10 Most Shocking Wrestling Unmaskings
2. Kane
Just as there are no "gimmicks" in wrestling as successful as that of The Undertaker, there are no gimmicks based on gimmicks as successful as that of Kane. Undertaker's evil little brother has parlayed that role into a nearly two-decade long career, making him one of the company's longest-tenured employees.
When Kane first debuted, he was absolutely terrifying - covered head to toe in red and black and even larger than his brother, Kane was the monster heel to end all monster heels. He attacked his brother in the first-ever Hell in a Cell match, then continued to dominate the company unchecked until The Undertaker beat him at WrestleMania XIV.
Even though Kane's booking would suffer over the next several years, and he would turn from heel to face and back, there was one constant - his mask. he lost the mouth covering so he could cut promos, but he remained masked until 2003.
One evening on Raw, Kane rejected membership in Triple H's Evolution group, but co-Raw GM Steve Austin made a counteroffer - a shot at HHH's World Heavyweight Title. When Raw's other GM, Eric Bischoff, announced that Kane would have to put his mask on the line, "The Big Red Machine" was nervous, but he ultimately agreed.
Triple H won with help from Evolution, and Kane was distraught. His partner, Rob Van Dam, came out to offer him emotional support, but Kane still had trouble adhering to the stipulations. Finally, he pulled off the mask, revealing an oddly-painted face and a half-shaved head. He then chokeslammed RVD, turning heel.
Though WWE ultimately chose a more clean-cut look for the unmasked Kane, his heel push continued for months afterward, only ending when he lost to The Undertaker at WrestleMania XX.