wrestling / News

Kane Recalls Frustrations With Isaac Yankem Gimmick In WWE, Memories Of Brodie Lee & Pat Patterson

December 31, 2020 | Posted by Blake Lovell
Isaac Yankem WWE Kane

In a recent edition of theTwo Man Power Trip of Wrestling featuring Dr. Tom Pritchard, Kane discussed his initial frustrations with the Isaac Yankem gimmick, his memories of Brodie Lee and Pat Patterson, and much more. You can read his comments below.

Kane on his initial frustrations with the Isaac Yankem gimmick: “I’ll never forget, I was going into JJ Dillon’s office and Vince comes in and we’re talking. He lays out the Isaac Yankem thing for me, and I was literally deflated and not trying to show how deflated I was. I was trying to think of how I’m gonna make this thing work and realizing that I didn’t like it from the beginning and wasn’t gonna be able to work. It probably isn’t good when you make that decision as soon as something is presented to you. A lot of the failure of that character is really due to me and the fact that I just couldn’t get into it. Nevertheless, as things progressed, I did not have the best of attitudes at times.

“I remember one day, the Undertaker taking me aside and telling me I better basically get myself in gear because if I didn’t, I wasn’t gonna have a job there. He said he liked me, Vince liked me, and all that stuff, but I had to prove that I belonged. At that time, I decided that I didn’t necessarily have what I wanted, but if I kept moping around, I was never gonna get what I wanted. So, I had to do the best with what I had, and that’s what I tried to do. Even though it was initially not my dream character by any stretch of the imagination, it allowed me to get my foot in the door and give myself a chance.”

On his memories of Brodie Lee: “I was shocked. A friend of mine texted me and told me, and I was like, ‘There’s no way.’ Jon was a real good guy. He was just a sweetheart. Just a good person. 2020 has been an awful year. With everything going on, it’s been a terrible year. And this added to it. Jon was a great guy and had a wonderful family. He was just a sweetheart. Just a really good human being. He was one of those people that had something to say to brighten your spirits and make you laugh.”

Kane on his memories of Pat Patterson: “I was very fortunate to know Pat. Of course, he was influential in my career as a booker and as a mentor, even some in-ring stuff when he and Gerald Brisco were together which was always a lot of fun. Pat really is a legend. I think sometimes we use that term a little too loosely, but definitely in case, it certainly applies. WWE and professional wrestling wouldn’t but what it is and none of us would’ve had the enjoyment of the years in WWE if it hadn’t been for Pat Patterson.”

If using any of the above quotes, please credit the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling with an h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.