Jim Ross Reveals How Mayor Glenn Jacobs Became the Undertaker’s Brother Kane in WWE: “We Just Had to Find the Right Spot for Him Creatively”

There are a few stories in the industry of pro-wrestling that still live on in this day and age, like the epic rivalry between WWE and WCW, Hulk Hogan beating The Iron Sheik. However, no story can come close to the story of The Undertaker and Kane.

Back in 1997, Undertaker’s kayfabe brother, Kane, appeared for the first time. According to Paul Bearer (Undertaker’s manager), ‘Taker burnt Kane along with his family before coming to WWE; however, The Deadman didn’t realize that Kane is still alive and came to WWE to take his revenge.

This story just gripped the intrigue of people worldwide and the WWE programming took full advantage of it. However, things were rough for Glenn Jacobs (the man who portrayed Kane) when he first appeared for the company.

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The Undertaker – Kane story almost never happened in WWE

Before becoming the ‘Big Red Machine, Vince McMahon saw Jacobs as an afterthought. Although being almost 7 feet tall, Jacobs was portrayed as a heel dentist and then portrayed the ‘fake’ Diesel (Kevin Nash).

When Kevin Nash and Scott Hall left WWE for WCW, Vince McMahon retaliated, and instead of creating a home-grown star, McMahon opted to mock WCW’s Ted Turner, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall.

Eventually, Glenn was cast as the fake Nash along with a fake Scott Hall and mocked WCW. However, WWE legend Jim Ross knew that this was not the way to use a talent like Glenn Jacobs.

Speaking on the latest episode of his ‘Grilling JR‘ podcast, Ross revealed that the ‘fake Diesel’ was never intended to be a long-term thing and eventually, the WWE writers thought of a better way to use Jacobs.

“But Kane, Glenn Jacobs, was always going to have a home. We just had to find the right spot for him creatively. You’re not going to not use Glenn Jacobs. And then finally we came across this idea to do Undertaker’s brother, their size is comparable. It was a cool deal,”

Eventually, Kane debuted in 1997, during the first-ever Hell in a Cell match between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker, where he ripped open the cell door and tombstoned The Phenom.

The duo would put on one of the greatest storytelling ever seen in the industry. Kane is now a WWE Hall of Famer and also the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.

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