Introducing...Christian

April 30, 5:36 PMPro Wrestling ExaminerMark Satrang

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Currently between WWE, TNA Wrestling and Ring of Honor there are nine hours of original programming on American cable television. Plus there is anywhere from 2 – 4 pay per view broadcasts each month as well. That roughly equals to anywhere from 100 – 150 performers that are featured each week on television. Needless to say that is a lot to keep track of. And that doesn’t even include the various independent organizations across the country and those featured primarily in Mexico and Japan.

So as a way to highlight an individual performer who has had a stellar career week, sporadically I will profile one individual or team. Hopefully this will introduce them to a wider audience (and an admittedly great way to provide meaningful original content during slow periods for yours truly).

This week I introduce you to a man simply known to millions as…Christian.

This past Sunday at WWE Backlash 2009, Christian beat “The All-American American” Jack Swagger to win the ECW Championship, the primary Title of WWE’s third brand, Extreme Championship Wrestling.

Christian had just returned to WWE TV in February after spending a three year stint in TNA Wrestling, where he was one of TNA’s featured performers and a two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Skeptics had worried that Christian’s return to WWE would do him any favors as rumors swirled that management wasn’t high on his look. Fans of Christian feared he would be lost in the shuffle and become a random mid-card talent. Many of these fears were erased with Christian’s Championship victory.

The man born Jason Reso is a long-time pro wrestling fan and true student of the game. From Toronto, Ontario, Reso was a boyhood friend of Adam “Edge” Copeland. The two men grew up in the industry together, touring throughout Canada as young men, and it was Edge who put the good word to get Christian his initial job with WWE.

Christian reached the big time of the WWF in 1998 and formed a highly successful team with Edge that lasted through the tail end of 2001. The duo was billed as being brothers due to their similar physical appearances and long-standing friendship. Together they won seven WWF World Tag Team Championships and along with other tandems like The Hardy Boyz and The Dudley Boyz, revolutionized tag team wrestling for a new era.

In late 2001, the “brothers” had a violent break-up and Christian went on to have a wealth of singles success. He won three Intercontinental Championships, a Light Heavyweight Title, one Hardcore Title and one European Championship. He also picked up two more Tag Team Championships, one each with fellow Canadians Chris Jericho and Lance Storm.

Feeling he had hit a plateau within WWE and perhaps burned out from the travel schedule, Christian chose not to re-sign with the company and walked away amicably when his contract expired in November 2005.

Days later he showed up in TNA Wrestling using his original moniker Christian Cage (picked on a whim when he was first starting out from the names Christian Slater and Nicholas Cage) and instantly became an overnight superstar in the fledgling company. He spent his three years time in TNA at the top of the cards, working as both a hero and a villain. He was written out of the storylines in November 2008 in preparation for his departure from the company and return to World Wrestling Entertainment.

Christian is one of the rare wrestlers in this day and age that has been able to virtually keep his persona, gimmick and character intact while switching companies. He started his career using the name “Christian Cage” and when he debuted in the WWF, the name was simply dropped to “Christian” and became trademarked by the company. When he showed up in TNA he reverted to “Christian Cage,” as that specific term was not a copyright of WWE. Now back in WWE under the shortened Christian moniker he picks up right where he left off.

Billed Height - 6’2
Billed Weight - 235 lbs.
Nicknames - Captain Charisma; The Instant Classic
Hometown - Miami, Florida, by way of Toronto, Ontario Canada
Debuted - 1995
Titles Held - ECW Championship, NWA World Heavyweight (2), WWF/E World Tag Team (9), WWF/E Intercontinental (3), WWF European (1), WWF Hardcore (1), WWF Light Heavyweight (1)