WrestleMania 27 is often remembered for the wrong reasons. Fans usually point to the Miz vs. John Cena main event that felt like a backdrop for The Rock, or maybe that weird Snooki match. But if you dig into the home media releases, specifically looking at the footage covering kane wwe: wrestlemania 27: vol. 1, you find a version of Glenn Jacobs that was caught between two massive identities.
He was the World Heavyweight Champion just months prior. Then, suddenly, he was an auxiliary piece in a massive eight-man tag team match. It's weird how WWE works sometimes. One minute you're burying the Undertaker alive, and the next, you're helping Santino Marella hit a Cobra.
The State of Kane in 2011
By the time WrestleMania 27 rolled around in Atlanta, Kane was in a strange spot. 2010 had been a career year for him. He won Money in the Bank, cashed it in on Rey Mysterio the same night, and went on a tear. He finally beat his "brother" in a series of matches that actually felt definitive.
But then the Edge feud happened.
That rivalry involved Paul Bearer being kidnapped and tied to a wheelchair. It was classic, campy WWE, but it stripped away some of that monstrous aura Kane had built back up. By early 2011, Kane had lost the title and was transitioning into a face role. This is where the kane wwe: wrestlemania 27: vol. 1 era begins to take shape. He wasn't the "Devil's Favorite Demon" at this exact moment; he was more of a reliable powerhouse helping the younger or smaller guys fend off a common threat.
The threat? The Corre.
What Was the Corre Anyway?
The Nexus had split. Wade Barrett took the remnants—Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater—and headed to SmackDown. They added Ezekiel Jackson, a literal mountain of a man. They were supposed to be this dominant force, but honestly, they never quite reached the heights of the original Nexus.
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Kane found himself aligned with Big Show, Santino Marella, and Kofi Kingston. It’s an eclectic mix. You have two of the greatest giants in wrestling history teaming up with a comedy act and a high-flyer. It sounds like a fever dream. Yet, in the context of WrestleMania 27, it was the "Vol. 1" chapter of Kane's late-career transition into a respected veteran who could carry a multi-man segment without breaking a sweat.
The match itself was lightning-fast. Blink and you’d miss it. It lasted less than two minutes. Why? Because the show was running long, and when WrestleMania runs long, the mid-card tag matches get the axe. Kane didn't even get to do much. He threw some punches, stood tall, and that was basically it. It’s one of the shortest matches in his 'Mania history.
Why the Home Media Version Matters
When you look at the specific collections like kane wwe: wrestlemania 27: vol. 1, you’re often seeing the curated history. WWE loves to package these things to show a character's "journey." For Kane, 2011 was a pivot point.
Shortly after this event, he’d go back to the mask. That’s the "Vol. 2" or the "next chapter" that everyone actually remembers. This period at WrestleMania 27 was the final gasp of the unmasked, "Big Red Monster" Kane before he realized he needed to evolve again to stay scary. If you watch the footage closely, you can see he's leaner than he was in the early 2000s. He’s working a smarter style. He isn't taking the massive bumps he used to, but his presence is still undeniable.
A lot of fans forget that Vladimir Kozlov was actually supposed to be in this match. He got "injured" in a scripted attack by The Corre, which led to Kofi Kingston jumping in. This changed the dynamic. It went from a "power vs. power" match to a "speed and power vs. power" match. Kane played the anchor.
The Technical Reality of the 2011 Roster
Wrestling in 2011 was in a state of flux. The "PG Era" was in full swing. The grit of the Attitude Era was a distant memory, and the "Reality Era" hadn't quite started yet. Kane was the bridge. He was one of the few guys who could work with a guy like Ezekiel Jackson and make him look like a million bucks while still maintaining his own credibility.
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Honestly, the match at WrestleMania 27 was a waste of talent. You have Kane and Big Show, two guys who have main-evented everywhere, and they're out there for 90 seconds. But that’s the nature of the beast. The "Vol. 1" footage captures that specific vibe—the bright lights of the Georgia Dome, the sea of humanity, and the realization that even a legend like Kane has to play the team game sometimes.
Looking Back at the Legacy
If you're tracking the career of Glenn Jacobs, this specific WrestleMania is a footnote, but an important one. It proved he was the ultimate professional. No ego. No complaining about the match length. He went out, did the job, and helped the show move forward.
Shortly after this, Kane and Big Show would win the Tag Team Championships. They'd defend them against The Corre, eventually losing them to John Cena and David Otunga (for like, a day) and later the New Nexus. It was a busy year for a guy who was supposedly in the "twilight" of his career.
What's really wild is that Kane would stay relevant for another decade. Most guys from that WrestleMania 27 card are long gone. He just kept reinventing himself.
Key Takeaways from the WrestleMania 27 Era
To really understand what was happening with Kane during this period, you have to look at the transition of power in the locker room.
- The Mask was coming: The unmasked run was reaching its natural conclusion. Fans were starting to clamor for the mystery again.
- The Giant Alliance: Teaming with Big Show wasn't just a random pairing; it was a way to keep the two biggest threats on the roster occupied while the main event scene focused on the Cena/Rock/Miz triangle.
- Physical Longevity: Despite the short match, Kane’s movement was fluid. He was in excellent shape, which allowed him to return later that year with the "Resurrection" storyline.
If you are a collector or a student of the game, looking into kane wwe: wrestlemania 27: vol. 1 is about seeing the workhorse behind the monster. It’s not the flashiest part of his career, but it’s the part that solidified him as the "safe pair of hands" in WWE.
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How to Analyze This Era Yourself
Don't just take the highlight reels at face value. If you want to dive deeper into this specific window of wrestling history, here is how to do it properly.
First, go back and watch the SmackDown episodes leading up to the 2011 Royal Rumble. You'll see the subtle shift in Kane’s promos. He stops being the aggressor and starts being the "gatekeeper."
Second, compare his work in the eight-man tag to his previous year's match against Rey Mysterio. The difference in intensity is staggering. At WrestleMania 26, he was a predator. At 27, he was a veteran.
Finally, look for the "Vol. 1" or "Part 1" segments on the WWE Network (or Peacock). They often include the backstage fallout or the "Road to WrestleMania" diaries that never made it to the main broadcast. These give you the real human element of Glenn Jacobs—the man who would eventually become a mayor—navigating the chaotic world of pro wrestling.
The lesson here is simple. In WWE, your spot on the card doesn't always define your value. Kane proved that at WrestleMania 27. He took a two-minute segment and treated it like a main event. That's why he’s a Hall of Famer.
To get the full picture, track down the original DVD releases or the digital archives that specifically tag the 2011 transition period. You’ll find that the "Big Red Machine" was never just about the fire and brimstone; he was about the consistency of being great, even when the spotlight was barely on.