Christian Cage
| Jason Reso | |
|---|---|
| File:Christian cage.jpg | |
| Born | November 30, 1973 Kitchener, Ontario |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Christian Cage Canadian Rage Christian Conquistador Dos |
| Billed height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) |
| Billed weight | 103 kg (227 lb) |
| Billed from | Toronto, Ontario Tampa, Florida |
| Trained by | Ron Hutchison Dory Funk, Jr. |
| Debut | June 1993 |
William Jason Reso (born November 30, 1973), better known by his ring name Christian, is a Canadian professional wrestler. He is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the name Christian Cage.
He is well known for his work in World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment known just as "Christian", including his run in one of the most dominant tag teams ever, Edge and Christian, alongside his real-life best friend and kayfabe brother Adam "Edge" Copeland. Despite being a heel for most of his WWE run, he gained some measure of popularity, especially in his native Canada, for his cocky persona and his humorous promos.
Career
Early career
One of Reso's early lasting ring names, Christian Cage, was a spur of the moment combination of the names of the actors, Christian Slater and Nicolas Cage. Trained by Ron Hutchinson, Christian's wrestling career began in June 1993 in a match against Zakk Wylde, a fellow trainee from Sully's Gym in Toronto. One of his first ring names was Canadian Rage. During 1997 he was part of THUG Life , a stable that included Joe Legend, Bloody Bill Skullion, Rhino Richards, and Cage's tag team partner and real life childhood friend Sexton Hardcastle
As a tag team on the Canadian indy scene, Copeland and Reso were known as "High Impact", and later "The Suicide Blondes". Also allied with Judd the Studd, the duo held titles in numerous wrestling promotions, and he held the East Coast Wrestling Association title before signing with the World Wrestling Federation in August 1998.
World Wrestling Entertainment (1998-2005)
Edge and Christian
When Reso came to WWF, he shortened his ring name to Christian. He made his televised debut at the September 27, 1998 Pay-Per-View entitled In Your House: Breakdown, distracting Edge during his match against Owen Hart to reveal his allegiance to Gangrel. He had some early singles success, capturing the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship in his debut match. However, his real success came while wrestling in the tag circuit. Christian, given the character of a vampire, formed a stable with Edge (who was finally convinced to join according to the story) and Gangrel known as The Brood. The Brood briefly feuded with, then joined, The Undertaker's Ministry of Darkness, but upon learning that Christian was beaten down into telling Ken Shamrock the whereabouts of Stephanie McMahon, Undertaker wanted to punish Christian. More loyal to the Brood than to the Ministry, Edge and Gangrel turned on the Undertaker and rescued Christian.
The gothic angle was successful, but soon after, Edge and Christian began to reach their full potential. On October 17, 1999, at No Mercy 1999, Edge and Christian competed against The Hardy Boyz in a Ladder Match for the Terri Invitational Tournament. Although the Hardys won the match, the careers of both tag teams soared, and fans gave them a standing ovation. After a run as faces most notable for their tendency to approach the ring via the audience, Edge and Christian redefined themselves as a bumbling comic duo of surfer / teenyboppers. They were most known for their "5 second poses" (for the benefit of those with flash photography), which mocked either the opponents or city they happen to be in. They repeatedly captured the World Tag Team Championships, as well as winning a triple threat ladder match and two TLC matches.
Friction arose within the team after Edge won the annual King of the Ring tournament. Christian appeared to be jealous, and insisted on carrying Edge's trophy to the ring. His true colors were revealed to the world after he assaulted his tag team partner Edge after he lost a WCW Championship Match to The Rock in September 2001. The former partners went on to feud over the Intercontinental Championship for several months.
Singles competition
Christian began a singles career, becoming known for throwing tantrums in the ring when he was unable to gain a pinfall. After a series of defeats, Christian announced that he was quitting the WWF. Diamond Dallas Page persuaded him not to quit and adopted him as his protegé. Christian faced DDP for the European Championship at WrestleMania X8, but was defeated and once again threw a tantrum in the middle of the ring. Christian then formed a tag team with fellow Canadians Lance Storm and Test as part of The Un-Americans faction and then became the sidekick of Chris Jericho, with whom he once again won the Tag Team Championships.
During this time, The Rock jumped to the RAW brand as a reward from Mr. McMahon for defeating Hulk Hogan at No Way Out. Christian befriended him and was therefore told by The Rock himself that Christian was "his new favorite WWE Superstar". Delighted to hear that from The Rock, Christian began using many of The Rock's mannerisms, which varied from calling his fans "The Peeps" (similar to The Rock calling his fans "The People") to using The Rock's one arm raised victory pose. He even called himself "The New People's Champion". He used his new found charisma to defeat Booker T at Judgment Day 2003 for the vacant WWE Intercontinental Championship in a special nine man over-the-top-rope battle royal. The following night on Raw, he appeared on Chris Jericho's "Highlight Reel" talk show segment, sporting a new haircut and ring attire. The Rock would confront Christian on the Highlight Reel stating that The Rock is "The one and only People's Champion". Unhappy about this, Jericho and Christian assaulted The Rock, only to fall victim to The Rock Bottom and The Book End when Booker T made the save.
