Tremendous Tirades: Instant Classic: The Best of Christian Cage Posted by Larry Csonka on 11.05.2007
The Greatest Wrestler in the Universe gets his first “Best of DVD”, and it is truly an Instant Classic!
Ali, Bogart, Monroe, Elvis, Mantle, The Beatles, the Model T; all legendary in their own right…but only one is known as the true Instant Classic! This DVD set promises the very best of Christian Cage through his two-year career with TNA. The wars with Jarrett, Sting, Rhino, Angle and Samoa Joe! Let’s get to the review!
CHRISTIAN CAGE DVD PROMO:
THE INTERVIEW:
The Story: Cage was born in Ontario, and moved around the province quite a bit in his early years. He was curious and exploring, but got into trouble like what you see on TV. His dad was a teacher and always looking for work, his dad is American and mom Canadian. They moved back to Canada before he was born and they also started a sporting goods store. His older brother runs a Sears and little bro is into Real Estate and is into music
Cage’s Education: He went to college for social sciences. He always wanted to be a wrestler and went to college because he felt he had too. He used student loan money to pay for wrestling school, so without college he never actually would have gotten into wrestling.
Cage’s First Jobs: He worked at a Wal-Mart like store and stocked shelves while wearing a goofy outfit. He also learned to be a cashier, and they made fun of him, but he did it when they got busy. He also worked in a wood mill after college to payback loans, and he hated it. He saw a guy lose his thumb, be carted away to the hospital and then had to cover that guy’s station, all the time fearing that he would lose his own thumb. He knew then when he would see guys that worked the same job for 15-years and would probably be doing so the rest of their life that he had to get out because that was not for him and he had to follow his dream.
Cage Becomes a Fan: When he was a kid they all skated and played hockey. One summer he hurt himself, broke his shoulder, and couldn’t even go to school for 8-weeks. So one Saturday he discovered WWF wrestling and fell in love with it. He would get the TV Guide and find all of the shows and watch them, tape them and watch them repeatedly. He almost quit hockey, but his parents agreed to tape the shows for him while he practiced.
Cage Meets Adam: Of course he’s referring to Edge here. They met in school, the year he moved. They were in the same grade, 6th, but not the same class. He had a Chinese throwing star and used it to break the ice and the other kids loved it. He talked about selling it and the kids would bid on it, and Adam wanted to buy it and he invited him to his house so they could throw the star and see if he liked it. He agreed to let Adam use it when he wanted, and in conversation they discovered that they both loved wrestling. They had a bond right there in wrestling, and they spent a lot of weekends having sleepovers, beating up Christian’s little brother with finishers and having a great time. They then met a promoter and offered to help set up chairs and the ring and stuff like that. The guy agreed for they were free labor, and they were excited because they thought that they were in wrestling. At the end he let them get into the ring and play around. They went back the next year and got into the ring during an intermission and wrestled around. Security took the out and threatened to toss them out but that was their first taste in front of a crowd.
Cage Chases the Dream: He and Adam believed that they would be wrestlers and were consumed with it. They thought they had it all figured out, but they didn’t know shit about the business. There was an article in the Toronto Star, and they had an essay contest and the winner got to train for free. They realized Edge was what they wanted, because at 17 he was 6’3 and big, while Cage was a late bloomer and under 6-foot. Christian followed Edge to train officially a year later, with his college money. We see clips of he and Edge from back in the day in small and bad Indy rings.
Cage Breaks In: They would show up at shows and try to get booked. They would go to Mid-West Wrestling in Detroit, they would watch al the matches, and they would see great guys and weekend warriors. They saw Terry Richards, who is Rhino (CLIPS) and they would eventually travel with him. He was big, crisp and intense and it was like his 4th match. He and Edge knew he had it even then. They got him into Winnipeg to work regularly. Cage tells a story about Tony Candella, when he asked about Rhino. They get there and they get there and Tony asks where the FN Giant is? Cage just said he was big, but Candella wanted a giant, but he took Rhino anyway and was blown away and told him to come back whenever he wanted.
Cage’s Injuries: At the time he drove to PA and a dude hit a moonsault and hit him in the face. It broke his nose and he was gushing blood. He moved his nose back to the right place. He would drive all night after shows. He drove back 11-hours with an ice pack on his face. The guy at the border knew he was hurt and let him through wit no issues. The next day his eyes were swollen shut. That was the worst back then.
