What If... Christian Had Won the World Heavyweight or WWE Title?

[Uncle Sam]

New hypothetical. People often talk about how hot Christian was getting previously to his departure from the WWE. Of course, the push - which supposedly everyone wanted - never came. Facing the possibility of a career languishing in the midcard, he did the unthinkable. He jumped to TNA and won the main title over there in his first attempt. Now, it wouldn't be ridiculous of me to suggest that the TNA World Title is the third most prestigious prize in Western wrestling - the most prestigious to a certain vocal minority... who've been less than vocal in recent times. However, everyone knew that getting that belt in TNA was an inevitability. That meant that the win was less important than it would have been in the WWE. It'd be like if MVP or Mr. Kennedy did it now: "Good for you, but you only came over here because you weren't seeing any of the belt over there."

So, what if Mr. Cage - who wouldn't have had the Cage in his name if this situation had taken place - had won the title before his contract expired? What if he told Vince to stick his job but, as he was walking out the door, he was offered the oppurtunity of a lifetime?

When would he have won the title? Was it coming to him and he was just impatient? What would the wrestling landscape be like if he had? What storylines could have been had? Could we even have some more WrestleMania memories?

I'll let this thread warm up before I give you my one pence. Get it? One pence is equal to two cents. Oh, how clever. Anyway, carry on.

 

[Murfish]

I am a pretty big Christian mark, so this has been a topic that has plagued me and I have often thought of bringing up. Though some people claim that he isn't/wasn't ready for the main event(usually do to his size), I believe that he was ready and has proven that he is through his work in T.N.A.. He has many of the talents needed and has had some fantastic matches(tables ladders and chairs).

That being said, I think that the W.W.E. would be in a different place than it is right now. Some claim it would be be better and some claim it would be worse. So while I cannot say which way it would go, it would probably be different. It is difficult to tell if he would have drawn as a champion, but I don't think that things would have really gone down. He is a brilliant heel, and could have worked well with the multitude of main event faces. It would have allowed for many new stories and fresh feuds during a time where the main complaint is how stale the main event is. I definitely would have liked it if he had been W.W.E. champ or World Heavyweight champ, and I think he would have thrived their.

I also believe that the unforeseen effect would be what would become of T.N.A.. Without Christian, T.N.A. probably would have pushed Angle and Joe to the title quicker. Jeff Jarrett might have continued his in ring work to the present. The most important change, in my opinion, would be the change in A.J. Styles. I think that he wouldn't have made the progress that he has made. Of course he would still be a great in ring worker, but I think that his character and mic work wouldn't be as good as they are today. T.N.A.'s growth as a whole would probably be at least a little bit stunted.

 

[George Michael]

The WWE could have taken Christian in many directions had he chosen to stay, but one scenario that sticks out most is Money in the Bank. If the WWE had engaged Christian in some great singles feuds for a while, the year following Edges MITB win, he would have been a perfect candidate for the suitcase (they could have still set up RVD/Cena numerous ways going into ONS 06). The MITB is a wonderful way to test a performers main event cred as well as stroke their ego, and may have been the perfect way to lock Christian up for many years to come. He would have made a great weasel champion.
I loved his work in WWE, and although I don't watch much TNA, I hear great reviews about his work their as well. Really a shame they could not have kept him; I was on the Christian bandwagon before he left.

 

[MisterRob]

I personally believe Christian was one of the best examples of someone who was held back in the WWE and really should've been given the chance to shine and wasn't. Christian is phenomenal on the mic, and he certainly was in the WWE at the time he was underutilized and eventually left. He may be smaller then the "image" WWE likes as a champion, but so is CM Punk and Punk's been given the chance now. I think Christian was far more a complete package then Punk, and I really think as a heel Christian could've had a great reign as champion and some really interesting feuds. It certainly would've been a change from the repetitive title scene we've seen in WWE over the past few years, as he would've been another fresh face in the main event seen. I can see him having great feuds with all of the top stars whether it was on RAW or Smackdown.. any feud he would've had would've been great; Cena, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Jericho, Batista, Undertaker, you name it. He's a fine wrestler and his character and mic work in the WWE would've carried him alone through interesting feuds. I definitely think the WWE dropped the ball with Christian. If he had gotten a chance and remained in WWE as a main event star then I think TNA's landscape would've been much different and Samoa Joe may have actually gotten the chance to be the main guy, the champion, a lot sooner. Back when he SHOULD'VE, and still had that great momentum and character.

