Standing 6'2", weighing in at 200lbs, making his TWV debut. Notroious the IWC world over. Ben Acheampong, aka BenBeeach. Bringing you my first TWV column. Enjoy

Hats off to the Cap
Christian not in the WWE
Could this really be true
I didn’t believe it
And neither did you
Started off North
Of the border you did
You dreamnt of this since childhood
Since you were a kid
(Continued throughout column)

As per usual, you can totally disregard my total lack of poetic ineptitude, and forgive me for sins, enjoy the rest of my column. You cynical assholes.

It is rare that the cultural landscape of our modern society is ever touched by a person of such extraordinary brilliance, that all must stop in awe of their majesty. So few of us, during the course of our lives, can look back and say that we were there to witness such a glorious display of the fantastic at its very peak; its apex, if you will. Such a time had finally come. All the world had now was the chance to stop and witness the genius, and the spectacle that was… Christian. It’s been a week. A long week. Shit too long of a week. It’s been exactly one week since the last time I saw Christian on my television screen. One week since the last time I will ever see Christian on my television screen. At least in a WWE ring anyway. A week and a half since I heard that he quit. Or excuse me, (WWE paraphrasing, about to ensue) “ A lack of contract renewal on the part of a one William Jason Reso, which led to his imminent termination, and the contractual obligation of the copyrights to the name Christian, Captain Charisma, etc… to remain with the WWE as is legally binding in said agreement. All rights reserved” Or some other stupid stuff, that Vince and company have been pulling out of their ass as of late. Team 3D anyone?

But this column isn’t about the Dudley Boys. No no, but rather one of their frequent opponents, The man, the myth, the utterly annoying, commissioner of the Christian Coalition, Jay “Christian” Reso. But before I can get into that story, I gotta give you this one. Snap on those thinking caps kids. Big Ben’s history lesson coming at you.

Our story begins in the not so little town of Kitchener. Ontario, Canada that is, on the 30th of November, in 1973. Early in life Christian could remember being a big fan of the World Wrestling Federation. Even before that Stampede wrestling, featuring some greats, as the Mongolian Stomper, Archie “The Stomper” Gouldie, Smith Hart, Abdullah the Butcher, and countless others. After moving to nearby, but slightly colder, Orangeville he became friends with a one Adam “Edge” Copeland. More on that pearly white having, every syllable annunciating mofo as the column progresses. Jay and Adam would forge a friendship that would go on to last some 20 years and counting. A friendship fortified by their love in wrestling. Both would trade verbal spats back and forth as to who would become world champion first, the legitimacy of wrestling itself, and their futures in it, so on and so forth. When Edge would go on to win free training to become a wrestler as the grand prize for winning an essay writing contest (talk about paying your dues), at Sully’s Gym by Ron Hutchinson and the original Natural, Sweet Daddy Siki, Christian being the determined person that he is, asked his parents, loaned the money, and foot the bill himself to train at the gym. His career began in 1995, where he began working as Christian Cage, a portmanteau of the actors Nicholas Cage, and Christian Slater (Give him a break, it was ’95).

That's it Christian. Strike a pose

His first match came against former Sully’s Gym trainee, Zakk Wylde. Very early in his career, he formed a tag team with Edge, or the more fitting Sexton Hardcastle as part of High Impact, later changed to the Suicide Blondes, as part of the THUG life stable with fellow wrestlers Joe E. Legend and Rhino, Rhyno, Rhino Richards. You know who I’m talking about. The group would travel the Canadian independent circuit and Great Lakes regions, making now famous trudges through the Canadian frozen tundra, over frozen lakes, with future friends and rivals Lance Storm and Chris Jericho. Making ends meat to, entertain at Indian reservations.

Edge and Canadian Rage, another one of those crazy spur of the moment names Christian seems to be a master at, would hold various tag team championships throughout many different independent promotions. Christian would even hold the ECWA heavyweight championship, the promotion behind the ECWA Super 8. But in a growing trend that would continue throughout each of their respective careers, Edge the more hyped of the two signed a contract with the then WWF, while Christian toiled the indies. But in a sign of good faith and true friendship, Edge vouched for his friend. Vince relented and signed Mr. Reso. He appeared as the supposed brother of Edge in a feud that could only be described as weird. Edge would appear in the crowd enigmatically, sporadically, and without warning. The vicarious vampire Gangrel would appear to stalk Edge, as if they had some sort of weird connection from some sort of previous relationship. Gangrel brought Christian, as the brother of Edge, and an instant feud ensued. The three would later go on to form The Brood.

What made this really weird, was that was done with no mic work whatsoever. The storyline was left up completely to your imagination, and to the announcers interpretation. Anywho, Christian would go on to win the now defunct Light-Heavy Weight Championship from Taka Michinoku in his first WWF match at Judgment Day. The Brood would later become absorbed into the Ministry. Feuds and frequent disobeying orders from High Wizard Grand Chief Almighty Undertaker, led to a Brood split with the ministry.

Enter the Hardy Boys. When Matt and Jeff burst on the scene with Michael Hayes, the two athletic teams would become frequent opponents of each other. When Edge & Christian split from Gangrel, he would recruit Matt and Jeff as the short lived New Brood. One of the most famous early matches would happen at No Mercy 1999 in the first ever Tag Team ladder match, which now looks tame, but then was the most innovative match ever seen in a WWF ring. The two teams would meet the next day at an episode of Raw to a standing ovation. Rare now, rarer then. They would trade the WWE tag title belts back and forth.

The Brood, owners of the greatest entrance, ever!

As the gothic gimmick would fade for both teams, E&C would turn into pseudo surfer/teenie boppers. Where their promos became more catered to them, funny, and overall entertaining.

Enter the Dudley Boyz. Fresh from the one of the most successful tag team runs in history in ECW, the Dudley Boyz made their presence felt as soon as they debuted. First defeating the New Aged Outlaws and going after the champions, being either the Hardy’s or E&C. The Dudley’s would compete in the first ever Tables match at the 2000 Royal Rumble, for a number one contender ship to the Tag titles. A change of events led to the match be changed to a Triangle Ladder Match. E&C would go on to retain as you probably already know. The feuding wouldn’t stop up until the following year’s Wrestlemania, 17, where pieces were added to each team. Rhyno, of ECW fame, and Thug Life, to E&C. Lita for the Hardy Boys. Spike, also of ECW fame, to the Dudley’s. In the mean time and in between time, the trios would compete in the first ever TLC match, won by, you guessed it, Edge and Christian. At Wrestlemania 17, in TLC II, Edge and Christian would walk in challengers, and leave champions. Starting to see a pattern.

But as in life, all good things must come to an end. They’re end was a slow and gradual one. Dissension, could be attributed to the King of the Ring 2001, which Edge would go on to win. Christian at first seemed to be Edge’s biggest supporter, seemingly caring about the King of the Ring trophy more than Edge. And then finally the split happened. The jealous Christian would hit Edge with his own trophy, and then deliver a one-man conchairto. This sure fire money feud was overshadowed by the Alliance vs. WWF Invasion storyline. It is remarkable for hosting the last blue cage match. Christian seemingly floating with no direction would join the Alliance. (No one cared) When that was all pony-ed up, Christian would start his second ever singles feud ever with the newly dubbed motivational speaker Diamond Dallas Page. It would culminate in a loss at Wrestlemania 18. From the mania, Christian would form Team Canada, turned UnAmericans. A group of ticked off Canadians who complained about being held down because of their nationality and past injustices such as the Montreal screw job. (Shoot!) The team of Christian and Lance Storm would beat Edge; remember him, and Hulk Hogan. They would lose the titles to the HurriKane.

Christian would be traded to Raw from Smackdown!, and participate and win a battle royal for the reincarnated Intercontinental Championship. It was during this time that the Christian that we would all come to grow and love would begin to show signs of life. A new fresh, but soon to be overdone Booker T rivalry would start. Giving Christian some of the first consecutive wins of his WWE career. A couple Goldberg squashes did nothing for his credibility, but then again, those seldom do.

Christian would later form a partnership with Chris Jericho that would amass a tag title reign. They would remain onscreen friends for a long time. Over time, Christian would refer to the people as his “peeps”. A new charismatic over confident cocky prick of a heel would emerge in this time. The “Peepulation” a play on the word population, would take notice. A feud with Rob Van Dam would showcase Christian’s versatile moveset. A fantastic ladder match would follow. It left Christian bruised and battered, but forever enamored in the eyes of fans. As 2003 came to a close. Chris Jericho and Christian would bet as to who could “score” first, with either Lita and Trish. Jericho would form an emotional attachment to Trish, something Christian sorely objected. Christian would attack Jericho and Stratus which set-up their Wrestlemania 20 match. A coming of age match definitely, for the charismatic one. A match in which this author saw no potential in, and ended up being the 2nd or 3rd best match of the night, depending on your preferences to Angle vs. Guererro. The match saw the partnership of Christian and Trish Stratus.

