That Time The Undertaker Brought A WWE Superstar BACK FROM THE DEAD In Japan

Kane's elevation from a burned out house to a sold out one completed a character resurrection for The Undertaker that had begun in earnest over a year earlier.

In 1996, the deranged Mankind beat the purple gloves off of the New Generation monster-slayer and took his longtime associate Paul Bearer in the process. Bearer turning on The Undertaker felt like a father abandoning his son - something that foreshadowed Paul's actual relationship with 'The Big Red Machine' by the time the story ran out of shock twists. Undertaker was humanised by the relatable loss, and his edgy reinvention late in the year fed into his revitalised quest to regain the WWE Championship in 1997.

His refreshed status looked good to greedy Uncle Paul but Undertaker's refusal to return to his side resulted in the 'KANE'S ALIVE!" secret - and all it's ugly innards - being shared with the world. The payoff needed to be more than just a one night attack - it was the end of 'The Deadman's latest chapter.

Undertaker subsequently disappeared in the immediate aftermath of the Hell In A Cell classic. He could, back then. The company had less than three hours of television a week to produce and even a barren roster could manage without his looming presence once in a while. Shawn Michaels and Triple H had Bret Hart to bully, whilst Kane's rampage required big brother not to be watching in order to help him get over as the new supernatural entity in the organisation.

Yet still, his fire and fury couldn't compete with what his older sibling was up to in the Far East.

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