What If Kane’s Big Night Led To His Biggest Night?

 I couldn’t think of a title for this blog without it being too obvious or too long so I left it ambiguous. Some fans may be able to see what I’m getting at anyway based on this title. What I’m referring to his Kane’s impressive Royal Rumble performance in which he eliminated 11 men in 2001. This record would remain for 13 years until Roman Reigns eliminated 12 men, although many joke it’s 11 and a half because one of those men was El Torito. Back to Kane, that was probably his most dominant performance since his debut. 

My point is, what if Kane had actually won that year’s Royal Rumble? He came as close as can be, being the very last man eliminated, by winner Stone Cold Steve Austin. It completely rewrites the WrestleMania 17 main event of The Rock vs. Stone Cold, which was damn near perfection. I can’t imagine that match not being the main event so this is a very challenging “what if.” What would the main event be? As of this PPV, no one knew what the main event got WrestleMania would be yet because the WWF Champion at the time was Kurt Angle, although many speculated that by the time the show of shows came around, The Rock would be champion. 

Kurt Angle vs. Kane

To start, what if Angle remained champion until WrestleMania and was to face Kane for the Title in the main event? I wouldn’t be against it! Interestingly, that particular match, albeit without a title on the line, ended up happening at the next WrestleMania. In this scenario it could go either way but I would put money on Kane taking the Championship.

The Rock vs. Kane

The next potential opponent I’d like to bring up is The Rock. The month after the Royal Rumble at No Way Out, The Rock had defeated Kurt Angle for the WWF Title, setting up the 2nd of three WrestleMania matches between The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Kane’s had matches against The Rock in the past but for some reason I don’t see the chemistry working for a main event between them at WrestleMania. Similar to the previous match, I could see this resulting in either. This just doesn’t do it for me for some reason.

Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Kane

This is another that’s tough to call but looks better on paper than the previous match. In the Rumble as it played out, Austin won by last eliminating Kane. If Kane had won, would Austin be the last one eliminated? If so, and Austin ended up going into WrestleMania as Champion, there would be a story here.  There’s also history there, as Kane defeated Austin for the WWE at the 1998 King of the Ring, ending Austin’s first run with the Title. Unfortunately, Austin won it back the next night on Raw and Kane never won that Title again. WrestleMania 17 was in Austin’s home state of Texas and of course, won the Title by turning heel and aligning with of all people, his mortal enemy Vince McMahon himself. Would that same thing play out here? While I could see that play out the same or Austin retaining as a baby face, I have to go with Kane as the winner here.

Undertaker vs. Kane

By the end of WrestleMania 17, the Undertaker was now 9-0 with his WrestleMania streak, which actually wasn’t even acknowledged yet. Here we would have a rematch between the Brothers of Destruction. In their previous bout three years earlier, the Undertaker prevailed, but it took three Tombstones to get the job done. Even though they weren’t acknowledging the streak yet, I just can’t see it being over here. Unfortunately, Kane wouldn’t walk away the Champion. On the other hand, it would definitely be a quality WrestleMania main event.

Triple H vs. Kane

This would be another WrestleMania rematch, as these two battled two years earlier with The Game getting the win. By this point in time, Triple H is now a bona fide main event wrestler, especially compared to his place on the roster two years earlier. What’s fun is that this is yet another match whose winner could be either competitor. Within just a month of WrestleMania 17, Triple H and Steve Austin were battling Kane and the Undertaker for the Tag Team Titles. At this particular WrestleMania, Hunter lost to the Undertaker and in this scenario, I’d have to give the edge to Kane walking out as WWF Champion in a quality main event for the granddaddy of them all. 

Kane vs. (insert another wrestler)

I’ve run through pretty much all the main event wrestlers during this time to defend the WWF Title against Kane in the main event of WrestleMania. Now it’s time to think outside the box to find an opponent good enough to go toe to toe with the Big Red Machine and have it be worthy of WrestleMania’s main event. There are only two I can think of that could possibly work and one that’s a long shot but does have history behind it. 

First, there’s the Big Show, a man that matches Kane in size. These two actually did compete against one another at this WrestleMania, but it was a Triple Threat Match against Raven for his Hardcore Title. It has potential but I don’t think it works for this particular moment in time. I’m any event, I see Kane taking the Title here. Another opponent could be Chris Jericho. Kane and Jericho had a number of matches the previous year. At this WrestleMania, Jericho defeated William Regal. Much like against the Big Sbow, I see Kane as the winner. The last is the long shot, and that man is X-Pac. The only thing going for this match is the history between the two. For a time in 1999, these two became friends and Tag Team Champions. X-Pac betrayed Kane by getting together with Kane’s love interest, Tori. I just don’t see this as WrestleMania main event worthy.

Out of of all these possible opponents I’ve run through, there’s one that I think works above all the rest. A close 2nd would be Triple H but my number one guy is Stone Cold Steve Austin. I’m curious to know fan’s thoughts on this matter. Ultimately, I’m trying to go with momentum, as Kane’s dominance in the match made him look incredible and could have been his chance to have a good reign with a World Title and to main event a WrestleMania.