Wasted Talent or Talent Wasted: Kane

[bambam]

BAMBAM BACK! This is kinda like my RESPECT THREADS, but a little different.

Simple question really, Do you think Kane is a waste of talent, or did WWE waste another talent?

I think WWE dropped the ball BIG TIME when Kane walked in, in 1997 (Dr. Isaac Yankum in 1993). Vince should have busted in his pants when he saw Kane.

When the Kane character came into WWE in '97, it was the GREATEST time to be a Big, Strong, Crazy guy. I think Bret Hart says it best: The Cartoon World of Wrestling. The '90's was the Greatest time in wrestling, and greatest time in wrestling for the Crazy gimmicks, Crazy storylines, and Crazy plot twist. Yet durning his whole career, he only grabbed the WWE title once, and it was only for 1 day! He is a 2 time IC champ, 9 time Tag-Team champ, and a Hardcore champ, but in terms of a singles wrestler, his Hardcore title reign was for only 16 days, and both of his IC title reigns were only for 1 month each. His Tag title runs weren't much better either: 13, 20, 13, and 12 day reigns, and 3-1 month reigns, a 3 month reign, and a 5 month reign.
From what I can remember, he only got 3, maybe 4 good world title pushes.

Now don't get me wrong, I think his mic skills are way below par, and his face pushes seem to fall short(more so now without his mask), hell his push with out his mask pretty much sucks, but, I believe all and all, he will go down as the BIGGEST wasted talent to ever be in the WWE. On JR's Blog, on Jrsbbq.com, some one asked him this question(I wonder who )
and JR said Kane would go down as the most under used/wasted big men to ever wrestle.

So what do you guys think? Wasted Talent? or Talent Wasted?

 

[Trance Metaphor]

He had his chance when he first arrived, but his credibility went out the window as soon as he won the WWE title, only to lose it the next night. Losing the inferno match against Undertaker also made his supposedly 'monster-like' character look too tamable. He hasn't really been able to revive himself after that. Well, there were two separate occasions where he did seem like was going to win the WWE title again; once during the time he held both the IC title and Tag Team title and once during the time he removed his mask. Other than that, he's been in mid-card hell for ages. Honestly, the only thing I liked about Kane was his appearance. His move set never impressed me. So, I'll have to go with wasted talent.

 

[bambam]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trance Metaphor:
He had his chance when he first arrived, but his credibility went out the window as soon as he won the WWE title, only to lose it the next night. Losing the inferno match against Undertaker also made his supposedly 'monster-like' character look too tamable. He hasn't really been able to revive himself after that. Well, there were two separate occasions where he did seem like was going to win the WWE title again; once during the time he held both the IC title and Tag Team title and once during the time he removed his mask. Other than that, he's been in mid-card hell for ages. Honestly, the only thing I liked about Kane was his appearance. His move set never impressed me. So, I'll have to go with wasted talent.

Sometimes if someone gets hurt and takes some time off, they sort of revive there career. Do you think if Kane got "hurt" and took eome time off, maybe worked on some new moves, he could come back and "Rock the Wrestling World"? Or, do you think Vince would just throw him back to the mid-card to live out his wrestling career, never getting a great push or title reign?

 

[sc2004]

Kane in late 1997, and all of 1998 was the hottest wrestler on Raw. Then hey screwed itup with that whole insane, corporation angle where he fell for Chyna ect. please! The x-pac partnership also sucked. taking off the mask was a mistake allthough he did have a good run in late 2003, allthough he was never in the title picture, but instead had a fued with shane Mcmahon.

 

[Trance Metaphor]

Sometimes if someone gets hurt and takes some time off, they sort of revive there career. Do you think if Kane got "hurt" and took eome time off, maybe worked on some new moves, he could come back and "Rock the Wrestling World"? Or, do you think Vince would just throw him back to the mid-card to live out his wrestling career, never getting a great push or title reign?

At this time in his career, I don't think he's going up or down. He's just going to fluctuate between jobbing and occasionally winning. Even if he were to get hurt, take some time off, develop some new moves and make a return, I can only see it shortly descending back to where he was prior to injury. It's sort of like the time Bill DeMott had a run where he collected a lot of consecutive wins, before retiring.

 

[blackhart07]

They dropped the ball with him just shortly after 1998. He was built as a monster 1997-1998. At one point (i might be wrong) had three loses two to the undertaker and one to stone cold. Then in 2001 hes feuding with X-pac. After that his career went way down hill when he lost his mask.

 

[MattMoses]

His first year in the WWF as Kane was definately his high point with the company. His feud with The Undertaker solidified his status as a major heel at that time. Up until the Inferno match with The Undertaker Unforgiven 1998, he was probably the best and most dominating heel in the WWF at that time.

I believe his downfall was his one day title reign. The fact that it took Kane, Mankind and The Undertaker to make Austin bleed already ruined Kane's credibility as a dominant heel, and it came off as him not being able to beat Austin on his own.

After that, his stint with The Corporation was a joke, and he wasn't used correctly. Up until his association with The Undertaker as the tag team 'Brothers of Destruction', the company did nothing much with his, aside from a decent feud with Jericho. Kane should have had a major heel title run in 2000.

I guess his time as The Undertaker's tag team partner was cool, and they had some decent storylines, and they were mega over.

