100 Greatest WWE WrestleMania Moments
78. Kane Tombstones Pete Rose (‘Mania XIV)
"How about it?!".
Baseball great Pete Rose riled up a seething live crowd in Boston before The Undertaker's first time ever meeting with kayfabe brother Kane at WrestleMania XIV. The city's sports daft legions showered Rose with boos as he trolled them with various Red Sox-related jibes. In his element, Pete hammed it up as he strutted around the ring mic in hand like he did this every other week.
What happened next cemented his spot in WWE history. Kane emerged for the match alongside Paul Bearer, then went face to face with Rose inside the ring. Selling a bit of fear mixed with overconfidence, Pete didn't exactly back off. So, Kane snatched him with a hand around the throat, then thought better of a chokeslam by hitting the MLB legend with a Tombstone Piledriver instead as Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler barked hyperbole on commentary.
This would become a semi-regular spot on the famous pay-per-view over the next few years. Rose returned at 'Mania XV dressed as a chicken (?!), then tried to get the best of Kane again at 'Mania 2000. Rather regrettably, this didn't lead to the natural Hell In A Cell war between both stars that fans craved. Yes, that's a joke. In all seriousness, people did get a laugh or three out of Kane torturing Rose for their entertainment.
Nothing can top the first Tombstone though. It was one of the most unexpectedly brilliant celebrity moments of the entire 'Attitude Era', and it almost turned Kane babyface before he tangled with 'Taker. Boston's masses were pretty pleased that he'd walked out to shut Petey's big mouth.