Since debuting in 1997, Kane has won multiple world championships and had feuds with some
of wrestling’s biggest names.
His relationship with The Undertaker is one of WWE’s most enduring stories, and led
to some big WrestleMania matches.
But before he was Kane, before he was Isaac Yankim, before he was Unabomb - he was something
much more festive [9].
I am Luke Owen and this is Kane’s Forgotten Gimmick.
Headline: Kane’s Forgotten Gimmick
Back in 1992, Kane - who’s real name is Glen Jacobs - was getting his start in the
wrestling industry working for Jerry Jarrett and Jerry “The King” Lawler’s United
States Wrestling Association - USWA.
There he worked as part of a Russian tag team when Kevin Lawler, son of the King, was graduating
from high school with big plans.
Kevin Lawler wanted to help his father and Jarrett promote and run shows for USWA, and
convinced them he was ready to take on the task.
He was given a few shows to run, but always felt that they never had any strong heels
for the babyfaces to work against.
All this would change when he had a show coming up in December.
“I wanted to run an event, I wanted to do a Christmas themed event, but didn't have
any heels.
So I said, 'what if I just create some kind of a character.”
- Kevin Lawler, Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ Podcast, December 5th 2017
The character was known as The Christmas Creature, a terrifyingly tall beast decked out like
a Christmas tree with all the decorations to go with it.
He would menace all those who saw him and wish everyone a, “Miserable Christmas to
all and to all a good fright.'”
Jerry Lawler loved the idea, but wasn’t sure if Kevin could find someone to wear the
costume that he’d sketched out and someone to make it.
Kevin then remembered Jacobs from his Russian gimmick and gave him a call.
Luckily for the Lawlers, Jacobs’s mother was also a very good seamstress, so Kevin
sent the sketch by mail to Glen’s mum and had her measure him and create the costume.
This was then mailed back, and arrived on the day of the show for Jacobs to wear.
“When his Mom made the outfit, she just measured him but didn't take into consideration
he had to move in it and lift his arms up and down.
When he tried to press slam someone, he couldn't lift them all the way up!
There was a lot of restrictions on the outfit!”
- Kevin Lawler, Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ Podcast, December 5th 2017
USWA referee Scott Bowden, who was part of the finish of The Christmas Creature’s match
with Jerry Lawler, described the costume as an evil Christmas tree from The Wizard of
Oz and like, “one of those less-than-threatening villains that Spider-Man used to fight.”
- Scott Bowden, Kentucky Fried Wrestling, July 20th 2010
Lawler then went out to a store to buy more tinsel and Christmas lights, wrapping Jacobs
in both and then had him walk to the ring lit up by an extension cable trailing behind
him - leading to Jerry Lawler to joke that he would literally punch The Christmas Creature’s
lights out.
“And then his manager had to unravel him before the match.
Kinda like Muta taking off all his stuff and spitting the mist.”
- Kevin Lawler, Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ Podcast, December 5th 2017
One of the oddest parts of The Christmas Creature was that Jerry Lawler and the USWA tried to
convince people that the man under the Christmas Creature suit wasn’t just some rookie wrestler,
but in fact Sid Vicious.
“They were trying to strongly hint was Sid Vicious, although it wasn't.
He was even supposed to managed on Monday night by Downtown Bruno, who was Sid's manager
in the WWF...
Lawler even did an interview saying he thought the guy was a WWF wrestler named Sid.”
Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter, December 28th 1992
The Christmas Creature, of course, lost his match to Jerry Lawler and despite his six
months worth of in-ring experience, Lawler was able to carry him to a decent performance
[15-screen].
“The Christmas Creature [got] over as a big time heel with the two Jewish kids in
the audience that cold December night in 1992.”
- Scott Bowden, Kentucky Fried Wrestling, July 20th 2010
The Christmas Creature was only supposed to be a one night deal, but because USWA had
TV tapings the following day Jerry Jarrett just happened to be in town for the December
show.
He was impressed by Jacob’s size and the gimmick, and booked him for the TV taping
where he had a couple of matches and shows until mid-January 1993.
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I’ve been Luke Owen and that was wrestling.