Perhaps I have overstated the fact that I believe it's important for wrestlers to be seen as on screen performers, and to acknowledge that they are different people outside their characters. What's weird is that today's wrestling world presents a dichotemy of thought as it pertains to this idea.
On both the WWE and TNA side, you have guys acting out their gimmicks in public, from Wade Barrett wearing his Nexus armband in the airport to Jeff Hardy yelling at fans after a TV taping. Then, there's the appearances on radio and talk shows where most talent seem to be out of character and just being themselves.
Perhaps the most interesting person in this regard is Glen Jacobs, or Kane. While Kane is a diabolical maniac with evil intentions due to a tortured childhood, Glen Jacobs is a former substitute teacher whose intellect is perhaps among the best in the WWE. He has appeared numerous times on political talk shows as an open liberatarian, and is a generally well spoken and humble man.
Below, I am posting a link to an interview I just came across. Kane did a radio show up in Rochester yesterday and it's interesting to hear him speak candidly about his career and life. Though seemingly dry, he has a great sense of humor and really keeps the interview interesting throughout. One part in particular I want you to notice is that the interviewers joke about his former character, Isaac Yankem, DDS. It's rare that wrestlers acknowledge publically that they played more than one role, and it's especially weird with Kane, whose character is one of the few left that requires a suspension of disbelief. Still, Jacobs cracks a joke about it and moves right along.
I think that line makes it clear that we need to accept wrestling for what it is and suspend disbelief WITHIN the show, just like any other television show. Just like we don't need to believe that Dr. House is really a doctor, we also don't need to believe that Kane is really a madman just short of murder. These are performers, and the days of kayfabing the fans 24 hours a day are over.
Enjoy this interview, as I certainly did!
http://wease.fox951.com/cc-common/mediaplayer/player.html?redir=yes&mps=weaseplayer.php&mid=http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/30286/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/30286/9821/richmedia/Kane.mp3?CCOMRRMID=20747036&CPROG=RICHMEDIA&MARKET=ROCHESTER-NY&NG_FORMAT=&NG_ID=&OR_NEWSFORMAT=&OWNER=9821&SERVER_NAME=www.wease.com&SITE_ID=9821&STATION_ID=BWFOX-IP&TRACK=
Written by:
