The Christian Cage angle: A rude sendoff or a swerve?
The rumors surrounding Christian Cage’s future have been swirling for weeks. With his contract expiring soon, the question is whether he will re-sign with TNA or return to WWE, where he has a ready-made angle with former tag-team partner and real-life friend Edge.
TNA acknowledged the speculation last night on Impact. Saying that Cage needed to be dealt with for thinking about leaving TNA for WWE, the Main Event Mafia destroyed him in a four-on-one attack (Sting, the “babyface heel” was not involved in the segment).
Either this is TNA’s way of writing Cage out of the show or else it’s a swerve to make fans think he is leaving. There are various wrestling Web sites reporting the latter story to be the case, while others claim it’s the former.
If he stays, Cage would become the top babyface on the show, possibly assuming the role of leader of the TNA Originals, who are desperately in need of a charismatic guy who can cut good promos.
Unless WWE is offering significantly more money than TNA, I’m guessing that Cage is staying put. In TNA, he is clearly one of the top-tier guys. In WWE, he would likely get a big push at first, especially if he’s involved in a story line with Edge. But with so many big-names stars on WWE’s roster, Cage probably would end up back in a mid-card role before long.
Other thoughts on last night’s show:
This was an entertaining episode. In addition to the well-done Cage-MEM angle, there were three title matches. The best was the TNA tag-team title match between Beer Money and the team of Samoa Joe and A.J. Styles. Sting’s TNA world title defense against Jay Lethal also was good.
However, Eric Young’s win over Sheik Abdul Bashir for the X Division championship suffered from bad booking. Shane Sewell did his psycho ref routine (which I love, by the way) and physically assaulted Bashir, who then became easy prey for Young. The way it went down made Young look like a fluke champion, especially because Bashir had the match won, but Sewell refused to make the three count because he thought Bashir delivered a low blow (he did, but Sewell didn’t see it).
Here’s a better scenario: Young hits his finisher, and Sewell makes the three count despite Bashir getting his foot on the rope at the last second. Bashir shoves Sewell after the match, and then Sewell goes nuts on Bashir. Young comes off as a more credible champion, Bashir can legitimately claim that Sewell is biased, and Sewell gets to do his thing. …
Speaking of Young, now that he is no longer playing a doofus, TNA needs to change the shot of him blinking his eyes in a goofy manner that it shows when promoting his matches. …
The Motor City Machine Guns appear to be finally getting a real push. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin play the young, cocky know-it-alls well. Shelley was especially good on the mic last night, and his facials when being scolded by Mick Foley were excellent. …
I’m surprised TNA didn’t promote The Beautiful People/Sarah Palin angle more throughout the show. …
Instead of joining the MEM’s backstage beat-down of Petey Williams in progress, I wish TNA would have shown Williams talking to Steiner before the attack. Also, the pool of blood that was next to Williams was kind of silly considering that it was obvious that he didn’t have a scratch on him. …
I liked the “Rough Cuts” segment on LAX. This first one focused on Hernandez, who definitely has potential to be a singles star. I would hate to see LAX broken up, though. Hernandez and Homicide are perhaps the best tag team in wrestling. …
An ODB talk show? Sounds like fun to me. By the way, what was up with her hair? …
The TNA Originals really need a better name. What about something like The Foundation? …
James Storm’s beer-oriented props are hilarious. I’m not sure if he’ll ever be able to top the beer cooler scooter.
Comments
I always appreciate your honesty when critiquing and praising what's going on in wrestling. I for one really hope Christian stays in TNA and continues to help advance TNA as viable competition to WWE. We all know that competition is what makes for great product. This is what happened during the Monday Night Wars and TNA's arrival to TV "sparked" WWE to improve what I considered mediocre programming.
My wife was never a wrestling fan before I convinced her to watch TNA and now she's a big mark for TNA and she's really looking forward to our second TNA house show on Dec. 6 but she won't even watch WWE. Of course Christian is her favorite because of his promos so I really hope he stays. On a side note, we went to the TNA house show in Cincinatti earlier this year and I have never been more impressed with a wrestling company's fan interaction. After the show many of the wrestlers hung out for an hour after the show for pics and autographs.Jeremy Borash was particularly nice as was Angelina Love, ODB, Traci Brooks, Abyss, and Shark Boy. AJ Styles and Samoa Joe stayed in the ring taking photos with fans and the belt (for $20) until every single person in line was done. TNA doesn't pull the numbers that WWE does, but WWE can't touch TNA in terms of fan appreciation and heart.
Posted by: Derek Benschoter | November 14, 2008 9:07 AM
Great article! I really like how you keep it realistic, to the point, and without all the know-it-all attitude so many other pro wrestling columnists seem to adapt.
You're got one more regular reader, Mr. Eck!
Ben Lopez
Founder, The Absinthe Review Network
Posted by: Absinthe Ben | November 14, 2008 12:07 PM
I totally agree with everything you said. I think they should build the Williams/Steiner a little more before the big beat down. Since there was no conversation or an exchange of words the beat down was like... So what?
MCMG and Bear Money are the greatest tag teams I've seen since the Midnight Express (Stan Lane/Eaton) and Money Inc. hope it is a legit push.
Kevin, is it just me or does it seem that Samoa Joe and A.J. was hating on Black Machismo on getting the title shot? And they didn't seem to happy when EY won the X division.
I think they need to capitalize on Bashir ability to generate heat.
Again awesome...
Posted by: Jamaal Bell | November 14, 2008 12:59 PM
It just dawned on me that Scott Steiner, in his intro to the Main Event Mafia a week or 2 ago, called Samoa Joe a "half-breed". I noticed Nash half-smile/half-cringe when he said it. What is up with that?
Posted by: JGavin | November 14, 2008 1:21 PM
It's time for Cage to cut the apron strings and join former TNA talent on WWE. I am just sick and tired of this projected is he or isn't he week after week. Too bad they never bothered to do that with former TNA Knockout Gail Kim.
Posted by: John | November 14, 2008 2:59 PM
To continue your thoughts about Hernandez , I too think he would be a great singles wrestler . I'm not so sure about your assertion of LAX being the best tag team though . ( I miss Salinas ! ) The only thing that I feel would be his downside is mike skills .
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | November 14, 2008 6:23 PM
I hope Christian Cage joins the WWE. Put him on the RAW Brand and have him feud with Jericho as a babyface!
Posted by: Ullo KiPatta | November 14, 2008 6:25 PM
Re: ODB's new show, I love that they subtly insulted Karen Angle last week when ODB found her set props (including a giant picture of Karen) in the garbage, then this week by saying she found "all this junk in the dumpster".
And why does Roxxi have the swearing gimmick - shouldn't that be ODB's too?
Posted by: UltimateToronto.com | November 14, 2008 6:51 PM
I'm actually enjoying Impact lately. There is always something to complain about, but WWE is doing their wrongs also.So what?
That crazy ref stuff is hilarious. I wonder if there is no chance to see a match between him and bashir. With him dressed as a ref. That could be something.
Brother Ray:"Obama is the president, now Devon do the talking, what's next? Don West is gonna get over?"
JA! ( "ja" is the way to write a laugh in my country)
Posted by: Gaston | November 14, 2008 8:17 PM
I didn't think the Petey Williams beatdown was going to happen so soon. When he came into the MEM locker room, it looked like Steiner was still portraying a "big brother" type to Williams. It could still come out that Steiner just did that so he wouldn't get the "Christian Cage treatment" from the Mafia.
I think Eric Young is an example of a character growing and maturing right before our eyes. He started out in Team Canada as a goofy heel that was scared of his own pyro. After a couple years of being the heel we don't want to hate, he became the goofy face that was scared of his own pyro. Then, he would assume that superhero persona to overcome his "fears," and he now no longer needs that persona. He's grown. I like the way his character has progressed.
Posted by: Chris Slater | November 14, 2008 8:58 PM
All the Christian segment did is encourage people to turn in to WWE so they can see his debut. It created more anticipation for WWE than TNA.
Also, its only a matter of time before Foley turns heel and joins the MEM. You heard it here first.
Posted by: Elevation | November 14, 2008 11:15 PM
If Sting is going to be in the Main Event Mafia, he needs to lose the face paint and the black singlet. He is not the mysterious ceiling crawler anymore. You've got Kurt Angle and Booker T. looking like traditional wrestlers, Kevin Nash, who is the smart businessman, and Scott Steiner, whose kisses his muscles every two minutes. Hell, when he's not wrestling, Sting where a freakin' suit and sunglasses. Ceiling Crawler Sting does not fit in. Unless he plans on having an internal moral conflict soon and turning on the MEM, he needs to lose the get up.
I also noticed on the Genesis page at tnawrestling.com that in the picture of the MEM, Sting is not shown holding his belt but Booker T. is shown holding his. Way to push Sting as the champion. Sting is even behind Kurt Angle. The whole thing is messed up. If Angle if the leader, put the belt on him.
Posted by: Masked Bogie | November 15, 2008 9:42 AM
can you explain the reason the MEM are feuding with "the originals?" Is it "respect"? Is it they are intimidated by "the young guns"? Do the originals want the top spots in the company held by older, fading wwe superstars?
Please help!
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I believe it is all of the above.
Posted by: jeff | November 16, 2008 10:54 AM
he is not smart enough to go back to the wwe that is the problem him and edge are setting up for a perfect angle foe them on smackdown he should go back to the wwe
Posted by: Anonymous | November 26, 2008 7:22 AM