Late in 2003, Jericho and Christian started to court Divas Trish Stratus and Lita, as part of a bet (for one Canadian dollar) to see who could get their target into bed first. Although the girls found out about the bet, Jericho and Stratus would stay together for the time being, leading to Jericho and Christian's split over her in early 2004. During a match between Christian and Jericho at WrestleMania XX, however, Trish betrayed Jericho, allowing Christian to defeat him. Trish then joined forces with Christian. During a steel cage match against Jericho on May 10, 2004, Christian suffered a severe back injury, causing him to miss almost four months of ring action. He returned on the August 30 2004 edition of Monday Night RAW, picking up where he left off and continuing his feud with Jericho.
====Captain Charisma====File:Wu-Tang group pic.png Christian's gimmick became that of a cocky, overconfident heel, although he was popular in Canada and the United Kingdom. He became a fan of the Wu-Tang Clan. He dubbed himself "Captain Charisma" and on December 6, 2004 was forced to wrestle as Captain Charisma, complete with a superhero costume, by Chris Jericho, who was general manager for the night. Christian was often accompanied by Tyson Tomko, whom he called his "problem solver", and usually won his matches with interference from Tomko or by some other method of cheating. Christian was loosely paired with Edge again several times in late 2004 and early 2005. Despite being a heel, he acquired a fanbase, who he refers to as his "Peeps", "Peepulation" (a play on the word "population") or the "Christian Coalition". He was given new entrance theme music, an edited version of "Just Close Your Eyes" by the rock band Waterproof Blonde.
At the 2005 Royal Rumble, Christian had an encounter with John Cena and claimed that he was a better rapper than Cena. Over the next months, Christian began making promos denouncing John Cena as a 'poser'. Christian was noticeably cheered during these segments, and was thought to be finally rising into the main event picture. Soon after Cena came to RAW from SmackDown!, Cena went on to successfully defend the WWE Championship in a Triple Threat Match between himself, Christian and Jericho at Vengeance 2005.
Between the run-ins with Cena, Christian participated in the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 21. He had a primary role in the parody trailer for Basic Instinct in connection with the "WrestleMania Goes Hollywood" theme at the event. On the June 30 episode of SmackDown!, Christian was the second-to-last man drafted to SmackDown! in the 2005 WWE Draft Lottery. He replaced The Big Show in a six-man elimination match for the new SmackDown! Championship, and lost to John Bradshaw Layfield. Christian had previously said in a promo that he hoped to be drafted to SmackDown! because the show needed a Canadian (though it had gotten one of these earlier in that same draft in the form of Chris Benoit). Christian bragged about how he was on the main event of both RAW and SmackDown! in the same week. Christian was soon given his own interview segment on SmackDown! called "The Peep Show."
On October 31, 2005, Reso quit WWE. According to Dave Meltzer, he was asked on the spot to sign a new contract. He wouldn't sign the contract, and his last match occurred during the tapings for the November 4, 2005 edition of SmackDown!. Despite his quitting, Christian would appear on RAW and at Taboo Tuesday 2005.
Contrary to prior rumors, Reso would later claim during his debut speech at Genesis 2005 that WWE did not lowball him on their contract offer; in fact, supposedly, they offered him "a very hefty sum" to stay. He had made the decision to leave months before his contract expired, and had agreed in principle to terms with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling prior to his departure.
In August 2006, the WWE has challenged Reso's attempts to trademark the name "Captain Charisma" saying that it will cause confusion in the market place because the persona was created while Reso was under contract to the WWE. WWE feels that anything that Reso called himself in the WWE belongs to the WWE. As a result TNA has stop selling Christian Cage merchandise until this issue is resolved [1].[citation needed]
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Reso debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling on November 13, 2005 at their Genesis pay-per-view under his original ring name, Christian Cage. After teasing an alliance with longtime friend Scott D'Amore and Team Canada, he delivered an Unprettier to D'Amore and helped Team 3D drive Jeff Jarrett through a table.
Cage made his iMPACT! debut on November 19, engaging in a verbal sparring bout and then brawling with "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown. Cage's in-ring debut for TNA was a win against Team Canada's enforcer Bobby Roode. He defeated Brown at Turning Point to become the number one contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. At Final Resolution, Cage and the returning Sting defeated Brown and Jeff Jarrett.
