In June, 2003, even though the pair had been feuding heavily the year before, Triple H offered Kane a spot in the Evolution faction. Stirring the pot, Steve Austin (then co-GM of Raw alongside Eric Bischoff) said Kane could face Triple H for the World Title instead. Bischoff then added on the stipulation that Kane would have to take off his trademark mask if he lost the match. Accepting the terms, Kane vied for the World Heavyweight Championship. Losing the bout, Kane was then forced to remove his mask and show his face. For years, fans had been told that the man's face was horrifically disfigured and scarred due to intense burning. When the mask finally came off, it was little more than a letdown. Kane's face was covered in black marks, but there was no noticeable scarring. Making matters worse, most of his hair was revealed to be simply attached to the head piece. This was a risky move by WWE, one that took fans a while to get used to. Regardless of personal preference from fans over Kane's mask, this remains a pivotal moment in the character's legacy.