WWF Byte This! Report with Bob Orton / Kane: 11/16
    Submitted by Kevin Gregg on Friday, November 16, 2001 at 5:40 PM EST

    WWF Byte This! Report with Bob Orton / Kane: 11/16

    Friday, November 16, 2001
    Hosts: Kevin Kelly and Howard Finkel
    Guests: Kane and Bob Orton
    Report by: Kevin Gregg of PowerWrestling.com

    Kevin Kelly and Howard Finkel kick off the show in the studio, and Kevin starts off by talking about the Survivor Series main event, and it's the biggest match in sports entertainment history. The winner of the match will control the industry. One entity will be done this Sunday at Survivor Series. Survivor Series is just hours away, and Kevin urges everyone to order the pay per view, and if you can't order the event, you can check out the pay per view on WWF.com! You have until 5pm tomorrow to order the event. The key right now is to act fast and make sure you're ready and set to go. Kevin says that there has to be some mixed emotions for Howard as we head into Sunday. This could very well be the last time we hear his voice on pay per view. Howard says yes it could, and quite frankly, he's worried. This is a very important event for the future direction of the industry. Having been a loyal employee of the WWF for nearly 22 years, if you saw Smackdown! last night, he ran into Vince, and he meant what he said.

    They showed the clip, and Kevin says it was a touching moment. Howard says that he may have gotten carried away, but he wanted to let Vince know that as a complete loyalist to his product and what this company means, he's going for them getting the win at Survivor Series. Kevin talks about the talking by Mick Foley and Paul Heyman on RAW and Smackdown!, and Kevin says that we got some real heart felt comments from Mick. Maybe he feels slighted, or he feels the WWF doesn't need him anymore. Kevin talks about the unification Championship matches, and Howard says that they talked about the title situation last week. There are way too many titles, and with the unification matches, maybe they can get the breath of fresh air when it comes to the Championship belts. Howard says isn't it great that you have freedom of speech? Mick Foley and Paul Heyman went out on RAW and Smackdown! and said what they felt. A little later on, Kane will be joining the show for the first time. He's never been on Byte This!, and it's going to be great to talk to him for the first time ever.

    Howard talks about the Legends Segment, and it was really good last week when they had the Iron Sheik. It was fun, and they are going to continue it. Today, they've got the Ace, Cowboy Bob Orton. The name Orton in wrestling is probably going to be rivaling the name of Johnson or Maivia. Randy Orton is an up and coming wrestler who could be a huge star in this business. Kevin says that Bob was in Louisville over the summer for an event with the OVW. Kevin asks for the status of the phones, and Big Country says that it should be working now. Droz joins the show, and you can read his column on WWF.com. Howard asks Droz what he thinks. It's all on the line. Are they going to make it? Droz says that they have to make it. Droz says that the ending for Smackdown! was one of the best endings he's seen in a long time. The match itself was going great, and to see how it turned out was great. Everybody was out there knocking heads, and it was a great preview to what's going to be an unbelievable pay per view.

    Kevin says that it was such a unique week. Kurt Angle came out on Monday and got interrupted by Edge, and Edge became the United States Champion. Then, we got some heart felt comments by Mick Foley, and RAW ended on a comical note with The Rock and Stone Cold. RAW had a little bit of everything, and Paul Heyman's comments on Smackdown!, and the red hot main event. Stone Cold and Vince smiled at each other, and the stage is set for the Survivor Series. Let's go back to RAW and the way the show wrapped up. Droz says that he was watching that show with his buddy and they were laughing their asses off. It was great to see, and the crowd was so into it. Austin's "what" chant, he couldn't get a word out without the fans interrupting him. They were dying over it, and you knew it had to come to blows out there. It was an unbelievable display for the crowd to see and hear. Kevin says that the "what" chant is so over right now. He read a report that as the fans were leaving the Fleet Center, all you heard was "What?" Howard says the perspective of the phenomenon of one word has caught on fire!