Cage’s Road Stardom: Before he went to the WWE training camp, and Cornette got him in there, he was a road warrior. He called Cornette once a month to touch base and update him on his career. 6-months later Cornette called him and eventually he was bumped off the camp. Political reasons. But Cornette promised to get him back on one. The next month he called and got to go. After a week he was signed and then a month later was put on TV. Adam had started on TV and he found out about the Brood. One night he was watching Raw, and he got a call. Adam called and said that he was going to be put with Gangrel. He liked being quiet back then, because it fit his character. He didn’t think he could talk then because he didn’t have experience. He knew he would have to work on it and get good, because you don’t get to the top without the gift of gab. He and Adam got to work together and that helped him, and he gained confidence.
Cage on Love and Marriage: He met his wife in England. He was wrestling there and after the show he was watching hockey, and then went to eat. He saw her in the lobby and knew he would marry her. He was afraid to talk to her at first, but in the restaurant he introduced himself, they talked the whole night and they got to know each other. They talked on the phone for months, he visited on a break, they went back and forth for 2-years, he proposed in 1999 and they got married. They never had a conventional relationship, so it was never normal. They bought the house on Florida, and it was hard when he is on the road. But when he went to TNA, the schedule got better and things have been even better as they have spent more time together.
Cage’s Downtime: He was on the road so much he never relaxed. He had a hard time relaxing for the longest time, and couldn’t sit still. He had to retain himself to do that. He always looked forward to alone time, played video games or watched Sports Center.
Cage Makes the Jump: At the time he was there (WWE) for 8-years. He came a long way, the fans liked him and he wanted to let the fans decide whom they want to see and who not to see. He thought he was getting strong reactions, and was wrestling top guys. He knew he had what it took to be at the top, but never got the chance there. He thought maybe he was doing something wrong, but the fans told him different. It just didn’t happen there for him, and it happens for a reason. He was burnt out from the road and beat up. He was becoming bitter and didn’t like that. He had a great WWE career, and wanted to look back in a good way and he does. His contract was ending, and he parted ways on good terms and that is what he did. We see the Christian Cage Debut at Genesis 2005.
From my recap of that show: They go to the locker room and here is the new guy…he walks…
Lights go out…count down…CHRISTIAN CAGE! He has the swank jacket as well!
Christian says he had a lot of questions asked to him this week. Were the rumors true, and if so why? He tells us this, he didn’t come here to see the same guy say the same thing week after week. JJ and AMW are watching backstage. He isn’t here to see people pull things out of other men’s asses. He also didn’t get fired…and another rumor. About him getting low-balled. He was offered a lot of money to stay…but he came to TNA is the same reason everyone is here right now. The reason he is here is because he loves WRESTLING. You know, I have been known for some jokes, pull a rib…but I don’t want anyone to ever forget that I am the greatest all around performer today. It’s like this. I am tired of egos and politics. I want to see guys busting their asses, wrestling reinvented. I watched Impact last night, a little plug for you. He remembers when there were 2 companies. There was an old one, and a new cutting edge one where he was. Now…it is EXACTLY the same. This is something I want to be a part of. I want to be the biggest piece of this puzzle. Jeff Jarrett, never wear white pants after labor day. Also, I came to take the one thing that eluded me my whole career…the NWA TITLE. Everyone stand up, take notice that I am here…and I will fulfill my destiny…because THAT’S…HOW…I…ROLL!
It was a new place, and he was used to WWE and knew everyone. He was safe there, but he went into the unknown and didn’t know a lot of the guys. He wasn’t coming there to take a spot, he saw TNA growing and wanted to work there. They made him feel like a major player and that was a challenge to him. He was concerned with the jump, he was the new kid, but he was pleasantly surprised and he loves TNA. TNA made him feel at home and the rest is history.
Cage’s Favorite Moments: It’s been two years, and he has had great moments. The first world title win is one. The NWA title is something he dreamt about and he was able to do that. The history with that title is amazing, and his name is on that list now and that honors him. His career at that point was absolutely worth it. All the cans of Tuna, Mac and Cheese and hard floors he had to go through were worth it. The debut as well was tremendous. He got to work with Rhino and 3D who he had worked with before. Guys like Joe and AJ, who will be huge stars. They are amazing. He loves working with AJ and feels he got a side out of AJ that he always had, like with he and Edge. AJ is going onto big things. He loves Daniels and the X-Division guys, and wants to work more with them. He can start throwing paint and seeing what he can really do.