I guess instead of rambling on, I'd say he's both. His first few years, he was so underused it's unbelievable. He should have had more time in the main event spotlight, instead of teaming up with X-Pac and wasting his time in The Corporation. However, since around late 2003, he's put a significant amount of weight on, has become lackluster in the ring, and he's a bore to watch. So, my perspective:

1998 - 2002 - Wasted Talent
2003 - 2007 - Waste of Talent

 

[Nin]

I think it's fairer to judge someone when theyre at their best so i'm not going to consider anything past 2003. The guy had possibly the best introduction you could have and he would have been a very credible champion during 98 but there were 2 major obstacles to that. Firstly it was Austins era and secondly, you cant have him win the belt after The Undertaker beat him at WM XIV. In all honesty he just came in at the wrong time but he should have got a longer title run. The best thing for him now would be to take some time off, let people miss him and then come back with a real bang, otherwise he's just running time out.
Oh and if it's not already clear, he's a talent thats been wasted.

 

[mikey_d_01]

He should of never lost the mask and should of never got on the mic! Had a great debut and story coming in, was wasted as time went on! When he used to come out and crush anyone in the wrong at the time it was great, someone who couldnt be controlled and who didnt know right from wrong, now hes a joke as creative have nothing for him! Such a waste!

 

[DeadmanInc.]

Kane had one of the best introductions into the WWE. From 1997-2002, he was such a dominant character, especially in 97-98. Kane was in amazing shape during this time period. He was one of the rare agile super heavyweights. He should have had a longer reign as WWE champ during this era. He really deserved a longer reign than 1 day, which ruined his credibility. In my opinion, Kane should have won the Inferno Match. Like above posters said, it made Kane's monster character appear too tamable.

I actually liked the whole Kane-X-pac-Tori angle. It worked well with Kane's socially-confused character. Plus, it showed the versatility in Kane's character, being able to play Heel and Face effectively.

I don't think unmasking Kane was a bad idea, but WWE's creative didn't handle it well. Unmasking him helped re-establish Kane as a psychotic monster. But instead of receiving a well-deserved title reign, he ends up feuding with Shane McMahon.

Kane makes a good mid-carder but he's been there for far too long. It seems that Kane's career is mostly bad timing. It was the Austin era while Kane was at his prime, leading to his 1 day title reign. When Kane was unmasked, it was the Triple H "talent burying" era, which is probably why he didn't receive any title shots.

I don't know if Kane is going to go anywhere nowadays besides jobbing. He's in his 40's, so he must be heading towards retirement soon. It's sad to see that he went from monster Heel to a big, goofy Face.

 

[D.Miller]

Kane, a fit, dominating, monstrous, agile, socially-bewildered, intimidating figure and character from 1997-2003. Loved the old red and black suit with the old red and black mask, a side note that was. Paul Bearer came off real big as the manager of Kane as did Kane who I believe was at the pinnacle of his career since the very night of Bad Blood '97, when he debuted in the duration of the Hell in a Cell match between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker.

It was an emormous break in to the WWF when he shook that Hell in a Cell door and just confiscated it off. It was conspicuous that Kane had it in that era. He was agile and physically fit. His legs could've stretched straight up in the air when pinned. Anyway, in my mind, he came at the right time in the federation but feuded for the gold at the wrong time. The time Austin was 10-pepper-seeds-hot and was going over The Corporation which Kane had involved in.

According to the remarks on Kane's association with The Corporation serving as the beginning of the downfall of Kane, I most certainly agree. He should have held his own in the WWF and considering he broke in to get at his brother who was of course a major main eventer, they should'nt have demoted him to mid-card with X-Pac, but instead, should've kept him up there feuding with his brother while perhaps, throwing some into the altercation to keep him up there.

King of the Ring 1998, that night marked a great night for Kane. In about a year under contract with the WWF had he achieved the grandest prize in the industry away from Stone Cold Steve Austin in a First Blood Match. The audience was dismayed but it was great for Kane, a Kane era was about to be ignited, it was great but it was short-lived... extremely... Because 24 hours later and Austin regains the WWF Championship, though not a bad move because Austin was at his peek but on Kane's part, utterly horrible and ever since that night, not another World Title in his name. He'd went on to team with team with Undertaker, Big Show, Booker.T and such. He would get chances at the title but never prevail. No Mercy 2002 against Triple H w/ Ric Flair, was really hoping he'd get it done, despite the most absurd, ridiculous but likely jocular "Katie Vick" Storyline I've ever since in wrestling which sinked him even deeper. But nope, no cigar. Heck was that his last championship match?

Now, on RAW 2003 when Kane took off his mask, it was an anticipating moment for the years of wondering what lyed behind that mask in the minds of fans and he took it off after vowing to Bischoff if he'd lose to Triple H for oh! yes, the World Heavyweight Championship, in which he did. Well, he showed dominance for a good while against Bischoff, RVD, JR, Austin, S.McMahon, Undertaker and such. Lastly with Umaga on RAW and they sent him to Smackdown where he's now just... Kane with nothing to him, really. Nothing left for him to really do either. He's lost most of adjectives I've used to describe him.

All in all, I think Kane is just ok. He might as well just job a bit here and there or take a leave of absence, come back, and try going after the World Title.

Kane: Talent Wasted.