(Burbank, CA) -- World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Kane caused a disturbance today during a taping of the
television program "The Tonight Show".
Kane, alleged to have killed his high-school sweetheart, burnt down his parents house and set announcer Jim Ross
on fire, was released after the incident on his own recognizance.
"That had to be one of the most horrible things I've ever seen on this show," Tonight Show bandleader Kevin Eubanks
said afterwards. "And that's saying a lot, because this show generally sucks."
According to eyewitness accounts, host Jay Leno was interviewing Academy Award winner Tom Hanks. As the segment
ended, Leno concluded by saying "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Tom Hanks! The Da Vinci Code opens everywhere on May 19th."
At that precise moment, flames burst out from the curtain area and the stage spotlight turned a pale red. Kane -- who wasn't
scheduled to appear on the program at all, and in fact, was at a house show in Tampa 20 minutes earlier -- appeared on the
stage, glared at the audience (to allow for the above picture to be taken), then turned his attention to Leno and Hanks.
"May 19th? Why did you say May 19th?" Kane demanded of Leno, who was speechless during the impromptu
appearance.
After several tense moments, Hanks tried to calm the "nearly 7 foot tall" grappler down. The star of films such as Forrest
Gump, Castaway, The Green Mile, Catch Me If You Can, The Terminal, You've Got Mail, Joe Versus The Volcano, Toy Story, Apollo
13 and -- uh, I don't know, Bosom Buddies? That episode of Family Ties where he played an alcoholic? -- asked Kane what his
problem was.
Kane, realizing what he had done, apologized profusely, explaining he was a big fan of Hanks' work and especially enjoyed
him in the 2002 mobster film The Road To Perdition.
Hanks, pleased that he had prevented a near-disaster, offered to make peace with the wrestler by offering him tickets to
opening night of his film.
"Here you go," Hanks said. "Enjoy. Take your family out to see The Da Vinci Code on May 19th."
Kane then picked up Hanks by his neck and chokeslammed through the Tonight Show desk.
"You have to give him credit," Eubanks said. "Hanks sold that like a pro."
After the show came back from commercial break, Leno claimed that he could have taken down Kane himself had it not been
for the security guard that subdued the grappler with a steel folding chair to the back. Leno even joked to his audience that
he had once wrestled Hulk Hogan on pay-per-view.
World Wrestling Entertainment spokespeople downplayed the incident, and denied that this was merely a cheap publicity stunt
to promote Kane's new film "See No Evil", scheduled to debut in theaters May 19th and be removed from theaters
May 23rd.
"This has nothing to do with Kane's film whatsoever," one spokesman said. "You have to understand -- he's just hearing
voices in his head."
