10 Ideas That WWE Stole From Other Companies

9. Kane's Schizophrenia

NWo DX
WWE/TNA

Caveat: TNA’s Abyss has been ripping-off elements of WWE’s Kane character for years. The influence is clear and undeniable, but that doesn’t make WWE’s blatant theft of the Joseph Park “split personality” storyline any more acceptable.

Unmasking in 2012 and claiming the identity of his brother, the mild-mannered lawyer Joseph Park, Abyss produced some of his career's best work with a surprisingly comedic, heartwarming, and well thought-out angle. The story concluded when Park put his mask back on and reverted to Abyss following a victory at TNA’s Hardcore Justice 3 in January 2014, and a year later, Kane developed his own split personality.

Drifting freely between mask-clad hellfire-merchant “Demon Kane” and the suit-clad “Corporate Kane” throughout his feud with WWE Champion Seth Rollins, Kane’s two personalities were put forward as completely separate entities, much like Park and Abyss.

Perhaps this was WWE’s payback for Abyss’ frequent “borrowing” from Kane over the years, or maybe it was just a straight-up rip-off.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.