The Story of The Undertaker & Kane
Photo Credit: WWE
- Inside Greg Gagne Storied Wrestling Adventures - September 28, 2024
- Top 10 Greatest Bret Hart Moments on Raw - September 9, 2024
- NXT No Mercy 2024 Results (Sept. 01, 2024) NEW Champions Crowned, Surprise DEBUT & many more. - September 2, 2024
Throughout civilization’s existence, sibling rivalries originated back in biblical times. Who knew the story of Cain & Abel would inspire a wrestling storyline? I never guessed that happening with anything related to the genre. They presented it as if you’re watching this most won’t get such a comparison.
It was after viewing the WWE Rivals series on A&E and listening to those who were there at the time. I received education concerning one of wrestling’s best stories. I’m referencing Kane versus Undertaker. Like any fan, one recalls how great these feuds became.
Undertaker agrees on this being WWE’s best story. Freddie Prince Jr. did a great job of narrating the program. A twenty-year history revisited. Rivalry transformed into an enduring friendship. Mark Callaway remembers that first meeting with Vince McMahon in Stamford, Connecticut, discussing the Undertaker character. It was Vince’s concept of his most iconic entity. Callaway spoke about witnessing storyboards detailing his gimmick.
Kevin Nash, JBL, Tamina, & Kofi Kingston joined Prince & conversed about Taker’s mystique. Kane ( Glenn Jacobs), Callaway’s wife, Michelle McCool, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Miz, Bruce Prichard, & archived footage of a Paul Bearer interview. All gave their perspectives respecting The Undertaker. Priceless footage of Jim Cornette showing Kane how to do that legendary setup like Undertaker. According to his podcast, Cornette said the movement was similar to what Michael Myers did in the Halloween Films.
Callaway debuted originally as Kane The Undertaker. He first emerged at Survivor Series 1990 with Bruce Prichard ( Brother Love) & later, Paul Bearer managed him. Kane envisioned Kane looking similar to Jason Vorhees instead of a superhero. Vince had convinced Jacobs that Kane should be more like an evil hero wanting to outdo his brother.
At SummerSlam 1996: Paul Bearer’s association with Undertaker needed to end. The Mortician turned on him after the Boiler Room Brawl where He & Mankind fought. Callaway could break away from that pairing.
Bruce Prichard came up with the idea of presenting a brother for Undertaker. Jim Cornette was vital in assisting Prichard’s perception of Kane & the Deadman. Prichard explained how the story in the Bible where Cain murdered his brother Abel. He became inspired by it & The Big Red Machine was a reality.
Bill Moody, who portrayed Percy Pringle & later Paul Bearer, led everyone to accept while suspending disbelief during the sibling encounter. His wrestling background merged with eerie, horrific-based support, which benefited and highly elevated both characters. Paul Bearer is telling fans about one supernatural-type wrestler. Bearer began warning Taker of a deep dark secret that he had never said before. On a particular episode of Raw in 1997, McMahon interviewed Bearer. He revealed everything to this iconic tale. June 30th, 97 proved historic for another reason. You build up your famed new monster to face the established one, but what drives personal discord is family members not liking each other.
Bearer informed McMahon about going 20-years back in time at a funeral home. The wonderful family who owned it. They lived upstairs & the father was the mortician. The Mother was a secretary/receptionist & two little kids were there. One kid was a red-headed punk, and the second kid was sweet by comparing these boys. The kinder son is Kane. Bearer was the apprentice at that funeral home. He worked under Taker’s Dad. A mortician of excellence was how Paul described the father. He studied from his example & prepared bodies for burial & doing the make-up. What Bearer knew was due to Taker’s father.
He witnessed some problems between Kane & Undertaker. Bearer saw them taking chemicals from the embalming room of the funeral home. They even hid out to smoke cigarettes. One particular afternoon, he called The Undertaker devil-seed. Paul said someone burned down the funeral home. The Phenom set it on fire with his family inside. Bearer accused him by saying, Undertaker burned the funeral home to the ground. Taker attacks Bearer at ringside & he demands Paul tell the truth. Bearer pleads, Kane told me. Kane is alive!!!
On October 5, 1997, Bad Blood: In Your House: Shawn Michaels & Undertaker began finishing their rivalry. The lights fade into black Kane & Bearer are here. Kane debuts with Bearer. Jacobs knew that he arrived because of his portrayal of Kane & getting programmed with Undertaker. He ripped the cage door off & confronts Taker inside Hell in a Cell. Kane wore a mask to cover up his burned face. He tombstoned Taker by costing him the match.
The episode highlighted that Kane interfered in Undertaker & Shawn Michael’s Casket Match at the 1998 Royal Rumble. He locked up his storyline brother in the casket & lit it on fire. The Undertaker got revenge on Kane after defeating him at WrestleMania XIV. On April 26th, 1998, live from Greensboro, North Carolina -Unforgiven In Your House: Undertaker defeated Kane with Paul Bearer in an Inferno Match. Bearer announced on the following night’s edition of Raw that he was Kane’s Father.
Undertaker & Kane teamed up to form an unstoppable force called “The Brothers of Destruction.” They continued to team & face off during their careers. Kane’s unmasking & Taker’s American Badass Biker Gimmick were detailed when both opened up concerning reinventing eaches characters. Rivals also featured that WrestleMania XX match because Undertaker returned to his original version with a returning Paul Bearer opposing the unmasked Kane live from Madison Square Garden in New York on March 14th, 2004.
We learned how close a friendship they shared. 2 WWE Champions & Hall of Famers-Kane in 2021 & Undertaker in 2022.
I loved observing the A&E WWE Rivals episode featuring Undertaker versus Kane!
About Author