 

[TheRealLionheart089]

Well the same could be said about Edge during the time period when Christian left (Fall 2005). He wasnt a world champion, he wasnt even competing for the world title or any where near the title picture. Sure Edge won it in January 06, but he wasnt taken seriously as a legitimate champion until his second reign 7 months later.

If Edge had the same mentality as Christian did during late 2005, he wouldnt be the 5 time World Champion/top heel on Smackdown as he is today.
Instead he'd be doin something stupid in TNA....like wrestling Curry Man, Shark Boy or somethin.


My point is, Christian should have stayed with WWE. And besides, when Eddie died and Batista got injured, Christian wouldve been a top contender/World Champion to fill in the gap of the loss of superstars on Smackdown.

But he didnt stay, and now hes teaming with Rhino in front of 200 lame asses in the Impact Zone....

 

[FoleyIsGod]

How on earth would Christian have known that Gurerro was going to pop his clogs later that year?

Christian probabaly got an offer from TNA, with an instant mainevent push and easier schedule(comapred to the 4 day wrestling week in the WWE). Im guessing Christian is already a millionaire, due to his brilliant run as tag champs(and probabaly the second tag team the ladies creamed for in 2001) with Edge. Christian pribabaly thought look, im either going to be stuck her till my contract runs out, getting burned out and wrestling the same people every year. I have a fresh start in another company etc.

 

[TheRealLionheart089]

Im not sayin he wouldve known that Eddie was gonna die, I meant that he should have just been pacient.
Guys like Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Edge, Eddie, Beniot and a couple other 'underrated' guys that never held the world title eventually won it.
It didnt come over night, and no one really expected it to happen, but it happened over time because they were pacient.


All Im sayin is that if Christian had never left, then he would have been a world champion/top star by now.

 

[foundation611]

I personally believe Christian was one of the best examples of someone who was held back in the WWE and really should've been given the chance to shine and wasn't. Christian is phenomenal on the mic, and he certainly was in the WWE at the time he was underutilized and eventually left. He may be smaller then the "image" WWE likes as a champion, but so is CM Punk and Punk's been given the chance now. I think Christian was far more a complete package then Punk, and I really think as a heel Christian could've had a great reign as champion and some really interesting feuds. It certainly would've been a change from the repetitive title scene we've seen in WWE over the past few years, as he would've been another fresh face in the main event seen. I can see him having great feuds with all of the top stars whether it was on RAW or Smackdown.. any feud he would've had would've been great; Cena, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Jericho, Batista, Undertaker, you name it. He's a fine wrestler and his character and mic work in the WWE would've carried him alone through interesting feuds. I definitely think the WWE dropped the ball with Christian. If he had gotten a chance and remained in WWE as a main event star then I think TNA's landscape would've been much different and Samoa Joe may have actually gotten the chance to be the main guy, the champion, a lot sooner. Back when he SHOULD'VE, and still had that great momentum and character.

