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The Undertaker and Kane are among the best WWE giants in history. As rivals, the animosity between the two brothers has captivated fans throughout their careers, especially during the early years of the Attitude Era. And as a unit, the two destroyed whoever dared to cross their paths, especially as the Brothers of Destruction are multi-time WWE Tag Team champions. Someone like Kane, for instance, has highly benefited from his on-screen association with The Undertaker, becoming a legend in his own right. However, it's worth noting that one could argue that the "Kane" character could be been traced back to when The Undertaker made his WWE debut at the Survivor Series 1990 PPV, where his original name was Kane "The Undertaker."
Related: Kane's First 10 WWE RAW Matches, Ranked Worst To Best
Kane And The Undertaker's On-Screen Relationship Over The Years
Kane and The Undertaker have a well-documented history that's lasted almost two decades, considering that the two are on-screen half-brothers. From the first time he made his WWE debut during The Undertaker's Hell in a Cell match with Shawn Michaels in 1997, Kane has always played an integral part in The Undertaker's career.
Among The Undertaker's biggest rivals, there's no doubt that Kane is at the top of that list. Over the years, Kane is one of the few men that's pushed The Undertaker to his limit. Kane's battled The Undertaker in countless hard-fought matches and has also taken the extra step to brutalize him at every chance he got.
It's no secret that Kane and The Undertaker have put each other through hell. However, because they're brothers, they've always had each other's back at the end of the day. There's a reason why the Brothers of Destruction have dominated the WWE tag team division on many occasions, as they've won the WWE Tag Team Championship three times. Even recently, when Kane and The Undertaker reunited to take on D-Generation X in 2018, the two have proven time and time again that when push comes to shove, they have no problem working together.
Related: Every Undertaker vs. Kane Rivalry, Ranked From Worst To Best
Kane Adopts The Undertaker's Original 1990 WWE Name
Glenn Jacobs may not have made his debut as Kane until 1997, seven years after The Undertaker's WWE debut, but his character could be traced back to The Undertaker's original ring name when he first debuted. Some younger fans may not realize this, but The Undertaker's original ring name was Kane "The Undertaker," or Cain The Undertaker.
However, after a few matches on WWE TV, The Undertaker quickly had his ring name changed as the "Kane" name didn't really fit him. Although it'd be almost a decade before a WWE superstar would have Kane as their ring name, Glenn Jacobs would revive it to represent his "pyromaniac" persona. And considering Kane was initially The Undertaker's enemy, his ring name appears to be influenced by biblical scripture relating to the story of Cain and Abel.
Kane Garners An Impressive Legacy Of His Own
Although Kane's character has a deep connection to The Undertaker, going as far as taking his original ring name, it's worth noting that he's garnered a successful career in his own right. Without The Undertaker, Kane achieved a long list of accomplishments throughout his career, that includes being a two-time WWE World Champion.
Related: Why The Undertaker Wore Snakeskin Pants At Survivor Series 2000, ExplainedKane's antics alone had him involved in some of the most memorable moments on WWE TV, like unmasking for the first time during a June 2003 episode of Monday Night Raw. Because of everything he's accomplished in WWE, whether it involved The Undertaker or not, his success made him a headlining attraction when he was inducted into the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame.
