Glenn Jacobs Names His Favorite Version of Kane

Glenn Jacobs may now be running Knox County as its mayor, but he hasn’t forgotten his days as one of WWE’s most iconic monsters. The man behind Kane recently sat down for an interview on the Ricky Cobb Show, where he opened up about the different versions of the character—and revealed which version stands above the rest.

“When folks ask me what’s my favorite Kane, it’s the original Kane,” Jacobs admitted. “I mean, that’s what I think of, and I think that’s what people that watched my entire career think of. I think that’s what they envision as well.”

Jacobs debuted the Kane character in 1997, complete with a red and black mask, eerie silence, and pyro that became instantly unforgettable. Over the years, Kane’s look and personality evolved—especially in 2003, when he unmasked and began cutting full promos. But for Jacobs, nothing beats the mystique of that original version.

“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,” he said.

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That said, Jacobs acknowledged that as a performer, he eventually hit a wall. The lack of verbal expression became a creative limitation, even if the character’s mystique made him a fan favorite.

“There comes a certain point as a performer where you think, I can do more than this… You’ve done it so much that you know you can do that, and you want to move on,” he explained.

Jacobs also opened up about the frustrations of watching other wrestlers get more mic time while he remained silent behind the mask.

“In the early years of Kane, no, absolutely not,” he said when asked if he wanted to cut promos. “It worked, and it worked so well. But then you would see other folks who are really good talkers get opportunities. You’re like, ‘Man, I can do that as well.’ So once it got to a certain point, I felt that the mask and not talking was actually limiting the character.”

Kane may have had several eras, but it’s clear that the debut version—the silent, unstoppable monster—still lives rent-free in Glenn Jacobs’ mind.

Every Version of Kane – Explained by Era

Kane is one of the most reimagined characters in WWE history. Here’s a quick breakdown of the different phases of The Big Red Machine:

• Debut Kane (1997–2003): The original monster. Kane debuted at Badd Blood: In Your House in October 1997, interrupting the first-ever Hell in a Cell match. He wore a full red and black bodysuit, a mask, and didn’t speak, instead relying on Paul Bearer for promos.
• Unmasked Kane (2003–2006): In June 2003, Kane lost a match to Triple H on Raw, forcing him to unmask. This version was mentally unhinged, lit Jim Ross on fire, and feuded with the likes of Shane McMahon and The Undertaker.
• Corporate Kane (2013–2015): Ditching the gear for a suit, this version worked for The Authority and wrestled as “Director of Operations.” He often swapped between wrestling as masked Kane and appearing as a business figure.
• Team Hell No Kane (2012–2013, 2018): Kane showed his comedic chops in this era, teaming with Daniel Bryan in an odd-couple duo. The team became beloved and even held the WWE Tag Team Titles.
• Brothers of Destruction Kane (various years): Throughout his career, Kane would reunite with The Undertaker for feuds or as allies, most notably in 1998, 2000–2001, and during the early 2010s.
• Demon Kane (sporadically post-2015): Kane would occasionally return to his masked, monstrous roots in later years, particularly for big matches and rivalries.

What’s your favorite version of Kane? Do you agree with Glenn Jacobs that the original was the most powerful? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we want to know what your Kane looked like.