At the Royal Rumble, Kane eliminated King Booker, but Booker re-entered the ring and eliminated Kane. On the February 2 episode of "SmackDown!", while receiving the key to the city in his hometown of Houston, Booker was attacked by Kane starting a feud between the two. At No Way Out, Kane defeated King Booker. On the February 23 episode of "SmackDown!", Kane lost to King Booker in a Falls Count Anywhere Money in the Bank Qualifying match after interference from The Great Khali, sparking a feud between the two. Before WrestleMania 23, Kane started to walk around with a hook, similar to the hook he used as Jacob Goodnight in "See No Evil". At WrestleMania, Kane lost to Khali. During the match, in homage to Hulk Hogan slamming André the Giant twenty years earlier at WrestleMania III, Kane picked up Khali for the first time and body-slammed him to the mat.