Cage’s Motivation: He tried to give it his all every time out, and that is because of his pride. He doesn’t want to let himself, the fans or the company down and wants to earn is money. He loves his job and always goes out to do the best he can.
Cage on TNA and Beyond: When TNA was in the beginning stages, he would buy them and see what was going on. To see it grow to FSN and then to Spike was amazing. TNA was where he was to go, and it was growing and growing, and he needed to be a part of that. They have a good product, and hopefully when this DVD comes out they will have two-hours. You do. He wants to help make these great guys that people don’t know household names because they deserve it.
Cage Hangs Them Up?: He isn’t even thinking retirement. When it is said and done he has done some acting and would like to do more. He also would like to give back to wrestling for making him what he is. Whether it be creative, grooming guys, an agent or whatever he can do. Maybe even commentary, whatever, he would do it to give back.
They talk smack, lock up and Cage takes JJ down for a cover of 1. They go back to some reversals, and they shove off and stand off. Rights by Cage, reversals again and JJ slaps Cage. Rights by Cage and then chops. Irish whip and with a sunset flip for 2. Cage goes to suplex JJ to the floor, lands on the apron and Cage to the apron. Reverse DDT by Cage on the apron by Cage! We get a shot of Cage's wife, pretty hot! Cage up top...dives and misses JJ and crashes into the railing. JJ grabs his legs and rams Cage into the steel railing. JJ in control, rams Cage into the announce table and then back into the ring. Off the ropes and JJ with the sweet dropkick. Sit out powerbomb by JJ gets 2. Rear choke by JJ now. JJ now chokes him and Earl pulls him off. Uppercut by JJ, and Earl is all over him again. Gail up top…RANA on Cage and JJ covers for 2. JJ whips Cage and goes for a RANA, powerbomb by Cage and then Cage gets the figure four! Gail helps JJ get the ropes and Earl missed it. Cage and Earl argue, and then JJ gets an Enziguri. Sharpshooter by JJ and Cage yells for Earl not to ring the bell. JJ keeps the hold on, bit Cage reverses the sharpshooter! JJ escapes, and then Cage rams JJ in the nuts as he falls. Both men are down, Earl counts…they are alive and they brawl. Atomic drop by Cage, spinning clothesline by Cage gets 2. JJ tries a powerslam, but Cage counters into a tornado DDT for 2! JJ slides under Cage, and he hit Earl and he grabs his ankle. Uh oh. Cage up top…Gail grabs him and then JJ goes up top. TOP ROPE STROKE by JJ! He covers 1…2…NO! Rights by JJ and Cage calls him on. Off the ropes, and Earl gets caught up and that's ref bump #2. Unprettier by Cage for 2 as Referee Slick Johnson is here. Cage is ready and calls JJ on. Cage tries the stroke, but JJ gets a low blow. JJ nails Johnson and tosses him. Gail slides JJ a chair, Cage nails him and gets a dropkick into the chair and into the face of JJ! He covers for like 10, and then goes after Gail. Earl is still out. JJ gets his guitar, KILLS Cage and Gail cleans up the mess. JJ covers and Earl crawls over 1…2…NO! JJ grabs Earl, Gail up top…and Cage catches her and powerbombs her! JJ tries the unprettier, reversed and then the Stroke try and another reversal and Cage gets the unprettier! 1…2…3!
Winner: AND NEW NWA CHAMPION CHRISTIAN CAGE @ 16:30 via pin They made the win important as Rhino, known as a long time friend was out to congratulate him, he celebrated with his wife and the image of the fans rushing the ring was awesome. ***¾
From Bound For Glory 2006: 8-MILE STREET FIGHT: Christian Cage vs. Rhino
He actually goes to the back and finds Cage. They brawl in the parking lot and Cage is dressed for a fight, bless him. Rhino yells at Cage and slams him off of some light rigging. There is snow on the ground! Back into the building and they fight through the backstage area. They fight on top of a ZAMBONI! Cage is on top and Rhino starts it up and drives it! He drives him into the arena and hits the set. Sure stolen via Russo, but fun. Rhino tosses Cage off top of the Zamboni and Rhino follows him to the ring. Eye rake by Cage and Cage grabs a piece of the set, a streetlight and Rhino steals it from him and levels him. Rhino grabs an 8-Mile road sign and then looks for more toys. He grabs chairs from the crowd and tosses then in the ring. Into the ring he and Cage go. He has another streetlight and Cage nails him with a chair. Rhino nails Cage with it and breaks it and covers for 2. Rhino sets…gore try is stopped by a chair shot by Cage. Cage is favoring his arm from the fall and then attacks Rhino. Rhino battles back as Tenay plays up his history of head injuries. Into the crowd we go for a BRAWL. Rhino pulls a Sandman and drinks a beer. Cage gets slammed into the hockey glass. Back ringside and Rhino lays the whooping on Cage. Rhino gets a table and sets it up. He also slides one into the ring. They are back in the ring and a belly to belly by Rhino. He sets up the table in the corner of the ring. Rhino grabs him, roll up by Cage for 2. Cage kills Rhino with the huge sign. Cage celebrates and spits on the sign. Cage gets a ladder and brings it in. Rights to Rhino who is busted open. Cage has the ladder and Rhino with a drop toehold and Cage eats the ladder. Cage laid out on the ladder… Rhino to the 2nd rope and MISSES a splash! Unprettier by Cage 1…2…NO! Cage has the ladder and levels Rhino again. Lays it on Rhino and goes under the ring and gets the chair and straightjacket. He tries to put it on Rhino and starts to lock Rhino in it. He grabs a chair and lays it down, Rhino on top…conchairto misses. Boot by Rhino and a head butt to the balls of Cage. The ref unhooks Rhino, they exchange rights…to the apron they go and a suplex try…stopped and back into the ring. They brawl back to the apron…RHINO DRIVER THROUGH THE TABLE ON THE FLOOR! Back into the ring and Rhino covers for 2. Rhino sets for the gore…Cage up…MISSES and Rhino flies through the table! Cage covers 1…2…NO! Unprettier on the table pieces! 1…2…NO! Cage with the chair now, lays it on Rhino and then the table parts and the sign and ladder! He has a chair…and starts to beat the hell out of the pile of stuff on Rhino! Cage covers 1…2…3.
Winner: Christian Cage @ 14:44 via pin A really good street fight, even with the cheesy props. Both guys worked hard and brought it. ***¼
From “iMPACT!” 11.16.06 - SIX SIDES OF STEEL/BARBED WIRE CAGE MATCH:
**Escape Rules**
Rhino vs. Christian Cage
They circle each other, crowd digging things and stand off. They exchange rights and Rhino then gets a shoulder block. Backdrop on Cage. Rhino tries to slam Cage into the steel, countered and chops by Cage. Rhino with chops now and rights on Cage. Cage fights back, rights to Rhino and Rhino then tries a press slam, countered and a reverse DDT by Cage. Cage asks for the chairs now and Rhino stops it. Rights by Rhino, Irish whip and a corner gore by Rhino. Rights by Rhino , Irish whip and another corner gore by Rhino. Rights by Rhino now as the crowd is way into this. Irish whip again, Cage climbs and Rhino pulls him down. Cage slammed into the steel, again! Press slam by Rhino and tosses Cage into the steel! Rhino asks for the key, gets it and teases Cage with it. He then tosses it out and we head to commercial @ 4:45.
Back from commercial @ 8:30 as Cage tries to escape. He is busted open and knocks Rhino off of the ropes. Huge frog splash by Cage. During the break Cage got the bolt cutters and nailed Rhino and cut some of the wire. Cage climbs, Rhino follows…they brawl. Rhino rakes his face off of the wire and Cage is bleeding a ton. Back superplex by Rhino sends Cage flying and lands on his face as he flipped over! Rhino gets the straightjacket and tries to place it on Cage. Cage stops it and takes down Rhino. He climbs, Rhino follows and they battle. Cage tries to use the wire, eye poke on Rhino and then gets a TOP ROPE UNPRETTIER~! Cage grabs the jacket and places it on Rhino and ties him to the ropes. Cage climbs, no, he grabs the chairs now. LOW kick by Rhino! He escapes the ropes and gets a spinebuster on Cage! He takes the jacket off as the crowd continues to go wild. He sets up a chair and grabs the other…conchairto try…Cage moves and nails Rhino with the chair! He opens one up and then the other. Grabs Rhino, counters and a TKO onto the chair! Jesus Cage broke some ribs there. Rhino sets for the gore…charges and Cage throws a chair, catches it and nails Cage with it! SICK GORE and Cage FLIES out the door and wins!
Winner: Christian Cage @ 15:47 This was just as good as their PPV street fight, and we got it on free TV. Sure we have the cliché Russo-Style ending, but it was good stuff. ***¼
From “iMPACT!” 11.23.06- #1 Contender’s Match: Christian Cage vs. Sting
Sting attacks Cage on his way to the ring, and we’re off! Sting rips off Cage’s gear, and they brawl into the crowd. I was eating more turkey as this match happened, and I didn’t recap the show this night so this is a fresh review! They do the commercial cut and Cage connects with a missile dropkick for 2 and he has control. Sting is sporting the shirt due to taking the tack bump at Genesis, he’s awesome. Cage chokes out Sting now, chops to Sting and rips at his shirt Sting fires up and NO SELL TIME! Sting is superman and fires up and starts laying into Cage. Off the ropes and a huge backdrop by Sting. Cage counters and then Sting goozles him and hen press slams him! Stinger splash! Rights by Sting, he calls Cage on and Cage pulls the ref in the way of the next splash try. Scorpion death lock stopped by Cage. Unprettier countered into the death drop. Deathlock now by Sting! TOMKO DEBUTS~! Wow he has toned down, because he was YOKED back then. Sack of shit slam by Tomko. Cage and Tomko beat down Sting now. TKO by Tomko!
Winner: No Contest @ 5:55 via pin Cornette was gold on commentary, he should be there every week. I also still didn’t like giving Cage vs. Sting away on free TV, that’s a PPV match. Also the non-finish on the DVD isn’t needed, in my opinion. I understand they are telling the story here, as the next match is the fallout, but it doesn’t need to be here. *½
They all brawl to begin. Sting fights them off, boot to Abyss and he clotheslines him to the floor. Cage with rights to Sting and then chops. Rights by Sting now, mounts him and drops heavy rights. Off the ropes, elbow by Sting. Abyss trips him though and crotches him on the post. Mitchell says to take Sting's head off. Abyss slams him into Tomko's cage. Cage dives onto Abyss, but is caught and dropped onto the railing. Abyss then misses Cage and eats the steel post. Clothesline by Cage on the ramp to Abyss. Cage slams Sting into the cage again, and then a slam on the floor. Abyss and Cage back into the ring. Boots by Cage, rights now. Abyss stops him from an Irish whip, and then gets a corner splash on Cage. BIG flapjack by Abyss. Shock Treatment try…escape and then Abyss escapes the Unprettier and gets the Shock Treatment for 2. DOOMSDAY by Mitchell, Cage escapes the black hole slam and gets a dropkick to the knee of Abyss. Cage up top…splash but Abyss GOOZLES HIM! CHOKESLAM! 1…2…NO! Abyss nails Sting as he tries to get back in. Tomko chokes out Sting through the cage. BLACK HOLE SLAM on Cage! The ref is on the floor trying to save Sting. Sting tosses the ref in the ring, slams Cage back into the ring. GOOZLE…eye poke by Cage and a LOW BLOW. Sting tosses Abyss into Cage, he falls to the floor and Sting pins Abyss! Abyss is eliminated @ 5:50.
Sting offers a handshake, GOOZLE…Mitchell yells to kill Sting, but he refuses and leaves the ring. Mitchell yells at Abyss, Cage nails Sting…missile dropkick to Sting gets 2. Cage chokes out Sting. Snap mare and a stiff kick to Sting. Neck vice by Cage. Cage rakes the eyes of Sting. Headlock still on, Sting escapes and Cage with a back elbow on Sting. In the corner now and Cage slaps Sting. Sting fires up, Cage is freaked and they exchange rights. NO SELL and Sting just takes Cage down. Rights and off the ropes, big backdrop by Sting. Off the ropes and a boot by Cage, GOOZLE by Sting…PRESS SLAM BY STING! Stinger splash! Another but it misses! Cage up top… Sting follows…SUPERPLEX BY STING! Mitchell is back ringside. He distracts Sting, Cage attacks but Sting gets the Deathlock! Mitchell releases Tomko as Cage fights! Tomko in and nails Sting as Mitchell distracts the ref. TKO on Sting! Cage covers 1…2…NO! Cage distracts the ref, Sting fights off Tomko and tosses him to the floor. Abyss is here to help and takes out Tomko! They brawl and Abyss locks him back in the cage again. Cage misses a belt shot…UNPRETTIER BY STING! 1…2…NO! Cage off the ropes, Sting ducks and a REF BUMP~! Sting chokes out Cage, Mitchell in the ring and hits Sting. Abyss is in and Sting has Mitchell…but Abyss ATTACKS STING! Stupid Sting. Sting is out. Cage up top…FROG SPLASH to Sting! Cage grabs the ref, 1…2…3!
Winner: AND NEW NWA CHAMPION CHRISTIAN CAGE @ 13:20 via pin This was a down match for various reasons. Thy started at 10:40 on this PPV and were crunched for time. Add in the elimination stipulation and the run in stuff and it was what it was. Not horrible, but not what you wanted headlining a PPV, in my opinion. **
Lock up to begin, and to the corner they go and break. Lock up, takedown by Angle and he gets the back of Cage and then the mount, is this MMA? Cage escapes to the ropes. And now Samoa Joe makes his entrance mid-match and has a seat at ringside. Back to action and they talk trash, Angle slams Cage to the corner, uppercuts and then Cage back with chops. Irish whip and Angle gets a fireman's carry and into the ankle lock, but Cage escapes to the ropes and to the floor. Angle follows and slams Cage to the apron. He then slams him to the steps. Angle breaks the count and then a double ax smash from the apron to the floor. Cage is able to slam Angle to the steps now and then the railing. Joe stand off with Cage and Angle gets an Angle slam into the steel post. Back into the ring and off the ropes, backdrop by Angle. A back breaker by Angle and cover for 2. More uppercuts by Angle. Cage off the 2nd rope, Angle catches him and dumps him and covers for 2. Angle misses a corner charge and slams hard into the steel post. Cage to the floor now, and then delivers a neck breaker to Angle on the floor. Joe gets in Angle's face and tells him not to lose and to get up. Samoa Joe, motivational speaker! Back into the ring and Cage chokes out Angle. Snap mare and kicks by Cage. Into a neck vice by Cage. Angle to his feet, escapes and then Cage tosses Angle to the floor. Back in and a slam by Cage, and then misses a head butt. They exchange shots, clothesline by Angle. Another and off the ropes and Angle gets a cool toss and cover for 2. Rights by Cage, backdrop suplex by Angle, Cage escapes another and Angle slam countered and the Unprettier countered into the Ankle Lock! Cage crawls over the ref and gets the ropes. LOW BLOW by Cage. Unprettier connects. 1…2…NO! Cage chokes Angle across the second rope as he stands on his back. Cage talks junk, slam on Angle and Cage with the Steiner like elbow drop and push ups! HAHA! Cage chokes out Angle now. Slam countered and Angle goes for the ankle lock, but instead gets the catapult to the corner on Cage. Back elbow by Cage, up top…Angle runs up top and gets the top rope BELLY TO BELLY! Both men are down now. German by Angle, rolls and another German now. Rolls and going for three and gets it. Angle rolls and holds on and gets the fourth! FIVE! SIX! SEVEN Germans by Angle! Cover, 1…2…NO! AJ Styles is out and stands on the top and Joe is over to take care of AJ and he chases him away. Cage in and KILLS Angle with a chair shot! Cage up top…FROG SPLASH connects! 1…2…NO! Cage is frustrated, grabs Angle and tries the Unprettier…and it connects again! Joe is back, 1…2…NO! Cage attacks the ref but Joe makes sure he doesn't take him out. Angle grabs Cage, Ankle lock and here it comes…REF BUMP! The ref flew into the steel railing. Cage goes out to attack Joe but Joe chases him back into the ring. Angle up, STRAPS DOWN! Double Bird…boot…ANGLE SLAM! Cover…but there is no ref. Joe tosses in the ref, 1…2…NO! Cage goes for a clothesline and ANOTHER FN REF BUMP. Tomko is down and attacks Joe, tossing him into the steel steps. Tomko is, GERMANS TO TOMKO! Steiner is here, he and Angle brawl. Angle tosses him, Joe takes out Tomko. He and Angle argue, Angle pushes him and Joe then gets a SICK ELBOW SUICIDA TO TOMKO AND STEINER! Joe disposes of Tomko. He nails Steiner with chair shots and takes them back stage. Cage mocks the straps down. Angle slam try, countered into the ankle lock! Grapevine by Angle! Back to his feet and Cage taps but the ref is dead. Cage gets the pipes Steiner left and NAILS Angle. Cage revives the ref and limps over to Angle. Unprettier #3! Cover, 1…2…3.
Winner: Christian Cage @ 19:04 via pin The run in stuff hurt the match I thought because it is so overused, but Cage and Angle worked hard and Cage continued his streak of good to very good PPV matches. ***¼
They stand off mid-ring and here we go. Leg kicks by Joe to begin. More leg kicks and Christian to the apron. Greco Roman Knuckle Lock, Christian with a go behind and Joe escapes into a hammerlock. Off the ropes and Joe slides down with a headlock on Christian. Lefts by Christian, counters by both and Joe gets a shoulder block and that takes Christian down. Joe brings him back in, open hand slaps and kicks by Joe who is in firm control right now. Chops by Joe, Irish whip and a back elbow by Christian and then misses a 2nd rope cross body as Joe just walks away. SICK kicks to the head, knee drop by Joe as well and a cover for 2. More kicks by Joe and a running one takes Christian to the floor. Joe follows and after a reversal gets whipped to the steel post. Christian with rights, backs up and gets a chair. He tosses it away as he is reminded that he can lose on a DQ. He charges at Joe…STJOE ON THE FLOOR, which makes a SPLAT sound when he lands. Joe tosses Christian into the crowd and we have returned to the TNA MAIN EVENT STYLE~! Joe in control just beating down on Christian. He slams Christian to the wall and uses a crutch and nails Christian. They go to another part of the crowd and Joe is killing Christian. Sets Christian up…charges and…OLAY to Christian! Finally back to ringside we go. On the apron and Christian with a boot and DDT's Joe on the apron! Joe hangs there and Christian with boots to the head and then rolls him back into the ring. 2nd rope back spinning elbow by Christian gets 2. Rights and knees by Christian, but a big kick by Joe, but he misses the running senton. Elbow drop by Christian and covers for 1. Kicks by Christian and then rakes the eyes. Christian with a choke and the ref breaks it. Head butts by Joe, picks Christian up and he counters it and gets the inverted DDT and covers for 2. Christian chokes Joe over the top rope now. He stand on his back and chokes him more. Joe now fires back after slaps by Christian. Christian to the 2nd rope…leaps and JOE KILLS HIM WITH A LEAPING KICK! They exchange shots from their knees now. To their feet, charging forearms by Joe and then the corner knee of doom! Mounted punches in the corner by Joe. Christian tries to powerbomb out and falls and Joe with more rights. Running face wash by Joe! Cover by Joe for 2. Irish whip and a reversal, back elbow to Christian, Joe off the second rope with a sick knee strike and cover for 2! Christian off the ropes, snap powerslam by Joe for a CLOSE 2! Christian goes for the Unprettier…POWERBOMB by Joe gets 2, into the Boston Crab now! Transition into the STF, and now the cross face! Middle of the ring now with the cross face!. Joe now transitions into the choke and Cage grabbed the ref and rolls for the ropes. Christian on the apron, springs in and gets the Unprettier! 1…2…NO! Crowd wants Joe to win badly. Christian with a headlock, onto Joe's back and Joe looks to be fading. No, he runs and sits back ad breaks the hold! Christian on the apron and Joe KILLS HIM WITH A SPEAR and they fall to the floor, Joe not so kindly I may add. Both men battle to get back into the ring, Cage looks to walk away and Joe stops the count. The X-Division guys come out and tosses Christian back into the ring! ISLAND DRIVER by Joe! The ref is dealing with the X-Goofs and is back now, 1…2…NO. Christian pulls the ref in front of him and gets killed with a Joe kick. Joe goes for the elbow suicida but Cage nails him with a chair, but the ref is out. Christian gets the chair again, misses Joe and Joe back with wild slaps. MUSCLE BUSTA BY JOE~! Joe kicks the ref to wake him up…1…2…NO!!!!! Clutch try, low blow by Christian. Christian up top…ENZIGURI BY JOE! CLUTCH while Cage is in the ropes, he kicks off and Joe locks it in, down to the mat, Cage rolls and gets his feet on the ropes and gets the pin!
Winner: Christian Cage @ 17:10 via pin This is where Cage went up another level and had his first truly GREAT PPV match for TNA. He had very good performances, but the way he and Joe worked together, he upped his game and this was the best match he would have in TNA, until the Bound for Glory show, when he faced Joe again and they had another great match. It was also a creative finish to make Christian a chicken shit, but keep Joe strong. ****
BONUS
HOME TOUR: The home tour is a cribs like experience. I now that a lot of people say that the “CRIBS” experience is cliché at this point in 2007, but I enjoyed this. You really see the shy side of Cage as he really doesn’t want to oversell what he has earned. Funny stuff includes him saying he bought his pimped Jeep from BIG TILLY from PHI DELTA SLAM fame, who is a care salesman; showing the front lawn “where Abyss attacked me,” discussing not being in the pool “since Abyss nearly drowned him” and the Christian Cage doll, that had Nash’s voice placed in it by accident so he bought it and cherishes it. You see the human side of the guy as he discusses the love he has for his wife, as well as the admiration for her going back to school, earning degrees and “continuing to be smarter than him.” There is also a story about him rescuing a cat from the Impact Zone and taking it in as their fourth cat. I always like seeing the “other side” of the people because it isn’t what you see on TV. Until the end when he accuses a camera guy of stealing his Nash Voice doll and threatens to call Tomko over to kick their asses. This was fun stuff, I enjoyed it.
EARLY MATCH: This is a short early match with Simon Diamond aka IRISH Pat Kenney! They do commentary for the match, which took place in Pennsylvania prior to his WWE debut. Simon was very new to the business and did indeed have Dawn Marie with him. They joke about not knowing how to be a face/heel correctly, and being almost afraid still at times. A great moment is Cage saying, “Wow, I was a pretty great wrestler then, what happened?” To which Simon responds, “You learned how to talk and didn’t need to be that good anymore.” Its fun and is nice to see Cage not being afraid to show what he was like then, because it is a point to emphasize how good he has become, and with no WWE footage available to use, it’s a good selling point. The quality is not good, very average at best, but you get the right idea.
EARLY INTERVIEW: Cage was very forceful about having this on the DVD. He felt that it was important to show where he was at the beginning and where he has come in the last 10-years. He had no feat of showing “how bad” he was because he is proud of how far he came. That’s admirable on his part, and it is fun to look back and see that kind of stuff. He’s clearly not that caught up in himself and isn’t afraid to show how bad he was to emphasize how far he has come. The quality is not good, very average at best, but you get the right idea.
PHOTO GALLERY: This is a roughly one-minute slide show of various photos taken by TNA. The quality is great and it is set to his theme music. Overall I am not too big into photo galleries as a feature, nothing against them, they are fine. Thankfully there were the proceeding three extras that make it a nice little section.
The 411: Ok, let’s start off with the interview. My big problem with the interview section was that every time they switched topic, they had the music play and a screen with what they would discuss next. They could have just scrolled that on the screen while he transitioned, because with some of the sections being so short, the music and trailer deal because extremely redundant. It’s a minor gripe, but as I said annoyed me. That al being said it is a great interview giving you some of the history that you know, along with some new insights, which was important. Also him talking about WWE was excellent, because he didn’t come across as bitter and or bury WWE. He was just burnt out on the WWE grind, and wanted to go and it was amicable. He looks back on his time fondly, and that is a great thing. His praise of the workers in TNA is also refreshing, and you can tell that now that he finally got to where he wanted to be, he wants to help the roster in anyway he can. The match selection for the most part is very good. I would have dumped the one title match with Sting and Abyss as well as that lead in match and had one of the hardcore defenses against Abyss in its place, because it is a better match, but overall a good selection and you can see Cage progressively grow even more as a worker in his TNA run, concluding with the great match with Joe. The bonus material is all fun stuff, and is enough to be included on the DVD, while at the same time not taking anything away from it. In the end this is a very good DVD release form TNA, whether you are a Cage fan or not.