On February 12, 2006 at TNA Against All Odds 2006, Cage defeated Jarrett to become the NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
On April 2 Cage entered into a program with Abyss after a kayfabe video, filmed by Alex Shelley, was shown on the TNA website showing Abyss and his manager James Mitchell entering Cage's house. They feuded until Lockdown where Cage successfully retained his title, but Abyss attacked him after the match and took the title belt. They continued against each other until Sacrifice where Christian regained his belt, and the championship, in a Full Metal Mayhem match.
Cage defended the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Abyss, Ron "The Truth" Killings, Jeff Jarrett and Sting in a King of the Mountain match at Slammiversary. The match was declared unofficial due to the intervening of Larry Zbyszko and referee Earl Hebner at the end of the match when Zybszko and Hebner snatched the belt and helped Jarrett win. As a result of the finish the belt was stripped and declared vacant until Jim Cornette held a "company meeting" on the June 29 iMPACT!, where Cornette awarded the belt back to Jarrett on the condition that he defend it against the winner of a Fatal four way match at Victory Road involving Christian, Samoa Joe, Scott Steiner, and Sting.
At TNA Hard Justice 2006, Cage was at ringside during the Sting (who won the 4-way) vs. Jeff Jarrett match supposely to be with Sting, but would hit Sting with a guitar at the end of the match thus turning heel.
Immediately following his actions, Cage would be questioned by Rhino. This would eventually lead to a confronation between the two, as Cage claimed anger and betrayal at Rhino's questioning of his motives and loyalties, and then giving him the con-chairto. Christian defeated Rhino at No Surrender after an unprettier onto a steel chair. At TNA Bound For Glory 2006, Cage had earned another victory over Rhino in an 8 Mile Street Fight.
On the November 9, 2006 edition of iMPACT!, Cage interfered in the final match of the Fight For The Right tournament to determine the number one contender for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, attacking both Abyss and A.J. Styles with a steel chair while the referee was knocked out. Cage then cut a promo in which he claimed to be the only true number one contender for the NWA title.
Ring of Honor
In 2006, Cage made two appearances for the Ring of Honor promotion. The first being on May 12 in Long Island, New York, at How We Roll in a tag match with Colt Cabana against Ring of Honor World Champion Bryan Danielson and Christopher Daniels. Cage and Cabana won the match after Cage pinned Daniels. Cage made his second appearance in a losing effort against Christopher Daniels who pinned him after an Angel's Wings. After the match, Daniels invited him to come back to Ring of Honor any time, and Christian accepted Daniels' offer.
Wrestling facts
- Finishing and signature moves
- Unprettier / Impaler (Inverted double underhook facebuster)
- Frog splash
- CCT (Diving reverse tornado DDT)
- One Man Con-chair-to (one man con-chair-to)
- Con-chair-to (Simultaneous chair shot)
- Diving reverse DDT
- Gutbuster drop
- Inverted facelock neckbreaker
- One man con-chair-to
- Sitout inverted suplex slam
- Spear
- Spike DDT
- Texas cloverleaf
- Managers
- Christian's last WWE theme was a slightly edited version of the Waterproof Blonde song entitled "Just Close Your Eyes". Notable edits included a violin intro, the insert of the violin within the song, and the use of only the chorus. After he left and went to TNA, he started using his current theme song, which is an instrumental version of "My Last Breath" by Evanescence.
Championships and accomplishments
- Insane Championship Wrestling
- ICW Streetfight Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Sexton Hardcastle
- Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling
- PCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- PWI ranked him # 12 in the PWI 500 in 2006 (highest ranking ever).
- PWI ranked him # 454 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003.
- PWI Match of the Year Award, 2000, with Edge, versus the Dudley Boyz and the Hardy Boyz.
- PWI Match of the Year Award, 2001, with Edge, versus the Dudley Boyz and the Hardy Boyz.
- 2000 Tag Team of the Year (with Edge)
Acting career
In March 2006, Reso began filming his part in "Shoot 'Em Up", a film due to be released in December 2006. Reso has a short speaking part, that of a Secret Service bodyguard for a United States Senator.
On April 12, 2006, Reso taped an edition of "Casino Cinema" for Spike TV.
Personal life
Reso graduated at Don Bosco Secondary High School with fellow friend and wrestler Adam Copeland. He married a German woman, Denise, on May 25, 2001.
He has a tattoo of the head of a bulldog with a yellow rose in its mouth on his left upper bicep. He has four cats.
He is good friends with Terry Gerin, who was the best man at his wedding.
Reso started using the Frog splash as a finisher in TNA as a tribute to his friend Eddie Guerrero who had died the day of his TNA debut.
References
Footnotes
1. http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/44200/WWE-&-Christian-Fighting-Over-//Captain-Charisma//.htm
External links