The partnership saw the introduction of Tyson Tomko, the Problem Solver. Finally, a Christian sidekick. A cage match, with Chris Jericho, would leave Christian on the shelf until September. Upon his return he would start where he left off in a ladder match that he would lose at Unforgiven. The Cap went into high gear during this time. Blowing people away on the mic and in the ring. A short feud with HBK would give Christian a new moniker, the ShowStealer as juxtapose to Shawn’s Showstoppa. A couple matches with newly crowned champ Shelton Benjamin soon followed. During this time he would begin a cross promotional feud with John Cena. Claiming Cena was the poser. At the 2005 Royal Rumble, the two would meet face to face and engage in a freestyle battle.

Come Wrestlemania, Christian was involved in another ladder match, this time the Money in the Bank ladder match, which was won by Edge. Come draft time, John Cena came aboard the Raw train, and again met up with the Cap’n. This led to a Triple Threat Match at Vengeance 2005. The match was won by John Cena, but Christian’s popularity had never been higher. But in an act of pure creative coronary failure, Christian was traded to Smackdown!. No to worry as most thought Christian, would become an instant title contender, as told by his being the last person in a match to crown a new Smackdown! Champion, which was later, changed to number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship.

But Christian, after a very good match with Batista on Smackdown!, was no longer being utilized the way many thought he should be. A loss to Booker T at the Great American Bash, a subsequent tap out at No Mercy, and it seemed Christian wasn’t in contention for anything other than most underused wrestler of the year. On October 31,2005, Jay Reso quit WWE. According to Dave Meltzer, he was asked on the spot to sign a new contract during the tapings for the October 29, 2005 edition of SmackDown!. He wouldn't sign the contract, and his last match occurred during the tapings for the November, 5 2005 edition of SmackDown!. Despite his quitting, Christian would appear on RAW and at and would have wrestled if he was voted in. As of November 5, 2005, internet rumors abound that Christian has signed with Total Nonstop Action. It is also now known that Reso has filed US trademark paperwork for the names "Christian Cage" and "Captain Charisma". Whether he will use these names in the future or is just securing it to prevent use by others, such as WWE, is unknown as of November 9, 2005.

And like that the WWE career of a one Christian is/was over. Like that. A long 7 years, that saw him grow from quiet teaming low mid carder, to boisterous confident, hard working main eventer in waiting.

And so you trained and trained hard
And All who saw
Knew that you
would go very far
But you were overlooked
By the WWE
Powers that be
Because ole’ Vinny
Thought you were too Skinny

Damn, history lessons suck don’t they? Well it’s one of my staples, too late to change it now. So what do we have? Christian so devoid of passion and happiness for the business that he grew up loving, spent the majority of his adult life perusing, and has it all come to this. So fed up with the booking of his character and the subsequent pay cut he was going to take for, oh I don’t know, getting himself over, that he’s now quit doing what he’s been dreaming about all his life. There is burnout and then there is total disgust with all things related to thee. I think it was more the latter than the former in Christian’s case. Why is this, in a promotion that seemingly rewards loyalty, can an employee of Christian’s stature be reduced to retinue jobbing and advancement on the card, that could be called dismal at best. Someone so professional, that when Triple H went on a 2003 power hungry psycho trip, and didn’t want anyone to have long blonde hair, Christian willing cut his hair, no questions asked. Sorry, this isn’t “Bash the ‘E” column or a “Bash the H” column, but this about Christian.

I’ll admit, the first time I saw Christian, when I was 8 years old, I saw nothing. Edge I saw something in. I can’t believe I just typed that. But it’s true. The WWE didn’t really give me a reason to care about him. So I didn’t. And this isn’t just 1998 I’m talking about. I mean 99, 2000, 2001, the better half of 2002. I just didn’t see anything. I don’t know who’s fault that is. I always thought he was the weaker member of E&C.

Who knew he'd be a star? Not me

I think that’s what I was supposed to think. I never thought he and DDP were equals. But then again I thought DDP was going to be booked WCW-style when he came to the WWF, and well we know what happened there. In 2003, the new Christian haircut and all was different, I thought. He was still that scrawny dude the Edge was always carrying. But it was during the feud with Chris Jericho that Christian made that transition from low mid card nobody, to bonafide star. And it was during their match at Wrestlemania XX that made me just shake my head, and say, “damn Ben, see what you’ve been missing.” I’ve been a member of the Christian Coalition, Peepulation, Reso Mark, or whatever name the fanbase has been given this week.

