JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It was 1997 and the World Wrestling Federation brought in the closest things to a demon from the depths of Hell they had ever seen. Kane had arrived.
Glenn Jacobs made the character famous as the brother of the famed Undertaker.
“The Kane character was amazing. I’d had a couple failed runs, then Kane came along,” said Jacobs who often gets confused for Undertaker’s real-life brother. “A lot of people think we’re brothers outside the ring because we look alike. We’re virtually the same size.”
Jacobs’ iconic career spanned several decades in WWE. But 21 years later, he was part of an image that could not be more opposite from how he began.
Jacobs, now with his hand on the Bible, was sworn in as the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.
Like his time in pro wrestling, Jacobs’ political career looks like it might be long-lasting. In his second term as mayor of Knox County (where Knoxville is located), Jacobs’ future is bright with the GOP.
An ally of former President Donald Trump and very well plugged into the political scene in Tennessee, Jacobs might have a future in an occupation that’s sometimes as bare-knuckle and brutal as pro wrestling can be.
As far as his relationship with Trump... “Obviously, doing a little bit back in days of WWE,” said Jacobs of Trump, who has a lengthy history with WWE. “It’s kind of cool to be able to connect after years of both of us being out of that game.”
When Jacobs started in WWE (then WWF)... he was immediately thrust to the top of the card during wrestling’s famed “Attitude Era.” It was the most popular time in the company’s history, and Kane feuded with the likes of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock and Mick Foley.
That was only the beginning of Kane’s long-lasting career in an industry that many performers wash out of. WWE found Kane to be a versatile performer, able to play the character of a scary monster and also useful in more personal storylines like when he almost “married” Lita.
Over the years he continued an on-again off-again feud with his “brother” the Undertaker and wrestled the more modern greats like C.M. Punk, Roman Reigns and Bryan Danielson.
And if the phrase “past is prologue” applies to Kane, Jacobs could have a long political career ahead of him. With a GOP-dominated legislature and a term-limited Republican governor in Tennessee, Jacobs is one to watch.
He’s also making waves in national political circles. Jacobs has campaigned with Trump, who has been known to put ex-WWE members in his Cabinet, namely former WWE CEO Linda McMahon.
So who knows, we’ll be watching.
Also on this episode, we sit down with the new Florida-based Shoots & Ladders podcast, which recently started and focuses on pro wrestling.