KANE vs. ELIJAH BURKE

photo: courtesy wwe.com

March 18, 2008 Biloxi, MS - Mississippi Coast Coliseum

From wwe.com - The Land of the Extreme was in full-force WrestleMania mode in this super-competitive sports-entertainment season as the evening kicked off on fire – literally. Kane exploded into the ring where Joey Styles announced that he will be one of 24 men in a Battle Royale, the winner of which will take on Chavo for the ECW Championship. This will be Kane's 10th WrestleMania appearance in 11 years!

Kane struck down Burke early leading Burke to bail out to the floor where Kane followed, ramming Burke back first into the ring wall. Back in the ring, Kane gave Burke a backbreaker ring center then took it to Burke on the floor, where he continued to dominate with a chinlock. Kane release Burke after a warning count by the ref, then unleashed his fury with a barrage of fists, elbows and knees, ending with a bodyslam and another chinlock. Styles and Tazz commented that this wasn't something we normally see from Kane.

Elijah got his thumb into Kane's eye, effectively getting the Big Man off his back, then went on the offense until a quick uppercut by Kane stopped him short. Kane whipped Burke into the ropes and Elijah came back with a boot to Kane's face followed by a high flying kick and a barrage of punches that kept Kane in the corner. The ref stepped in, putting distance between the two, Burke moved in but Kane shoved him back. Burke came back again with a kick to Kane's mid-section then attempted to whip Kane into the ropes, but Kane balked whipping Burke into the corner post instead. Kane charged but Burke escaped and Kane took the ring post with his shoulder. Burke saw and opening for the Elijah Express and charged straight into the right hand of Kane, going up and crashing down on a Chokeslam. Kane covered, got the three count and the win.

As Elijah Burke lay stunned and winded, Kane rose and left the ring, checking his jaw as we got a double replay of the ending of the match. Kane grinned wickedly at what's shown then threw up his arms with a roar as the crowd responded.

MANIA PREVIEW

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March 14, 2008 Chicago, IL

source: WWE.com - Fans at the Allstate Arena got a taste of the intensity to come in just 16 days at WrestleMania XXIV as the SmackDown Superstars collided in the ring, on the unforgiving concrete arena floor, and within a 15-foot-high steel cage. There is no doubt, The Granddaddy of Them All is near.

Tag Match.

Kane & Jamie Noble – who was still nursing injured ribs, courtesy of a Big Show beating last week on SmackDown - squared off against Chuck Palumbo & The Great Khali. Taking advantage of his most vulnerable opponent, Khali slammed Noble to the mat and got the easy pinfall while Kane laid a beating on Palumbo outside the ring.

The match offered a preview of what is to come at WrestleMania, as all four Superstars will be part of a special 24-Man Battle Royal, featuring members of Raw, ECW and SmackDown. The winner of the over-the-top rope encounter will receive an ECW Title Match that same night against ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero.

KANE UNABLE?

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March 10, 2008 Milwaukee, Ws

source: wwe.com - Randy Orton's in charge of the Triple Threat Takeover this week, and the current WWE Champion arranged a match between Triple H and The Game’s WrestleMania XV opponent, Kane!

As highlights aired of Kane's WrestleMania 15 match against the Game, Kane was watching the footage on a monitor backstage when Randy Orton entered the scene. Orton ran down Kane’s past with Triple H until Kane grabbed him by the throat.

“When it comes to Triple H, I don’t need a history lesson, Randy,” Kane said. “I remember everything”.

KANE vs Triple H

The two towering figures rumbled throughout the ring, Triple H went for the pedigree, but Kane flipped out of it; Kane got set for a chokeslam, but HHH avoided it; Orton came out on stage distracting HHH and Kane got in good offense, but when he went up top, he landed in a Triple H sized boot. A pedigree followed and Triple H pinned Kane’s shoulders to the mat as Orton watched from the wings.

FIRED UP FOR FLORIDA

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March 7, 2008 Cleveland, OH

source: Lords of Pain - With WrestleMania just 23 days away, the SmackDown Superstars have started stepping up their game in preparation for the biggest event in sports-entertainment. With a burst of flame from hell comes the Big Red Machine Kane!

Match #3: Chuck Palumbo vs. Kane.

The match begins with both men locking up. Kane gets the advantage by powering him in the corner. Palumbo reverses Kane into the corner and unloads some fists. Kane comes back with fists of his own. Kane whips Palumbo into the corner and eventually gets a boot right into Palumbo’s head. Kane goes for the pin and gets a two count.

Palumbo comes back and gets a big clothesline that brings Kane down to the mat. Palumbo unloads some fists at Kane and then works on Kane in the corner. Palumbo hits a major clothesline and gets a pin for 2. Palumbo whips Kane into the corner and rushes right at him. However Kane lifts the boot and hits the clothesline. Kane gets Palumbo in the corner and unloads some right hands. He whips him in the opposite corner and his some clothesline. Kane catches Palumbo on the rebound for the sidewalk slam. He goes for the pin and gets two

Kane goes to the top rope attempting to go for the diving clothesline. Palumbo sees his opportunity hits a big boot right to Kane’s head which knocks him off. Palumbo then kicks Kane in the skull and down goes Kane. Kane doesn’t stay down long and rises up and grabs onto Palumbo’s neck. Palumbo tries to fight back with head butts, but Kane holds his grip and puts paid to Palumbo with a chokeslam - the 1…2…3and the winner of the match is the Big Red Machine Kane.

KANE vs. JAMES CURTIS

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March 4, 2008 Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena

Leaving the backstage cat-fight between Kelly-Kelly and Layla, we come ringside as KANE is making his fiery entrance and Tazz tells us this match was brought about by Vickie Guerrero and Armando Estrada. James Curtis is already in the ring, but bails as KANE climbs the ropes and into the ring. KANE walks straight over to the ropes and stares down at Curtis then backs up slowly as the ref tries to talk Curtis back inside. At the opposite end of the ring, KANE begins to pace, looking around.

Camera pans to the top of the ramp as Chuck Palumbo appears astride his motorcycle. Palumbo stares into KANE's perplexed face, then slowly takes the bike down the ramp toward the ring as the announcers tell us that Chuck is scheduled to go up against KANE at SmackDown. As KANE follows Palumbo's progress, we see in the background that Curtis is now on the ring apron. Kane turns and begins to walk to the side of the ring where Palumbo idles, the bell sounds as Curtis decides now is a good time to make his move and attacks KANE from behind.

KANE turns back into a barrage of landed blows from Curtis, then shoves the lad down to the mat. Curtis bounds up and into a boot to the face, and staggers up and around as Palumbo continues his slow circle of the ring. KANE, keeping an eye on Palumbo, grasps Curtis by the throat and hefts him up into a chokeslam, followed by the 1-2-3 and a win. As his music blares, KANE rises to stare at Palumbo who once again sits atop the ramp. Tazz asks if Palumbo will meet the same fate this Friday night on SmackDown as Chuck gives KANE a long calculating look then rides away, leaving KANE to glare after him.