Rate The Gimmick: Christian - Captain Charisma

[Ferbian]

It's time for the second installment in this series. The series have gone through a name change so it is no longer known as simply "The Gimmick". And with this change I also ask you to rate the gimmick with me.

Last time we looked at Randy Orton's Legend Killer gimmick and it was a pretty one sided argument - Great.

This week we look into our beloved Captain Charisma.

Christian has made this gimmick work through both heel as well as face alignment.

In 2004 as a singles competitor the gimmick debuted as a heel alignment. A cocky overconfident villain who spend some of this time feuding with the likes of John Cena (numerous rap battles) and others.

During this gimmick Christian debuted his own "problem solver" Tyson Tomko (big tattooed guy, followed him to TNA if you forgot).

It was also during this gimmick that Christian started "recruiting" a fan base who he began to refer to as his peeps (What it truly means I do not know). And began hosting his own talk show - The Peep Show.

This gimmick lived on during his time with TNA. Both as a heel as well as a face being a part of The Main Event Mafia as well as Christians Coalition. He became an instant success in TNA and won two NWA world championships.

After a few years. Christian returned to WWE. Re-debuting on the now defunct show ECW. He debuted as a face. Which is something that has stuck around. He became ECW champion twice and had the 5th longest reign with the ECW championship. And the longest reign in WWE's ECW period.

After ECW defected Christian was moved to RAW. continuing his gimmick. Only to afterwards be moved to SmackDown.

Now I ask you all to tell me:

What do you think of this gimmick? And why?

And to introduce the rating part of this:

From 1 to 10 - How do you rate this gimmick?

 

[Reddannihilation]

Captain Charisma is a pretty great gimmick, partly because it's less a gimmick and more who Christian is. A charismatic character who seems to pick up tons of fans whether he's heel or face. I'd say it's definitely a gimmick that worked 100%, seeing as he started off as a heel, even the "peeps" was a heel comment about Christian saying The Rock felt he was the successor to the People's Champion and despite being an overconfident heel he managed to make the character work for 6+ years. I'd rate it an 8/10 as it's the perfect gimmick/character for Christian although it isn't the best gimmick ever.

 

[JBK2008]

A solid 8 out of 10. Very good gimmick but not the best. Christian gets the crowd into his matches very well and his offense is nice, but it needs something. I really can't tell you what it is sadly but he needs a move that will really awe everyone. How he's not a WWE or WHC by now is ludicrous, but there's a reason for everything. Christian and his gimmick are great for SmackDown and I hope it pays off in the end.

 

[The People's Peep]

I dont see how it cant be considered a pretty great gimmick. Christian has used this gimmick for years now. I havent seen most of those years, but I still think it is pretty successful and heres why: time and the move.

Like I said before, he's used this gimmick for a pretty long time now. Most people need to change gimmicks every few years, if their lucky. Then you have people like The Undertaker and HHH who's gimmick is so good that there is no need to change it. I wouldnt put Christian with Taker and HHH, but he is pretty close. 6 years is a long time to have one gimmick and whose to say he wont continue with it for longer.

The other reason I know its successful is because of his move to TNA. He carried over the same gimmick with him. With that gimmick, he managed to win the TNA Championship. He was one of the more famous stars in TNA and I think the gimmick had a lot to do with it. Then when he came back to the WWE, he still had the same gimmick and he's used it to become one of the most over stars in the WWE.

Maybe I'm a little biased because I'm a peep, but I would say that Captain Charisma is a really good gimmick. 8.5/10

 

[The Crock]

This is a great gimmick that has worked for a long time. I always preferred the Heel version of it because it really allowed Christian to show off his great mic work. As for the rating I would give it, I would give it an 8/10. Any gimmick that lasts for 6 years and is so beloved by the fans should be rated very highly. This gimmick is the reason Christian won the NWA title and the ECW title, without this gimmick we never would have seen the true potential of Christian.

 

[The Vintage One]

This is a good gimmick, but it is not great. He plays the character well, and does a good job on the microphone will his gimmick, but he hasn't done anything special with the gimmick.

His best run with this gimmick was in TNA, and in the WWE it has been nothing spectacular and hasn't stood out to much with it since his return to the WWE.

