Why Kane Cannot Be Taken Seriously as an Authority Figure

As Director of Operations for the onscreen powerhouse faction now known as “The Authority,” WWE superstar Kane has now re-established himself as a major player in the WWE ranks.

However, his job title leaves a lot to the imagination, and his duties are very unclear.

As a physical force, Kane has few equals. He is a massive presence that commands respect simply by entering the ring. Most performers quake in fear when the first notes of his entrance music hit, with many completely vacating the ring just to dodge an attack.

But as he made his entrance on Raw recently, distracting the Big Show momentarily during his match with The Shield and Randy Orton, Kane seemed to be missing something.

No, it wasn’t his trademark red attire or the mask that he had handed to Stephanie McMahon the week before. Instead, Kane seemed to lack the killer instinct that had once been his calling card.

Now a pawn in the chess game that The Authority is playing, Kane seems completely domesticated.

This became evident when he failed to assert any dominance over Brad Maddox and Vicki Guerrero when it came to who would be in charge of Raw in Stephanie McMahon and Triple H’s absence.

What should have been the Big Red Monster taking complete control over the show and using physical force if necessary turned into a squabbling match like the ones most schoolteachers see.

Gone seems the killer instinct that he once possessed, replaced with the need to please, like one of an obedient pet.

And without that edge, without the fire burning inside of him, Kane loses all credibility in the eyes of the WWE Universe.

Since making his debut as Kane in April 1997, Kane has torn through the ranks of the company over and over again. Having won nearly all of the championships that the company has had over the course of those years, few could argue that he has not been a force to be reckoned with.

But how quickly things can change.

After an attack by the Wyatt Family months ago, Kane looked to return with a vengeance, hell-bent on revenge. And anyone that stood in his way would be decimated.

Instead, he made his return and quickly attacked the Wyatts and the Miz. Then the storyline was abandoned.

And while his current role does give him some more time onscreen, essentially being the direct underling to Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, one can’t help but notice how awkward Kane looks in a suit and tie.

Despite the company seeming to give him a high-profile role, one that is less physically demanding than the one that he has had over the last nearly two decades, it seems as if Corporate Kane will be destined to be one big red joke.

The real question, though, is why the company would saddle one of its biggest stars over the past two decades with such a frivolous role.

The Big Red Machine gimmick has always been a good one, and it has never gotten stale. And for a gimmick to remain that popular with fans for so long means that something about it must resonate with the public.

But can Corporate Kane be one of those gimmicks?

If the last few weeks are any indication, not only is the WWE Universe unsure about it, but judging from the constant squirming that Kane is doing in his snappy business suit, neither is he.