Glenn Jacobs reveals his favorite iteration of Kane.
Glenn Jacobs played Kane on WWE television for over 20 years. Throughout that time, the character underwent multiple phases of evolution, a key factor in any long-term wrestling character's staying power. These days, Glenn Jacobs is the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.
Recently, Glenn Jacobs was on the Ricky Cobb Show and answered some questions about his wrestling career. While discussing the decision to remove the mask from the presentation of the Kane character in 2003, he expressed that his favorite version of the character will always be the original one that debuted in 1997.
"The mask added a level of mystique and mystery to the character that still makes it, in my opinion, one of the most unique in WWE history. When folks ask me what's my favorite Kane, it's the original Kane. I mean, that's what I think of, and I think that's what people that watch my entire career think of. I think that's what they envision as well," he said. "There does come a point, and I used to think when I hear about rock stars and they get burned out, or actors and they get burned out, or, like, it's whatever, right? But that kind of happened to me because there comes a certain point as a performer, it's true of athletes, too, there comes a certain point as a performer where you think I can do more than this, and you've, I don't want to say perfected it, but it's almost like not a challenge anymore, because you've gotten to that point where you've done it so much that you know you can do that, and you want to move on. So I wouldn't call it frustration, as much as you know, just that, 'I can do more than this.'
"In the early years of Kane, no, absolutely not," he said, regarding his desire to cut more promos. "I mean, it worked, and it worked so well, and everything was going along great. But then you would see other folks who are really good talkers get opportunities. You're like, 'Man, I can do that as well.' At least, I'd like to have the opportunity. So once it got to a certain point, I felt that the mask and not talking was actually limiting the character, and the benefits of the mystique were, on some total, wearing the mask and not talking was actually hurting my ability to be the performer that I hoped to be."
Kane was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021. His final match thus far was the Royal Rumble of that year.
Check out the full interview in the video embedded above.
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