It his pretty old, and it is time for a heel turn and a gimmick change.

6/10

 

[Validus]

Yeeep . It's a good gimmick . I like the heel one better . Mostly because I like heels ... But also because he gets to show off some more mic skills . I'm not liking the face run here . Well , mostly because I haven't really seen it because I don't have ECW .
I would say - 8/10

 

[Steve Rogers]

8/10

I would like to bump it higher, but he has yet to do anything major with it.

The Captain Charisma "gimmick" seems to be more an extension of the person he already played an over-confident, cocky,and charismatic person. Christian just turned it into a gimmick and wrapped it all up with the catchy nickname, extravagant attire (his ring jackets i so do very much so miss) and his theme. Tyson Tomko as his problem solver who he would cower and hide behind at times just made it all the better, that paired with how ever he got with it as face or heel just makes it a favorite of mine.

I always have and always will be a peep that said I really view this upcoming MITB PPV match as his last chance to become champion. If he does not win I will accept he is never going to amount to more then a mid - to upper midcarder, which is a real shame.

PS: I thought "peeps" is what Christian was told to call his "people" by the rock, and he ran with it.

 

[dotty_84]

This for me is a great gimmick it works well both Heel and Face although the one part that lets it down is that when your face to have this gimmick reach it's potential there has to be gold in it. Fans love him but the way he gets booked makes the gimmick diluted.

I personally give the gimmick 8/10 as the potential is awesome.
in reality it's a 6/10 due to WWE not giving him a push.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

8/10

I've always liked Christian, and I think his Captain Charisma gimmick is solid, but I also don't think it's any more or less solid than when it first started. It's something that I don't think has evolved very much, and he seems like the same character as when he left. This is also why I don't see him getting the main event push that many feel he should have. If Vince didn't see anything in him before going to TNA, he certainly won't see anything in him now, unless he does some big to get noticed.

If anything has changed, though, it's his intensity in the ring. I think going to TNA and fighting with the guys over there gave him an edge (ha!) inside the ring. His slaps and hits looks viscous, and I would hate to be on the receiving end of anything he dishes out.

I also think Captain Charisma works much better as a heel. He's on ok face, and seeing him team with guys like Kofi is fun, but he can only do so much before it's obvious that he needs go heel. "Captain Charisma" is a very cocky nickname, and it doesn't make too much sense as a face. He plays the villian well, and I think the gimmick benefits from it greatly. Here's to hoping we see Christian return to the land of villainy where he belongs, just like his brethren Edge and Jericho.

 

[Intransigent_Antagonist]

9/10
The gimmick works great for him. Be it heel or face he manages to make it work either way. Although when he plays the heel it seems a better fit, more over the top.
i think Christian is one of those often overlooked, underestimated mid-card dwelling stars that make WWE worth watching.
My only complaint is with the over use of self tanner/bronzer on him. He often comes out looking like a Cheez-It®....
You're Captain Charisma for gods sake not Captain Cheeto !!

 

[The Insano Shiekh]

6/10

The reason for the rating is because of the misuse of Christian recently by the WWE. In 2003, it was a good, high-quality gimmick, yet now it's only used for chants, and the 'E isn't even trying to go for "The Peep Show" anymore. The reason for this misuse seems to be Christian jumping ship, so now it's just low mid-carder position for him.

Back when he was heel, it was great, because he was on good terms with the WWE. "Tomko, give me a beat!" was unforgettable, along with the Peeparoonie. Of course, that was pre-PG, when you had more gimmick freedom, but that doesn't give the 'E an excuse to misuse Christian. Make him into a heel and give him some good in-ring time. Christian was one of my favorites back in '03 and '04, yet now all he does is filler in-ring spots.

If he was used more correctly, I would give the gimmick an 8.5/10 for current use.

But for 2003, 9.3/10

 

[Canadian-BadAss]

Christian has the talent of edge, or jericho, but is constantly misused.. and no i dont believe it was due to jumping ship, hardy did it, and they still gave him a title run before leaving again.. he just doesnt work as well as a face, or on his own, needs to be heel, and part of a team, THEN give him a big push. Christian/Miz anyone?