With the Intercontinental Championship currently in hand, Kane has become the only superstar in World Wrestling Federation history that has held that title as well as the Federation, Hardcore and Tag Team titles. He won the Intercontinental Title by defeating Triple H in a chain match Sunday at Judgment Day. It was one of the best matches of the night, and one that exceeded many fans' expectations.
"It's a really challenging thing to do, to work with an inanimate object like a chain," said Federation announcer Jim Ross, who was sitting mere feet, and at times mere inches, from the battle. "Triple H and Kane had a real solid match."
In a rare interview with WWF.com, Kane discussed the match and his feelings on being the only "Grand Slam Champion" of his variety. The Intercontinental Title also solidifies Kane's status as a Triple Crown winner -- a superstar who has held the Federation's three most prestigious titles (Federation, Intercontinental, Tag Team). Others include Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Bret Hart, Diesel, Pedro Morales, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
"That puts me in the most elite of company," Kane said. "You're talking about legendary performers."
Speaking of elite company, Kane called the chain match one of his best performances on Pay-Per-View. That's saying something, even if you just look at 2001. He kicked off the year by going more than one hour in the Royal Rumble, which he called his finest performance.
"Even though I didn't win the Royal Rumble match, I was in there for an hour with the absolute creme of the crop in the WWF -- The Rock, Undertaker, Austin, all those guys," he said. "To be able to stay in there for an hour and to come that close -- that's something."
As far as Judgment Day is concerned, the Big Red Machine received one of the loudest ovations of the night, if not the loudest, when he pinned Triple H. The crowd at Sacramento's Arco Arena practically exploded when the Big Red Machine held his newly won title over his head.
"It felt great. It really did," he said. "I think that with all that Triple H and Stone Cold had done, definitely the odds had been against me and the Undertaker. And Sunday was one of the first times that people sort of saw the tide change."
Suddenly the Intercontinental Championship is as prestigious as it has ever been. Who would have thought several months ago that the likes of Triple H, Kane, Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit would be battling for it?
"Outside of the World Wrestling Federation Championship, it is the most prestigious title," Kane said. "I'd like to add to that as much as I possibly can."
