JBL may have had his share of controversial gimmicks in WWE, but none seemed as crazy as The Christmas Creature. For those unaware, the notorious character was played by Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane) in the now-defunct USWA promotion.
On a recent edition of What Were They Thinking? on Backstage Pass, JBL discussed The Christmas Creature gimmick. The former WWE Champion recalled how Glenn Jacobs took on the character during the Christmas season back in the day.
"We love Glenn Jacobs and we love Kane. We even loved Isaac Yankem. We even love Christmas Creature and Glenn Jacobs is one of the most talented guys that this business I've ever seen. When he came in as Kane, it was really a one-off. They didn't plan on having a, you know, Kane do a 20-year run, become a Hall of Fame member, all that stuff. It was going to be a one off with [The] Undertaker."
JBL further discussed the origins of The Christmas Creature gimmick.
New Champs in WWE! More RIGHT HERE
"Then you realize how talented Glenn Jacobs actually is. So [Jerry] Lawler had Glenn Jacobs back in USWA and what else are you going to do around Christmas? Put the big monster in a Christmas Creature outfit, which, by the way, Glenn has told the story many times his mother helped make with the lights and stuff that actually turned off you." [32:23 onwards]
The Christmas Creature was one of the many underwhelming gimmicks Jacobs took on during his early career. Fortunately, the big man was able to work through all of them to become Kane in WWE. The rest, as they say, is history.
Catch the complete What Were They Thinking? podcast only on Backstage Pass.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit Sportskeeda Wrestling's Backstage Pass.