    Howard says that you can watch your RAW program and enjoy it from your chair, and you are going to have a view. If you are at the show live, you are going to have another view. When those people walked out of the Fleet Center on Monday night, they were 1000% satisfied. Droz says that the best part was the fact that being there live and seeing the event is unbelievable, but when you get involved with it, it has the people feeling and believing that they were involved, and they were. It was great for everyone out there and the people at home. Kevin says that they have a chat room question, and it says that Droz played Football in Montreal? Did he? What year? Droz says he did, and it was in 1996. He was up there and he was up there for a couple of weeks. He played one game at the Stadium and had it out and he met up with Vince McMahon and started his training about 6 months after that. Kevin says that we also heard comments from Paul Heyman on Smackdown!, and what were Droz's thoughts? Droz says listening to Paul and Mick, we had two shoot interviews, and Paul aired it all.

    He aired what a lot of people have felt over the years with Vince taking over everything, and going against the promises that his father had made. More power to Vince. He did what he had to do to get the business to where it is now. Vince is a billionaire now, but it was great to hear that coming out of Paul E's mouth on TV. Howard asks if Vince didn't do what he did in the 80s, we wouldn't be here today doing Byte This!. A lot of people in the industry wouldn't be in the business in a favorable way. Change is good. What Paul said might be valid, but there's some sour grapes as well. Droz says with what Vince did, you have to develop and you have to change. Over those years, wrestling has gone in an up and down swing. It's been in an up swing for quite a while now, and that's for one reason. Vince McMahon is that reason, because he ruled wrestling throughout the years. Kevin says that you can take what Paul Heyman said, and say he has a point, and we didn't hear Vince's rebuttal. He wasn't going to dignify that with a response.

    Tazz got a response, and Vince did get the last word. Was that Paul Heyman's last opportunity to get a shot in on Vince? One way or the other, either Vince or Paul Heyman could be gone, and Paul probably saw that as his last opportunity to say to Vince what has been on his mind for a long time. Droz says that the one reason he knew that Paul Heyman was hot was because he took his hat off. Howard shifts gears, and he says that last week, we all talked about the titles. Way too many. You need a score card every week. It's like a game of checkers. Is Droz finally glad that some of these titles are going to be unified this Sunday? Droz says that they talked about this last week, and he was trying to list all of the titles, and he doesn't think he got them all. Mick talked about them, and back in the day, the titles meant so much more. It's great that Mick Foley came out and decided to unify the belts. That will definitely help the business and give them more power and justification to winning a belt. It's a good start, and they'll go from there.

    Kevin asks Droz if he thinks Austin is going to join the WWF? Droz says the way Vince is leading into it and the way things are going, he doesn't see it being Austin. He thinks that Austin may be leading on that he's coming over, but Droz doesn't think he's going to do it. Howard says that whoever wins the Unification matches, they are guaranteed employment. Droz says that's a great thing, and there's nothing greater than that. If you win that match, you'll have a job, and if you lose it, you may not have a job. Kevin says that's going to be the thread that goes through every match at Survivor Series. There is going to be a thread of guys fighting as if it's their last battle, because it may very well be. Droz says that's such a great thing for people to look forward to. It's balls out. All or nothing. Kevin says that someone in the chat room refers to Paul Heyman's hair do as a skullet! Classic. Howard asks Droz where he sees the wrestling industry come Monday. Droz says that they have to win this. He doesn't know who's going to win it, but they have to keep tradition alive.

    Kevin says that there could be some rather drastic changes come Monday. Kevin, Howard and Droz then start talking about other sports to end Droz's segment on Byte This!. They won't be on next week, because of Thanksgiving, and they want to wish Droz and Julie a good Thanksgiving. Droz leaves the show, and Kevin says that the WWF has to win. That's the only way they can think about it. Howard says you have to be positive, otherwise, why are you there? They go to a caller, and the caller is calling from the UK. The caller said that he heard that Kaientai has been released. Is that true? Kevin and Howard say no. Kevin explains that Taka is out with an injury, and Funaki is flying solo. Howard says that they call him the uncrowned Korean Champion, and he hates that. The caller asks about a push for them, and Kevin says that they are entertaining, so once Taka is ready to return, they could be getting something. Kevin asks the caller about the Survivor Series, and the caller says that the Alliance is going to kick the WWF's ass.

