WWE: Why Kane Is Not Missed on Smackdown

Kane has been gone from WWE's Smackdown since July.  It's been so long that the show has morphed into the Supershow and in some ways will be unrecognizable when he comes back.

Though I'm a big fan of his, I don't believe Smackdown misses him.

That is not to say that he shouldn't be welcomed back, or that it's better off without him, but Smackdown sans Kane is doing quite well. 

If he decided to focus on making more horror movies, the show wouldn't suffer.

The Big Red Machine was once a key component on Monday Night Raw and as recently as last year held the World Heavyweight Championship. 

At 44, I believe he still has some good years to offer.  He's a quality performer and certainly an asset.

So why has it been so easy to move on without him? How has he so easily become an afterthought?

Smackdown's Overloaded Roster

Even without the Raw superstars constantly invading Smackdown, their roster is overflowing with talent.  The list of rising stars is impressive: Cody Rhodes, Daniel Bryan, Justin Gabriel, Wade Barrett, Sin Cara, etc.

There isn't even enough air time to give to all the guys who deserve it as it is.

I'm sure that the book people could find a place for Kane, but who gets shoved aside to make room for him?  My vote would have been the Great Khali, but he seems to be on his way out.

Whether WWE needs a third weekly show to allow some of these guys to shine is yet to be seen.  Having such a stacked roster certainly makes Kane’s absence much easier to swallow.

Kane's Gimmick Treading Water

Kane's arrival at the first Hell in a Cage match had audiences glued to the TV.  He rode that masked monster gimmick for a quite a long time.

His unmasking was a well-timed shift in his gimmick.

That moment happened over eight years ago.  He hasn't had a significant change in his gimmick since. 

Take CM Punk as an example: He doesn't stick with one look or specific persona for long.  Though he’s essentially the same guy, he’s always evolving.  We never get a chance to get bored.

While Kane is out, WWE needs to find a way to repackage him.  He doesn't need to be completely different, but a change needs to be made. 

Mark Henry is the new Alpha Monster

Mark Henry's new role as a vicious, merciless beast of a man is exactly what Kane had been bringing to WWE for years, though Henry's not quite as demented as the Big Red Machine.

Seeing the World's Strongest Man put his hands on Jim Ross was eerily familiar.

If Henry is the No. 1 monster heel, where does that leave Kane?

Having them occupy the same position dilutes both of their statures as villains.  Henry's transformation into his current persona has been magnificent. 

There's no reason for him to stop doing what he’s doing anytime soon.

So again, Kane is going to need something different when he returns.  He needs to find a new niche, a new angle or he’ll be redundant.     

Undertaker's absence hurts Kane

Thinking back on Kane's most monumental moments, an overwhelming majority of them involve the Undertaker. 

Without an active Undertaker on the roster, things just aren't the same for Kane.  More than Hulk needed Andre and the Rock need Steve Austin, Kane needs the Undertaker.

It is with him that he has the most dramatic tension and the best chemistry.  Story lines between them draw on a long history.  Their characters complement each other perfectly.

Perhaps WWE has been too dependent on their on again, off again rivalry, but Kane has little history with anyone else.  Some creative storytelling could solve that and find him a new worthy rival.

Otherwise we may forget about Kane altogether.