That being said, I’m not a dreamer. My name ain’t Tommy, it’s Ben. I’m a realist. I realize that a WWE title run in the cards for Christian was about as likely, as, as Hulk Hogan doing the job to Stone Cold at Wrestlemania 22. (Yeah, I went there). But with that being said, that didn’t mean that he couldn’t have become an integral part of either roster. Christian not being as big a star as anyone either roster is truly a lost opportunity on the part of the WWE. I find it weird that Christian did what management I’m sure would like everyone in that locker room to do, and that is to get himself over. It didn’t take some goofy Brian Gershiwitz contrived gimmick. He didn’t smash any clocks over his head, become a personal trainer, grow his hair beyond the point that it’s socially acceptable, kill legends, become a Chippendale’s dancer, he didn’t like to do his own ring announcing, and damn it, you could see him.

Here was a guy, who for reasons unbeknownst to any of us, when totally overlooked by the E, powers that be. And I’m looking at you Vince.!!! He could work that safe style kick punch match that the WWE loved, but also make them entertaining. For instance, 2005, has been a year full of great matches, despite what some may think, and one of the early, early front runners for match of the year was Randy Orton vs. …Christian, of course. This was during Randy Orton’s monster face push, and do you know who made that match for me. It wasn’t RKO, no no, and this is coming from one of his biggest supporters, but it was Christian. He made that match flow. He took the offense at the right times. He rested when it was necessary. Money, I thought to myself. That’s money. When you can go out there and make a good wrestler end up looking like a great one, that’s very Ric Flair, Jerry Lynn, Christopher Daniels-esque ‘. There was never any dead heat in Christian’s matches. Stuff like that is for jobbers. It can be said Christian’s been the most glorified jobber of the past five years. Simply just overlooked.

But maybe the WWE isn’t to blame. For what have we, the smart fans done about this. Christian quit and I guess that was just water under the bridge. No columns. No tribute graphics. Not even so much as a ‘we’ll miss you Christian’. That’s the climate we live in, I guess. If you ain’t hot, you ain’t shit. The rapper Cam’ron told me that. Its just a trend I suppose. It rattles my brain to think that Christian was ranked #454 in the best singles wrestlers of the PWI years. Whereas Johnny Marvelous One Botched Spot Mero was ranked 256. I am the only one who sees the injustice.

In a land where bigger was better. There was no place for Christian. I am a huge Masters supporter. In fact, probably the biggest one in the entire IWC. For it’s not easy to attain a body like that. He shouldn’t be penalized for it. But when you have someone who is head and shoulders clearly a pedestal above the rest, don’t hold him down because he makes Shawn Michaels look juiced. Let him go.

When asked about his good friend Christian leaving WWE, Chris Jericho said he's very proud of him for walking away on his own terms. He said it took a lot of guts. "He's a great performer, he's a great talker, he's a great wrestler, he's a great character. He's just not 6'6", 300 pounds of shredded muscle. And that shouldn't make a difference, but for some reason it does. He never got his due that he deserved."

Asked whether Christian would do well in TNA, "I think he would do great because all he needs is a little bit of a push which would give him the confidence to be that top guy that Vince didn't think he could be. That's why I'm glad that he left. He needed to get away from there and they're going to see the talent roster is getting thinner and thinner and thinner. And these guys that they're bringing in just aren't ready for the spot. But they have no choice because they have nobody else. If you lose a guy like Chris Jericho, if you lose a guy like Christian, if you lose a guy like Steve Austin, there's only so many of those guys you could lose before you basically have amateur hour on live TV. It's becoming that way. Guys are working hard and trying, but you can't take a guy who has only been wrestling for two years and put him in a main event spot. He just doesn't know what to do. A guy like Christian to go to TNA is great for him and great for that company because they need guys who are considered top stars that show up in TNA that haven't been fired."

Wow has this sounded like one big rant to you? Yeah, it did to me too. But I don’t want to end my column ranting and raving about all the outside forces that kept the CLB down. But how he kept all of our spirits up. Christian was/is one of the very best doing today. I can honestly say it was a joy to watch Christian do his thing Monday and Thursday and Friday nights. I wish him all the best. And I thank him for the entertainment he had provided me. Christian, you are a better man than me. And to you Christian I tip my hat to thee.


But we the Smart Fans
Saw none of the things
From Team E&C
To those IC title wins
And Since Wrestlemania XX
You’re matches have been money
Your mic work superb
Your promos too funny
You told posers to go take a stroll
Canada was in the house
Because that’s how you rolled
Not given the Push you deserved
Because you didn’t have the best physique
But you never quit
When you future looked bleak
So now you’re gone from the bizz
No more cheering and clappin
I guess it’ll be the last time
The Capt’n makes it happen
So now gone you are
We sure will miss ya, mista

So Hats off to the Cap

Aka Christian

Captain Charisma!











...............Stay tuned in 2 weeks for, Thoughts of an Angry Crippler. You know it’s coming

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