    It's time for Out Think the Fink. On the Eve of the Survivor Series this coming Sunday, Howard would like to know, at the first Survivor Series that was held in 1987 in Richfield, Ohio. There was a match involving some of the female talent at the time. Who were the Survivors? Email the answer to bytethis@wwf.com. Kevin and Howard talk about the developmental territories, and they've had the chance to present some of the developmental stars at the House Shows. Brock Lesnar, Rico Constantino, Ron Waterman and Randy Orton are beginning to carve their own niche. To be able to wrestle with the WWF Superstars is wonderful training. Kevin talks about going to a show, and he says that the developmental talent is doing great. All they need is time and exposure, and they will be coming to the WWF soon. Howard says that he announced Brock to come into the ring at a show, and he didn't get that much of a reaction, but he got a lot of oohs and ahhs. Rico Constantino reminds Howard of Rick Martel.

    Kevin says that he aggravates the people by telling them to shush, and he was getting the people hot. It was tapping into some emotion for Rico. A good job for him. Kevin goes over a question, and it's how many developmental wrestlers will make it to the WWF or the Alliance? Kevin says hopefully all of them. They want them all to succeed. They'd love to see them all make it, but of course, they know that some of them won't.

    This week's Classic Clip Poll is:

    * Unforgiven 1998: Kane vs. the Undertaker (Inferno)
    * King of the Ring 1998: Kane vs. Stone Cold
    * Wrestlemania XV: Tombstones Pete Rose
    * Judgment Day 2001: Defeats Triple H

    Email your votes to bytethis@wwf.com.

    Kevin and Howard start talking about Tazz, and Big Country comes on the show, and he says that he tried to get a hold of Tazz, and Tazz said he couldn't be bothered to talk. He said that he didn't want to talk about it, and that he would see us the week after Thanksgiving. Big Country says that he's miserable and hot, what can you say? Kevin says that Tazz got out of his seat on Smackdown! and choked out Paul Heyman and then he walked off the show. He could have gone back and finished the show, but for whatever reason, he decided to walk off the show. They show the clip from Smackdown! when Paul Heyman got in the ring with Vince McMahon and lashed out on him:

    Courtesy of the PowerWrestling.com Results Archives:

    In ring promo:
    The ECW music hit in the arena and Paul Heyman made his way to the ring with something on his mind, concerning Vince McMahon. Paul got on the mic and said that in just a few moments at his leasure, he's going to call Vince McMahon out to his ring in front of his public on a television show that's owned by his grand company. At least that is, until this Sunday at Survivor Series. The fans started chanting "Asshole, asshole!" and Paul said that he knows how much the fans appreciate what Shane, Stephanie and Heyman have done. How they have stood up to Vince McMahon. The way it is, ladies and gentlemen is quite simple. The WWF will die this Sunday. But don't blame Paul. It's not his fault. He's not the one that ruined everything that was accomplished by Stone Cold Steve Austin. You see, at Survivor Series, it means so much more than just the personalities that are involved. It's about ending what Vince McMahon has tried to accomplish. Paul sat there at that desk on Monday and he listened to Mick Foley and he agreed with everything that Mick Foley had to say. That the WWF truly does suck!

    The fans booed Paul, and Paul said not to boo him. Haven't you watched the Television shows lately? Vince McMahon has lost his mind. The man doesn't have it anymore. He's a has been. His ideas and concepts are a thing of the past. Mick Foley was right, because the WWF is imploding from within. Like every great empire, the WWF is imploding from within. Vince's loyal employees left him. Stone Cold left him, and Foley wants nothing to do with him. Vince's own children want to see him burn. Vince will see the WWF die at Survivor Series, and he has no hope to save his precious company. Vince has the same chances of saving the WWF as he did of realizing his dream of starting a football league. Vince McMahon's music hit and he made his way out and Paul Heyman had a huge smile on his face as the owner of the WWF made his way to the ring. Vince stood in the ring and waited for Paul to go on. Paul said that he was down on his knees, because he knows that he's used to men kissing his ass. Every time Vince walks in the back, there's Patterson and Brisco clapping for him and kissing his ass. Vince likes men kissing his ass, doesn't he? Because that's what he's all about. A billionaire. The billionaire, Vince McMahon.

    The creator of sports entertainment. Paul has waited so long to see Vince face to face like this, and tell him to his face that he hates his stinking guts, but it's not just him, it's his children that hate his stinking guts and at Survivor Series, Vince's children is going to do to him what he's waited for his whole life to see happen to Vince. Vince is the most disgusting, vile, son of a bitch that he's ever seen in his life! Vince took Hulk Hogan's blood and built Titan Towers. He stole Bret Hart's dream and with that money bought himself an airplane with WWF all over it. Vince did that, and he knows it, you son of a bitch. Vince stole Shawn Michaels' smile, took his company public and made himself a billionaire. Not a self made billionaire like he likes to tell everybody he is. No, he's a billionaire of other people's hard work. Vince's father. Vince's father went around the country and shook the hand of every promoter in this country and swore to them that he'd never compete against them, and that his son would never compete against them. When Vince's father died, he competed. With his ruthless, merciless take no prisoners attitude, he drove everybody out of business.

    He ran all of the competition into the ground and stole all of their ideas and made himself a billionaire. Paul said that Vince stole Paul Heyman's ideas. He stole his dreams and legacy and everything that ECW represented. While Doink the Clown had green hair and a rubber nose, Stone Cold Steve Austin was drinking his first beer in ECW. While Bobby Heenan and Gene Okerlund were singing Tootie Fruity, ECW was doing the attitude that the WWF stole. Paul said that Vince stole his life, his money and his legacy. Screw you and your family! Paul told Vince that his own children hate his guts, and on Sunday, his children are going to get even with him for everything that Vince has stolen from Paul Heyman and his children. He gloats about everything he does for his children to read. Look at Tazz. This man was a killer! He was a machine. He was a wrestler. A great wrestler. A real man. But wrestling's a dirty word to Vince, isn't it? Vince's father built a wrestling company and Vince had to have sports entertainment. Tazz was a wrestler. He was a great wrestler. He was a man, and now he's a fat little obnoxious color commentator and not even a good one. He is a sports entertainer!

    He is not a wrestler, because Vince made wrestling a dirty word. What kind of man is Vince McMahon? What kind of a man takes wrestling and makes it sports entertainment? Tazz got up and the fans went nuts as Paul Heyman told Vince that he's going down at the Survivor Series. Paul promises him and his children are going to laugh over Vince's grave. Tazz got in the ring as Paul was in Vince's face and Tazz put Paul Heyman in the Tazzmission and the fans went nuts! Vince McMahon then kneeled before Paul and he told him that he is the epidemy of the Alliance, because this Sunday at Survivor Series, the Alliance will CHOKE. Tazz left as well as Vince McMahon and Jim Ross joined Michael Cole at ringside for commentary for the rest of the night.


    It's time for the Legends Segment. Bob Orton. He is the inventor of the super plex, and he's a second generation wrestler, and a proud father of a future WWF Superstar. Bob joins the show, and Kevin says that he knows it was certainly a very interesting ride as a second generation star. Talk about the early days and how he got his start and came to the WWF? Bob says that when he started, he had gotten married and college was out, because Dad wouldn't pay for it anymore. Wrestling was something that he knew all of his life, and that's where he figured he'd go. That was about 1971 or 1972. Kevin asks about following in the footsteps of his dad, and was there a lot of pressure? Bob says that there was, and Randy has that same pressure, but you have to deal with the situations and go for it. Kevin talks about Randy, and he says that people can see it. He has it. He's a natural. Bob says that he's very proud of his son, and Howard says that with Randy coming into the WWF, it's a whole different ball game from when Cowboy Bob Orton laced up his boots. Howard asks Bob his opinion on the WWF when he knew it, compared to the WWF today? Does he watch the product?

    Bob says that when he watches it, he gets home sick, so he doesn't watch a whole lot. He watches bits here and there. He's impressed by the size of the fellows and the moves that they are doing at that size. There's a lot of things that guys are doing now a days that Bob doesn't think he could have done. Kevin asks how he came up with the idea of doing the super plex, and Bob says that it was Mr. Fuji. They were talking about it in the locker room, and Fuji suggested that he do it off the top rope, and he did it, and it felt good. You could hear everybody's bones rearrange themselves. It was a good feeling. Howard asks how long it took for him to say he's got it, and it's his. Howard says that's one of the most dangerous moves that you can use. Bob says that Randy was a natural and so was Bob. He started wrestling when he was 9 years old, and that's when he started Randy. When he was 9. It seems like when you're handling all those bodies all those years, you sort of get a feel for what you can and can't do it. It felt good. Kevin goes over another question from the chat room, and it asks Bob's opinion on backyard wrestling.

    Bob says oh no, no. You can't do that. You can take them down to a wrestling club and get them on a mat. That's a great thing, but if you're in the backyard and nobody knows what they are doing, then somebody will get hurt. Kevin asks what are some of the early things Bob did with Randy? Bob says that he took him to a wrestling club. He was a multiple state Champion. He got him started there, and when it got to the pro stuff, they basically talked. Bob can still maybe fight, but he doesn't think he could wrestle anybody right now. So stiff and everything. He didn't get in the ring much. He showed him some things, but he doesn't go too hard. Bob still does go to the gym, just incase somebody does call. Kevin says that Bob was at the Louisville Gardens, and Bob says that was great. What he misses is the fans and the crowd. When you go out there, you feel so good, and that's what he really misses. When he was there with Randy, he got a standing ovation, and it felt good. They showed a picture of Randy Orton, and Bob says that Randy works hard in what he's accomplished. He's got a long way to go, but with the opportunity that he's earned, he'll do nothing but improve.

    When you start getting in there with the best, you either become the best or you're out of there. Bob thinks that Randy has what it takes to stick it out and take the bumps and bruises and learn his trade. Kevin asks Bob what he thought when Randy first came home with those tattoos. Bob laughs, and he says that he and his wife went to Cancoon. When they got back, surprise. He showed his mother first. He didn't show Bob for a couple of days, but what are you going to do? Howard says that what he enjoyed was Bob's pairing with Don Muraco. Muraco and Orton had everything together. How was it to travel with Don Muraco? What are his thoughts on him? Bob says that Don was fantastic. He met Don in 1972 when he was first getting started. He was always impressed with him, and getting together with him was a pleasure. He's a big strong man. Bob started eating, because if he stood behind Don, you wouldn't be able to see Bob. Traveling with Don was really good. You had to listen to him close, because he kind of mumbles. He's real hard to understand on a plane.

    Howard says that's all right, and there's something you can't take away from anybody, and that's the first Wrestlemania. Bob Orton was a part of the main event. In 1984, did he think that Wrestlemania was going to springboard into what it is now? Bob says that when things got started, it was a little slow at first, and then all the sudden, it caught fire all across the country. You didn't go to an arena that wasn't packed full, and when Wrestlemania came about, it had to grow, and you thought how could it get any bigger? But my Lord, it has. Howard says that Bob joined the WWF when Vince was ready to go National. Prior to the WWF, Bob competed in the territories. Those areas were very upset. When he joined the WWF, what were his feelings on the territories that harbored some resentment towards that, but woke up and smelled the coffee and tried to emulate what they did? Bob says that at that time, and the way things were going, he never gave it a thought, really. It didn't matter to him. He was in New York, and that's where he was.

    Howard asks Bob to tell us how he got to the WWF, and Bob says that the first time he came up, he was in Louisiana, and Vince's dad was still running things. Bill Watts made the call and they brought him up. From there, it was just great. Howard says that it's a great feeling to know that when Bob came into the WWF, he joined the team. Back then, they worked their butts off. Here today, they work three or four days in a row and get a few days off. Back in Bob's prime, he was on the road for two to three weeks in a row. Bob says that you only had one or two large shows a week, and when you get to New York, everything is big. Howard says another association that Bob had success with was with Roddy Piper. That is when the Ace was born. The bodyguard, and he had the cast. How is the arm? Bob jokes by saying that during the winter, it gets a little sore. Bob says that he loves Roddy. Working with him was great. You couldn't be with a more flamboyant fellow. His interviews probably never have been matched. Dusty Rhodes might have been on the same level, but Bob felt that Roddy was the best.

    He created so much excitement, and it was a blast. They go to a caller, and the caller says that he grew up watching Bob Orton. There was something about him. He was a boots and a trunks kind of guy, but like a modern day Steve Austin. Austin resembles Bob. He wasn't flashy, and he enjoyed watching Bob. What's he doing these days? Bob says that he sells used cars. He gets to the gym once in a while, and he sells used cars. The caller asks Bob if there's any chance of him getting back into the business, maybe with the new XWF or something else? Bob says that if somebody called him, sure, he'd give it another try. The caller asks him if he stays in good shape, and Bob says that he stays in shape. He doesn't think that it would take him too long to get back. Kevin asks Bob what he thinks about Stone Cold? Bob says that he told Randy to keep his money on Steve. He reminds Bob of himself at his age. You watch him and you learn. You don't waste much motion out there. When he does something, he does it, and that's what you gotta do. You can't hold back.

    They go to another caller, and the caller asks Bob who he had the greatest experiences with, working in the ring? Bob says that there were so many guys that were so good, but he had a pleasure with everybody. When you want to talk about amazing, when you got in there with Andre the Giant. You grab him, and he doesn't move. Hulk Hogan, when you wrestle him, the crowds were going completely insane, which is a great thing. There were a lot of guys back in the day that were great, and there are some great ones out there now. Howard says considering Randy as an up and comer, they always bring this up. Bob has worked with Rocky Johnson many a time. Howard thinks that he's got a son who has done pretty well for himself. Bob says he guesses. LOL. He's fantastic. Howard asks Bob if he likes the idea of children following in the footsteps of their successful father? Bob says that he's never seen where that's been a problem with anything. As long as the child wants to improve on what dad did, then you've always got the motivation. On the other hand, if someone was trying to ride on the back of dad's horse, then he doesn't think that would be a very good thing.

    Kevin says that history shows where it wasn't so great, especially with the Von Erich family. That seemed like a father that was pushing his sons to be something that he could never be. That's a whole another negative. Has there been a time where Bob pushed Randy too hard? Bob says that Randy quit wrestling for a couple of years and played basketball. When he did that, Bob realized that it was his own fault, and a couple of years later, Randy said that he wanted to wrestle again. Bob says that some things happened where he realized what he did, and now, he tries to be helpful. He gives him advice, but he doesn't demand what he does. He's a young man, and he's going to be doing things on his own. They wrap up the Legends Segment, and Bob Orton leaves the show. Kevin says that they'll be talking to Kane in just a few moments, and it's time to put up the Poll Results. The King of the Ring 1998 Match is in the lead. They have a winner for Out Think the Fink. The question was who were the surviving women in the first Survivor Series? Kevin says that it was the Jumping Bomb Angels.

    They have a winner, and they want to congratulate Matt Aaron. He's from Port Dover, Ontario, Canada. He will be getting a Survivor Series T-shirt. Kane joins the show, and this is his first time on Byte This!. Kevin says that there's never been a bigger match in this wrestling industry. Kane's thoughts on being a part of the match? Kane says that everybody has to be pumped up. One entity and one organization is going to cease to exist after Sunday. It's a battle for life and death of an organization and of people's careers. Everybody is taking it pretty seriously, and he's glad to be on Team WWF. He thinks it's an honor to be representing the whole organization. Kevin asks Kane how he has progressed since his 1997 debut? Kane says that he thinks he's a much better performer than when he was at that time. When you get to a certain level, it's funny, because you know that there is so much more to learn. Each time you improve yourself, you find out that there are other ways to improve yourself. When you think you stepped up a level, it opens up a whole new dimension for you.

    Kevin says that so much of what Kane has done centers around the Undertaker. He has a special bond with him. Talk about that? Kane says that he owes the Undertaker a lot professionally and personally. Probably more than anybody else in the business. A lot of people talk about him being the conscience of the WWF, and he is. He's a locker room leader and he sets an example for everybody to follow. Kane has been lucky. Since they have become a tag team, they've become very close. It's been an honor and privilege to work against and with him. Howard says that they have some emails, and he goes over one. How is Kane's arm doing, and will he be at 100% at the Survivor Series? Kane says that his arm is fine. He had a staph infection after the pay per view in San Jose. That's gone away, and it seems like every time he bangs his elbow, it fills up with fluid and becomes a little bit painful. That's why he's been wearing an elbow pad on it. That's nothing that he can't handle, and he's sure that he'll be 100% at Survivor Series. Kevin says the staph infection had to catch him by surprise.

    Kane says that it did. He had a cut on his elbow, and three days afterwards, he started showing symptoms. He had to go into the hospital and get put on IV antibiotics and that knocked it out. Kevin says that there's a lot of questions about Kane's training. What are they? Kane says that he works out about 5 days a week. He works each body part with weight training, independently. He hits a body part once a week. He trains pretty heavy. Probably more so than most people, because that's what his body seems to react to best. By the same token, he does a lot of cardio, because for him, it's a challenge. He can get as big as he wants to, but that's not what he wants to do. He still wants to be able to move and he needs endurance in the ring. They go to a caller, and the caller asked if Kane enjoyed shooting the Chef Boyardee commercial? Kane says that it was a lot of fun for him, because Kane gets to show a little bit of a lighter side than he generally shows on their programs. He has a lot of fun with those commercials. Kevin says that the only problem was having to deal with those people from the New York Sales office!

    The caller was actually from the New York Sales office. They go to another caller, and the caller asks with all of his past history battles between the Undertaker, how does he feel that he and the Undertaker are the only people on Team WWF that are getting along? Kane says that one thing about all of their past battles is that he thinks that it has brought them closer together, because each of them have laid it on the line and given it all they got. A lot of times, you'll find with rivalries in any other sport, people earn a deep respect for each other when they go against each other, so it's actually brought them close together. Kevin goes over a chat room question, and it asks how tall Kane was as a teenager? Kane says that he was always the tallest kid growing up, until he met The Big Show. They talk about the matches that Kane has had with guys like Kurt Angle, and Kane said don't let Kurt Angle fool you. He's tough. He may be portrayed as a clown, but he's one tough son of a gun. Kane thinks that Kurt does that on purpose so people don't prepare for him the way they should.

    Austin and Booker T is another one. He's another one people might not think is a tough guy, but you could hit him with your best shut and he'll just keep coming. And then there's Shane, and he's nuts. The guys in the main event are all tough individuals. Howard says that Kane has been stellar in singles competition and tag team competition. What does he prefer? Also, what kind of influence did Paul Bearer have on him, when they hooked up? Kane says he definitely enjoys tagging with the Undertaker. It all depends on the circumstances. It depends on who they are pitted against, either in a singles or a tag team situation. He thinks that he likes both equally well, as long as the Undertaker is his partner. As far as Paul Bearer, he learned what life on the road was like with Paul, and he was a positive influence on him. Whenever they go to his area, he still enjoys seeing him and getting to talk with him. They still keep in touch. They go to another caller, and the caller asks Kane how he felt about last year's Summer Slam when he got his mask ripped off by the Undertaker?

    Kane says that wasn't one of the highlights of his career as he tried to get out of there as quick as he could. That's a good question. No one's ever seen Kane's face in that situation in a full arena. Kevin asks if we'll ever see Kane's face? Kane says who knows. Anything can happen in the WWF. That's a good question, and that's probably the only time that you've seen Kane turn and run. Kevin asks Kane if he's happy with what he's done in the past, with the range that he's been able to have? Kane says that he is, and he appreciates that, because it's a great compliment. In some ways, being a masked wrestler is a handicap, but he thinks that he always turns it around. A lot of what they do in a performance aspect is based on people reading your face and those emotions. Because they can't read Kane's, he has to use his body more. That's something that he's been good at and given an opportunity to do. He's happy with what he's been able to accomplish. They go to another caller, and the caller says that he met Kane, and he drew a picture for him and he got it.

    Does he still have it? And what was his favorite match of all time? Kane says that he's got that picture some place. A lot of people have sent him things, and he's sure that it's in a box some place with some of the other stuff that nice people have sent him. His favorite match of all time has been the Royal Rumble last year was definitely a great match for him, being able to stay in the ring for an hour with top notch competition. The Inferno Match in Greensboro, North Carolina with the Undertaker was another memorable match, because it was the first match of it's kind that they've ever seen. That was another highlight. The Wrestlemania match with the Undertaker in Boston, it was the first time the Undertaker and Kane had gotten it on. That will always stick out in his mind. There's been other ones that he doesn't have right offhand, but those are definitely three that stick out. Kevin mentions the King of the Ring 1998, when Kane walked out as the new Champion, and that's probably the most important one, and he forgot it.

    Kevin asks Kane what it meant to be the WWF Champion, even though he's only held it one night? Kane says that it's great. It means a lot to him, because there aren't that many people who have held that title at all. The man that he competed with, Stone Cold, at that time, he was the very top star in the game. To go in there with him and to do that definitely means a lot to him. It puts an exclamation point on his career, even if nothing else happens. Kevin goes over a chat question, and it asks if Kane is ever scared when he steps into a brutal match. Kane says that he's scared for the other guy, but he's not scared for himself. They go to another caller, and the caller asks Kane when he's going to get another title shot for the WWF Championship, and how much longer does he expect to be with the WWF? Kane says he doesn't know when he'll get another title shot. Hopefully in the not too distant future. He expects to be with the WWF for a good long time. He thinks that this Sunday, they will prevail and the WWF will go on, and they'll have a good future, and Kane will be a part of it.

    Kevin talks about Kane giving the Tombstone piledriver to Pete Rose, and it doesn't get any better than that. Kane laughs, and he says that two Icons in one night wasn't that bad with the San Diego Chicken and Pete Rose at the same time. He sort of missed Pete this year. Howard asks Kane about his entrance. Did Kane have a say so in his entrance, and is there anything he'd like to change? Kane says that his entrance hasn't changed too much from when he first arrived. They went to a shorter version with the pyro right away as opposed to the musical lead in and then the pyro. He liked that more, because it startles people and they don't have time to prepare for it. One entrance that he's always liked was the elevator up through the stage, through the fire. He'd like to do that sometime, because he thinks that was definitely a spectacular entrance as well. Kevin says that the opportunity for Kane to compete at the Survivor Series, he's got to have butterflies. Nerves. Is he going to have any of that? Kane says that you always do, and that's something that happens backstage. He always gets the worst butterflies and nerves right before he walks down the aisle.

    Anticipation is the whole part of the event, and that'll be something to look forward to this Sunday. Kevin wishes Kane the best of luck, and Kane thanks him, and he's been happy during his time in the WWF, and after this Sunday, he hopes and he's sure that it will continue to be that way. Kane leaves the show, and Kevin says that it was a memorable Byte This! with Kane. Howard says that the show really flew today, and it was a good show, but it could be their last show. Kevin says that it's not going to be his last show, because he's coming back after Thanksgiving. Howard says that's the attitude he should have. Howard then plugs some upcoming events for the World Wrestling Federation. They got to the Charlotte Coliseum, and Kevin said "Whoooo!" Howard asked what that was, and Kevin said that he had to reply to all of the rumors on the Internet. Everyone says that he's going to be there. Who knows. Howard says that he'll believe it when he sees it. In two weeks time, Howard will be getting another legend to come onto the show. He was thinking of Ron Bass? What about Jay Strongbow? Big Country interrupts them, and they go to the clip of the week, and it's from the 1998 King of the Ring when Kane won the World Wrestling Federation Title.

    All comments, questions, errors and feedback on the report can be sent to weirdkev@powerwrestling.com!

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