101 Shocking Wrestling Plans You Won't Believe Almost Happened
17. ‘Fake Kane’ Is The Real Kane?!
WWE has tried some doppelgänger warfare multiple times since the 90s. Infamously, The Undertaker vs. 'The Underfaker' match at SummerSlam 1994 toiled (following a red hot cage bout between Bret and Owen Hart with that was certainly a decision), and the same fate would befall Kane vs. "Kane" in 2006.
Glenn Jacobs was weighing up retirement in '06, so chiefs thought they'd simply debut a brand new version of the character rather than doing away with Kane completely. Yes, that was the actual plan for the return of the mask that year - Jacobs was going to put Luke Gallows (the man handpicked to play 'Old Kane') over then waltz off into the sunset to enjoy his dotage.
Sadly for WWE and Jacobs himself, the audience totally rejected the idea that Gallows in a mask, ill-fitting costume and dodgy wig combo was the original Kane. Everyone just sort of sat around awkwardly throughout the story, then Glenn fought fake Kane off and everyone tried their best to forget that the whole 'he's feuding with himself' plot had ever taken place.
It's astonishing that WWE believed big LG in a crap knock off Halloween outfit was going to supplant such a popular, long-running gimmick without any raised eyebrows. He never looked comfortable as "Kane", and fans didn't buy that he was the original who'd been locked up and kept away from the company by Jacobs.
In future, WWE should think twice before running a doppelgänger story. It's only possible with certainly supernatural characters, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea.