The rivalry between these two in 2012 wasn't a big one which was reflected in its placing on the card. Orton v Kane took place while it was still light in Sun Life Stadium, unthinkable when you consider their main event pasts. On an episode of SmackDown in March, Kane interrupted Orton's match against Daniel Bryan, causing The Apex Predator to lose via count-out. The pair would then brawl which ended with Orton being on the receiving end of a chokeslam. Kane's interference played out so he could 'welcome back' Orton who had been injured at the hands of Bryan a few weeks earlier. Orton retaliated on the following episode of Raw, delivering an RKO to Kane after The Big Red Machine had defeated R-Truth. Orton and Kane brawled once again on the following Friday's SmackDown with no man appearing to gain an advantage. This really was the most petty of feuds and one that seemed to be thrown up late in the day just to fill the card. The Viper then demanded that Kane explain why he was attacking him. The Daemon told of how a handshake after a Street Fight a year earlier made him look weak and 'human', he wanted to eliminate the memory of his 'wretched self' and challenged Orton to a match at WrestleMania 28. The match itself was a ding dong battle that finished quickly. Orton attempted an RKO from the second rope, Kane caught him and delivered a chokeslam for the win.
