10 WWE Stars Who Got Over After Huge WrestleMania Performances

9. Kane - WrestleMania XIV

WWE.com

There was no guarantee that the Kane character was going to last past WrestleMania XIV, something the man behind the mask told Pitch.com in October 2014.

"Probably not. I can€™t look back now and say I thought one thing or another because I was just concentrating on doing the best that I could and having the most success that I could. I think a lot of people were very skeptical. The thought that this, which it was, frankly, was just an opponent for Undertaker and it€™d be sort of a one-off deal."

It is a testament to his performance in his first major match with Undertaker that the Kane character has not quite yet called it a day.

That night in Boston's Fleet Center, Kane overwhelmed his brother with his strength and thirst for vengeance. He even used his own Tombstone against him. In the end, though, he fell prey to three of the same piledrivers and suffered his first loss.

In reality, Kane was a winner. His Tombstone to Pete Rose captured mainstream media attention, his in-ring work was as strong as any of his previous work, and the fans were invested in the family saga. Kane secured his future with the company with his performance at WrestleMania XIV, ensuring that he would live in infamy as the deranged masked man who bedded Katie Vick's dead body. So lucky...

Contributor
Contributor

Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.