A legend of professional wrestling is hoping that one of the most unexpected charity events imaginable can raise money for a good cause: a match against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Glenn Jacobs, better known by his WWE stage name “Kane,” may now serve as mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, but he hasn’t lost his flair for performance. On Friday, he challenged Governor Walz to a charity wrestling match after the Democrat claimed he “could kick most Trump supporters’ a–.”
At his peak, Kane stood 7 feet tall and weighed 300 pounds, dominating opponents since launching his professional wrestling career in 1992. He joined WWE in 1995 and spent over two decades helping to define the sport’s golden era, squaring off with icons like The Undertaker, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Although he stepped out of the ring in 2017, Kane seems eager for a comeback—especially if it means taking down Governor Walz, who sparked controversy by boasting about his ability to take on MAGA supporters. “All joking aside, @GovTimWalz, let’s put our money where our mouth is…in a charity wrestling match. We’ll split the gate 50/50 between our chosen organizations. I’ll kick things off myself with a $10,000 donation. What do you say?” the mayor posted on X recently, according to Fox News.
During a recent conversation with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Walz confidently stated that he isn’t afraid to fight for his beliefs. “I think I could kick most of their a–. I know I can outrun them. I don’t know if we’re going to fall into that place where we, okay, we challenge you to, you know, a WWE fight here, type of thing,” he said on “The Gavin Newsom Show.”
Kane remains close with The Undertaker—his on-screen “half-brother” and a fellow staunch supporter of Donald Trump. In the lead-up to the election, The Undertaker, whose real name is Mark Calaway, publicly urged his fans to cast their votes for President Trump. “All right everyone. November 5th – ElectionMania. The choice is yours. You can go with President Trump, Kane, and The Undertaker, or you can take Kamala Harris, Dave Bautista, and Tim Walz. Choose wisely – the nation depends on it,” The Undertaker said in a TikTok video announcing his endorsement.
Hulk Hogan, perhaps the most recognizable wrestler of all time, famously opened for Trump at the Republican National Convention last August, where he ripped his shirt off while on stage. Speaking with NPR afterward, Hogan said the crowd’s “vibe was so intense, the energy was so crazy, it felt like maybe I was gonna press that no-good stinky giant over my head and slam him into the mat, brother.”
