"The Devil's Favorite Demon." "The Big Red Machine." These are a few names that Kane has had throughout his career in the WWE. So, if someone has names like those, you expect this monster to attack anything and anyone in his way. This week on Raw, however, this didn't seem to be the case. While the segment and attack on Daniel Bryan by Kane was decent enough and "sent" Daniel Bryan to the hospital, it wasn't the old Kane. It wasn't the "Devil's Favorite Demon." Let's take a look.
First off, give Daniel Bryan so much credit for working on Raw after knowing that his father passed away. You could see the emotion as he was going to the ring.
Now, when I heard Kane's music playing a while after he wasn't showing up and interrupting Stephanie McMahon, immediately I thought WWE was doing something good here. He is defying authority. But that's only one thing. The way he showed up was a mistake. How would Kane not be spotted easily going through the crowd before Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella saw him?
The way I would've had Kane show up was to have him be under the ring and since he wasn't showing up while his music was playing, have his hand pop up from under the ring and there is where he could've done one of two things. First, he could've grabbed Brie Bella's foot. Of course, Daniel Bryan would've kicked Kane's hand. But this is a monster, a simple kick to the hand shouldn't hurt. He is a monster. Second, instead of grabbing Brie Bella's foot, grab Stephanie McMahon's foot and this causes Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella to get out of the ring and protect themselves from this monster. As a result, Stephanie McMahon is by herself and trying to save herself but fails to do so. Kane brings her under the ring and we have no idea of what Kane is doing or will do to Stephanie McMahon. With one of these two scenarios, we immediately realize we aren't getting PG Kane, but Attitude Era Kane. The Kane who doesn't care about what he is doing as long as he is inflicting pain. The "Devil's Favorite Demon."
Another missing idea to me, was his attack on Daniel Bryan. The attack was done well, to an extent. The thing missing to me was even more viciousness and a hellacious, demonic beating to Daniel Bryan. He tombstoned Daniel Bryan on the stairs and on the announce table. This wasn't enough. While it's something, it's not everything. Where is the blood that Kane is inflicting on Daniel Bryan? I know it's a PG show, but I think WWE would and should've allowed it for this one time. To sell that Kane isn't playing at all. He is the Attitude Era Kane, not corporate Kane, heck, not even the Kane that scared Eve Torres, John Cena, and Zack Ryder. The old Kane. There should've been a ton more violence. Perhaps, Kane choking Daniel Bryan with a chain AND repeatedly hitting Daniel Bryan with a steel chair... 15-30 times. Yes, that much. You want to get the point that Kane isn't a "corporate sellout" or just another run of Kane with a mask, make Kane deliver Daniel Bryan to hell with the beating. Just like the Attitude Era Kane would do to anyone. Make Kane use anything he sees in sight against Daniel Bryan. This was missing, not just a tombstone to the steel steps or an announce table. Don't limit it within the PG realm.
The final thing that was missing, goes back a little to my first point. Remember when Kane tombstoned Linda McMahon on the stage to close Raw back in 2003, that part of Kane was missing. Here is where WWE could've really sold Kane as the Attitude Era Kane and the "Devil's Favorite Demon." WWE should've had Kane attack Brie Bella or Stephanie McMahon. By attack, I mean tombstone AND chokeslam one or both of them. To get the point more across though, it should be Brie Bella. I don't care if it's PG or whatever, for this one time only, there is an excuse. TO SELL THE POINT THAT THIS IS ATTITUDE ERA KANE, NOT THE PG ERA KANE, NOT THE CORPORATE KANE, BUT ATTITUDE ERA KANE. After Kane was done with Daniel Bryan, he should have gone to Brie Bella and first chokeslam Brie Bella. Next, have Kane tombstone Brie Bella in the ring, or the mat. Whichever, the point is to show that Kane will hurt anyone and anything that is in his way, and more importantly, Daniel Bryan's love.
If Brie Bella can't or doesn't want to take a bump to sell the point that this is not PG Era Kane, too bad. Divas from the past would not mind if they had to take a chokeslam and tombstone to get a story across. If Brie Bella couldn't or didn't want to do it, she shouldn't be in the WWE. I don't care if she is pretty or cares more about her looks and doesn't want to get hurt, take the chokeslam and tombstone. This was the #1 thing that was lacking. Not just an attack, but an attack on someone the WWE Universe would be shocked is getting the beating, and would make their jaws drop. If Linda McMahon could've taken the tombstone in 2003, Brie Bella, who has competed in many matches, can easily take a chokeslam and tombstone.
And that is how, WWE could have made the point that this isn't PG Kane, heck it's not even Ruthless Aggression Kane, but Attitude Era Kane. The "Devil's Favorite Demon." For once, I really believe, WWE could've forgotten the PG limits for one night, and made the point that Kane isn't someone to play with. He isn't a "sellout" or "corporate" anymore, he is the "Devil's Favorite Demon."