CHRISTIAN CAGE
Nickname: Captain Charisma, Instant Classic
Born: November 30, 1973
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Trained By: Ron Hutchison

Career Accomplishments: Two Time NWA Champion, Three Time WWE Intercontinental Champion, Hardcore Champion, European Champion, Light Heavyweight Champion, Nine Time Tag Team Champion

Career Highlight: It was a significant victory on its own, but when Christian Cage became the NWA Champion at Against All Odds only months removed from leaving World Wrestling Entertainment, the win must have been that much sweeter for Cage. He was never positioned at the top of WWE despite the fact that he had spent seven years as a loyal employee who helped create some of the most memorable moments in history with his performances in ladder matches. On the night of Against All Odds, Christian toppled TNA's perennial champion Jeff Jarrett to win his first world title. Even though the NWA Title clearly didn't have the prestige it did in the 80's and earlier, it was still a tremendous honor for Cage to hold the same title that the likes of Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes and Harley Race had held before him.

Career Low Point: Despite his reign as champion not being a colossal failure, it was far from the overwhelming success Christian would have hoped for. Most point to Cage's babyface status for the reason as he clearly portrays the overbearing heel more naturally. Regardless of the reason why, Christian's first World Title reign wasn't very memorable and at Slammiversary he would lose the championship in a forgettable whimper. Thankfully TNA management decided to let Christian Cage be the man fans loved to hate and return to his glorious heel persona shortly after.

What If: Christian Cage had never left WWE?

Just where in World Wrestling Entertainment would Christian be positioned? As much as I would like to be wrong, I find it very unlikely that WWE would have given Cage the push into a headliner role. Right before he left for TNA, Christian was riding a wave of momentum that had fans clamoring to see Cage get his big mouth shut by John Cena, then WWE Champion. For whatever reason, the anticipated one on one showdown never took place and Christian would go on to flounder in the mid-card with senseless losses to Ric Flair and Booker T. If Christian had stayed, one could easily make the argument that he would still be in the midcard funk, perhaps battling Shelton Benjamin for the United States Title or battling the likes of Kofi Kingston on Raw. Cage has proven time and time again that he is a performer with limitless range as far as promos and in ring work and he is one of the most well rounded performer s in wrestling today. Guys like Samoa Joe and AJ Styles would die to have this man's charisma. Wherever WWE positioned him in the past, whether it be as the nerdy heel or the temper tantrum throwing coward, Christian has made it work and I have no doubt that Christian would be an enduring character in WWE today if he had never left. He would just be entertaining fans on the undercard.

Rumors are swirling that Cage may very well jump back to WWE once his contract expires with TNA. So the answers to what WWE will do with Christian may be answered soon enough. Will Christian be punished for leaving "the family"? Or will McMahon put away his petty grudges and place Christian with or against his former tag team partner Edge? I for one see Christian being placed in an entertaining, yet ultimately meaningless feud with Matt Hardy over the ECW Championship. Once WWE labels you a midcarder for life it's hard to ever break free, no matter how talented you are.

I welcome questions and comments. You can find me at vasilevski.torch@gmail.com.

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