WWE fans of multiple generations were able to witness Kane’s dominance and the sheer fear he put in the eyes of his opponents, whether it was fighting The Undertaker, removing his mask to reveal his true self, or joining The Authority as a heel. .
The professional wrestler who went through «hell and brimstone» to become one of the industry’s top competitors recently spoke with Fox News Digital about his character’s origins, as his episode «Biography: WWE Legends» was released. will air Sunday on A&E at 8 pm ET/PT.
When asked who he would put on his Mount Rushmore of WWE stars, the former wrestler now known as Knox County, Tennessee Mayor Glenn Jacobs said it was hard to name the top four.
Instead, he named four wrestlers who defined an era in the business.
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Kane at Wrestlemania X8. (George Pimentel/Wire Image)
«That’s a tough question because I was incredibly lucky to be in the ring with so many great superstars, Hall of Famers from different generations. So it’s hard for me to say who’s the best because it can change depending on the day of week». or circumstances,» Jacobs explained.
«However, if you asked me who were like the face of professional wrestling in WWE in their days, I would say Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and John Cena. Because I think those are the ones that define each one of those times.»
Flair sported style and profile as a champion in the National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling, and in WWE. He won multiple championships in various promotions and was one of the first to transcend sports entertainment.
Ric Flair in action during Ric Flair’s final game at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium on July 31, 2022, in Nashville. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Hogan was very similar in that he was a bona fide babyface in the early days of his time with the WWF and WWE and was known for criticizing Andre the Giant and telling kids to eat their vegetables, «brother.» He joined WCW and convinced fans to join the New World Order faction, which set the wrestling world on fire in the 1990s.
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Austin’s rise into the Attitude Era of wrestling helped WWE win the Monday Night Wars against WCW. His attitude made him one of the main competitors in the industry. His battles with Vince McMahon on television were extremely raw and resulted in a ratings boom.
2009 WWE Hall of Famer «Stone Cold» Steve Austin attends the WrestleMania WWE Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary at the Toyota Center on April 4, 2009 in Houston. (Bob Levey/Picture Wire)
Love him or hate him, Cena came on the scene extremely hot as an aspiring rapper who would challenge his opponents on the microphone. He turned that skill into multiple championships.
Jacobs said that there were some people who he thought were superior performers in the WWE of the current generation. Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre, and Seth Rollins, just to name a few.
«You know, Roman Reigns, of course. I think he’s the face of the company,» Jacobs told Fox News Digital. «I think he’s a tremendous actor, and he’s another guy who’s really been able to reinvent himself and the character now with The Bloodline and he’s a great guy and very understated, I think he’s great.
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«Drew McIntyre is tremendous. And the great thing about Drew is, like my own story, he came to WWE and had a career. It probably wasn’t exactly what he wanted and he left and then he came back and now he’s the top of his game.» . .
Seth Rollins enters the ring during WWE Live Tokyo at Ryogoku Kokugikan on June 29, 2019 in Tokyo. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
«I’m a huge Seth Rollins fan. I’ve always thought that Seth Rollins is a lot like Shawn Michaels and that he can go out and do anything. And I don’t like to say that because… I don’t like to compare people to anyone else. And I think he’s leaving a legacy that should be remembered as Seth Rollins. I think there are a lot of great artists out there, and I think the company is in very good hands.»
Even as he balances his mayoral duties, Jacobs said he still closely follows wrestling.
«I’m a big fan of the wrestling industry and all the changes that were seen during the 20th century. The consolidation of WWE and the whole business with Vince McMahon, cable TV, pay-per-view, then the internet. and WWE. Network, competitors on the way,» he said.
Kane defeating two top stars during the WWE «Raw» event at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon on February 27, 2012. (Ryan/Corbis via Getty Images)
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“I always feel like competition makes everyone better. The Monday Night Wars were awesome, except if you were a contestant and thought, ‘If we lose, we lose our jobs.’ So this is not as good as anyone on the outside thinks it is, and it’s great to see the changes.
«And then seeing everyone adjust to new and different environments and seeing new characters come out and another generation of very passionate people coming out and putting their bodies on the line to entertain fans. I think it’s just amazing.»