanie McMahon once more, returning to his more subdued role as Director of Operations. Since that time, Kane’s mask has not been seen on WWE television, but given his history, a return to the days of the Big Red Machine are not out of the question.
When analyzing the history of Masked Kane, we can see some distinct advantages that he may have over Unmasked Kane. There have been stretches of Masked Kane’s career where his mask has tapped into a primal rage that has proven to be highly dangerous to his opponents. This rage would likely make Masked Kane the stronger of the two Kanes. There is also Masked Kane’s supernatural abilities. While Unmasked Kane has shown these tendencies as well, there is no question that Masked Kane had an ability to control the meta physical elements better than his unmasked counterpart. His best strategy may be to intimidate, and throw bombs until Unmasked Kane can no longer compete.
Unmasked Kane (2003-2012, 2013, 2014-present)
The adjustment from masked to unmasked made Kane a little unstable. After attacking his tag team partner Rob Van Dam, Kane lit Jim Ross on fire and Tombstoned Linda McMahon on the RAW stage. After beating up Shane McMahon in various gimmick matches, Kane aided Vince McMahon in burying his brother The Undertaker alive, effectively putting an end to the American Badass gimmick. That decision would come back to haunt Kane quite literally, as his half-brother returned in all of his dead man glory at WrestleMania XX, and once again he fell victim to the streak.
Believe it or not, things got even more bizarre from there. Kane then impregnated Lita, in a feud that became more and more over the top as the weeks went on. Eventually the story was dropped when Matt Hardy and Edge began playing up their real life love triangle with Lita, leaving Kane to battle in a series of forgettable feuds. Late in 2004, Kane formed a tag team with Big Show and found gold again in a tag team that would become on again, off again throughout the years.
By this point, Kane’s mental state had improved, and seemed more calculated and deliberate in the choices he made when terrorizing the WWE roster. It lead to as many high profile rivalries and wins as it did low points. However, Kane would use his craftier mindset to once again become a world champion, winning a pre Wrestlemania XXIV battle royal, and defeating Chavo Guerrero Jr. to become Extreme Championship Wrestling Champion. Although he would lose the title to Mark Henry a few months later, it did mark his longest world championship reign up to that point.
After floating around the WWE mid-card for a while longer, Kane returned to the top in 2011 quite literally, as he won the Smackdown Money In The Bank and cashed in his briefcase the same night, defeating Rey Mysterio and beginning his most successful run as World Heavyweight Champion. He would go on to dominate his half-brother the Undertaker in the fall before eventually dropping the championship to Edge, holding the title for five months. Shortly thereafter, Kane would return to the mid-card ranks and would continue to stay there until Mark Henry broke his leg. Kane would return with his mask, but it wouldn’t be for long.
Once again, Kane shed his mask, choosing to align himself with the Authority. His new role of Director of Operations turned him into more of a lap dog than lunatic, but when called upon to damage those who opposed the Authority, he was quite effective. In recent weeks, Kane has demonstrated that indeed a fire may still burn inside of him to be a top competitor, though many feel his best days are behind him. It seems these days no matter where he goes, he has an impact on those around him, no matter what side they are on.
When discussing the advantages of Unmasked Kane, the immediate thought is intelligence. Unmasked Kane is far more calculating than his Masked counterpart, allowing him to come up with strategies and game plans. Unmasked Kane has demonstrated that these tactics can pay off, as he became a two time world champion because of his mind instead of his might. Unmasked Kane also has made more than a few connections during his short time working for the Authority, and having a few extra allies when going to war is never a bad thing. His best strategy would be to lure Masked Kane into a trap and take advantage.
The Match
There is obviously no more evenly matched contest to be had. A test of strength would likely start the contest, with Masked Kane demonstrating that he is certainly the stronger of the two. Unmasked Kane might try to trade punches with his masked image, but that would likely serve to be fruitless as well. Sensing defeat, Unmasked Kane might try to make a run for it, only to have the exit blocked by a wall of flames brought up by Masked Kane. With nowhere left to go, Unmasked Kane would have to return to the ring.
After dominating the early half of the match, Masked Kane would quickly tire out. One can only run on rage for so long without slowing down. This would allow Unmasked Kane to take control and wear down his opponent with big boots and various holds designed to cause pain and make Masked Kane think about the jam he has gotten himself into. Despite being smarter however, Unmasked Kane is not susceptible to mistakes. Going to the top rope for a trademark clothesline would be his undoing as Masked Kane might use that chance to catch Unmasked Kane on the way down and land a Choke Slam.
Sensing defeat, J +J Security would come out to attack Masked Kane. While they wouldn’t prove to be much in terms of a physical threat, it would distract the Big Red Machine long enough for Unmasked Kane to find an opening and score a Choke Slam of his own. Sadly for the Corporate Monster, it would only lead to a two count. Looking to finish things off, Unmasked Kane would turn Masked Kane’s world upside, setting him up for a Tombstone. The tables would turn in short order however as Masked Kane would reverse the move, with Unmasked Kane ending up on his opponents shoulders.
In a final act of desperation, Unmasked Kane would reach out and grab the mask of his adversary, ripping it off and causing Masked Kane to drop his guard and clutch at his face, rather than finish the move. Utilizing the opening, Unmasked Kane would then slip behind and raise his hand for a second Choke Slam. Turning around, a frazzled Masked Kane would run right into the trap and fall victim again, but this time, he would not answer the three.
Winner: Unmasked Kane
