Get ready for Mayor Kane.

Glenn Jacobs easily won the election to become Knox County, Tennessee’s next mayor Thursday, handily beating his Democratic opponent Linda Haney 66% to 33%.

Get all your Kane news at Ringside Intel

Known to the WWE Universe as “Kane” – aka “The Big Red Machine,” aka the “Devil’s Favorite Demon” – Jacobs is also a libertarian-leaning Republican who thinks his outsider status in politics helped his victory.

“The current political environment is very conducive to people who are, for lack of a better term, outsiders and haven’t been in politics before,” Jacobs told The Hill Thursday. The Hill also noted, “Jacobs, a libertarian, says there are similarities between politics and wrestling.”

“They’re both full-contact sports,” Jacobs joked.

While other wrestlers have run for office including mayor (almost all have lost their races with the exception of Jesse Ventura) Jacobs’ campaign has to be the most pro-wrestling oriented election in U.S. history. Not only did Kane continue to perform with WWE during his campaign, he got plenty of support from the pro wrestling community.

The “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, The Undertaker, Mick Foley, Chris Jericho, Daniel Bryan, the “Big Show,” Arn Anderson, Ricky Morton, Matt Hardy Rusev, and others all traveled to Knox County to campaign for their friend.

Knox County even officially declared Rusev Day in July!

Obviously there was a lot of chatter on social media Thursday night over Jacobs’ remarkable win, with many congratulating the WWE legend while also saying they will miss him in the ring.

But Jacobs isn’t planning on hanging up his wrestling boots entirely just yet.

As WWE fans know, Kane reformed Team Hell No with Daniel Bryan in recent weeks while running for mayor. Jacobs’ opponent predictably attacked him for this to which the Big Red Machine replied:

“After I am elected mayor, I’ll be mayor. I may still do a few special things [with WWE],” I’ve done it for 23 years now and have quite a history, it’ll always be part of my life. I think the question is, if I am taking it seriously, and of course I am. I wouldn’t (be running) if not.

“I’m sure some people will say that (I’m not focused) and some others will say that’s the coolest thing ever. Again, you can’t make everyone happy. You just do what you can and that’s it … you’re always going to catch criticism no matter what you do.”

In an interview with Pro Wrestling Sheet in June, Jacobs said:

“I never rule anything out. I think it would be great to have a PPV here in Knoxville. We haven’t had one in forever. If there’s a PPV, it would be an honor for me to take part in that.”

Jacobs has said repeatedly that his political success is due largely to being an outsider and not a status quo politician. He’s going to march to the beat of his own drum.

A mayor who also continues to wrestle is about independent and unconventional as it gets.

Expects Jacobs to work diligently to out his cabinet together and do everything he can to serve the people of Knox County.

And expect Kane to return at some point too.

(Disclosure: Glenn Jacobs is a personal friend of the author).

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