Kane on What He Would Say to Isaac Yankem

WWE superstar Kane was recently interviewed by Alfonso Castillo of Newsday.com to help promote the final live event at Nassau Coliseum.

He discussed what he would say to Isaac Yankem (his former gimmick), being a mentor to younger performers on the roster, as well as how freeing it is to not have to wear a mask in the ring:

AC: It’s a cliched question, but if the Kane of 2015 could have a conversation with Isaac Yankem of 1995, what would he say to him?

K: I would tell him that he needs to have some confidence, because he could actually do it. I think that’s true of a lot of young guys. I was so star-struck that it was a really difficult transition for me. I would also tell him, as well as the Kane of 1997, to enjoy things, because the time does go by so quickly. When I think about it, 20 years really seems like a blink of an eye sometimes. I wish I would have made a more concerted effort to enjoy things along the way. You get to a level like that and you get so caught up in things, and then twenty years is over and it’s like, “Wow. Where did all that time go?”

AC: Have you transitioned to that role of a kind of leader? Do you find yourself giving these younger guys advice? Do they come looking for it?

K: Yeah, to some extent. They’re a great bunch of guys and they’re confident in their craft. So it’s not like I have to say, “Hey, you should do this”A or “You should do that.”A Most of them are very good. But I’d like to think that I lead more by doing what I do — the way I carry myself and the way I take care of business.

AC: Is it a relief not to wear a mask just because it’s a pain? I’ve always thought about that. Doesn’t it restrict your breathing?

K: It does. It’s hot. That would be the biggest thing. I sweat a lot. Actually, one of my memories of the Nassau Coliseum was an autograph session I did there in 1997 or 1998. I’ll never forget. There were literally thousands of people there for this thing. The line went all the way around the building, which was incredible. Unfortunately for me, I had to wear the mask. And it was really hot. So I had two hours of boiling at this autograph session. That’s actually the worst part. Somebody else can go and do an autograph session and they get to wear whatever. But I have to put that mask on.

To read the interview in its entirety, click here.

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