Couldn't agree more with your points. Great stuff. I always liked Christian and became an even bigger fan of his towards the end of his WWE run. When he was feuding with John Cena. I thought they dropped the ball on two money feuds with Jericho and Cena and Christian and Cena by putting them all in that one title match and that was it for Christian's main event push. He got drafted to Smackdown then faded away and ended up in TNA. Vince blew it big time with him.
He would've really stepped into his own and been a main event player for years if he had stayed due to all the injuries and deaths and what not but WWE never should've let him go in the first place. I was very disappointed when he left. He's great on the mic and money in the ring. I think he's better overall than Edge is. Always have. Edge just has a weird look to him but that's another story. A heel Christian winning the world title would've been sweet indeed. On either show most likely Smackdown though.
He would've had great feuds with so many different talents like Cena, Michaels, Trips, even Jericho when he returned who knows. I also agree about Joe. I think TNA dropped the ball with him not giving him the title at the right time and Christian being around certainly hurt that. I hope Christian comes back one day in the near future whenever his TNA contract expires. A talent like his is sorely missed on WWE.

 

[Hart_Break_Kid_4life]

Dont forget that Cage uses a lot more athleticism in his arsenal of moves in TNA due to the lighter schedule. The only time i remember a Christian Cage like performance from Christian was at WM20 against Jericho. In TNA he now does the Frog Splash, cross bodies and other ariel moves because he is not on the road 4 nights a week.

 

[DirtyHall]

TNA does exactly what WWE used to do to WCW stars that left wcw. They throw them in the Title picture and they either win or dont. Christian is a good example but also theres stars such as Rhyno , Raven , Ron Killings , Ken Shamrock all have captured the World Title after leaving WWE. there may be more. Also guys like D'Lo Brown and Tomko recieved huge pushes once they came to TNA even though D'Lo didnt last long. TNA is just trying to make huge superstars to guys WWE kicked to the curb. WWE once did this to WCW. Im a huge christian fan and i do hope one day he will return to the WWE and be in the main events so we can get a break from guys like Cena , HHH and "Mr. I dont know how to sell anyone's moves because im a goldberg wanna be " Batista.

 

[Afro-Ameri-Spawn]

What a thought. What a concept. Right? Well if anything, the return of Chris Jericho shows us exactly where Christian would have been had he not left the WWE. During the time that Jericho has been back, he was pushed and then put in the place of perennial mid -card champion at best. Not that Christian did not have the talent in order to go higher. It's just that even on the Smackdown roster, he would have to be ranked beneath JBL, Batista, Undertaker Rey Mysterio, Booker T, and several other men of consideration. Hell, with the introduction of Lashley coming that year, Christian would have seen himself slip down further on the totem pole and may not even have been considered good enough to be a champion in ECW.

With Christian removing himself from the huge land of in-opportunity, he was able to have an entire booking team concentrate on how to make him look like the biggest thing to escape WWEland ever! Christian received considerations that he would never have received in the WWE, such as having factions build around him and being able to use moves that would have been off limits to him such as the Frog Splash that he uses as a tribute to the late great Eddie Guerrero. He was not seen as an all around wrestler in WE, he was marketed as being a "creepy little bastard". How can ANY self respecting wrestler expect to be taken seriously as a champion if that's the main marketing ploy used to shows his worth. In WWE, Christian has his best run during the love triangle angle with Trish Stratus. And to be honest that was the furthest that they even tried to push him.

Christian is smart. He did what he had to do and has no regrets for having done it. To look back and say what if is a good question. But we all know that the correct answer is that the WWE was not the place for Christian, just as WCW wasn't the right proving ground for Steve Austin. And that's the bottom line. No other lines needed.

 

[OIL]

If he had won the WHC or the WWE Title then he would still be in the WWE.

He would have seen that the WWE still value him as a wrestler, and so would have stayed. Whether he would still be in the title picture, we don't know, but he wouldn't be in TNA because WWE is the top company. The goal of every wrestler is to be the best wrestler ever, and it's extremly hard unless you make it big for the top company. Winning the WWE Championship would have made him more credible as it is the top belt around in pro wrestling.

 

[Tim]

If Christian had won one of the two major titles, he would still be in the WWE now and he still could be a big player in the Main Event.
This guy has good charisma, has a good moveset and can put on a good match. But eventually the WWE would have just put him back in the midcard scene, and he would be doing nothing right now. And he would've left eventually anyway. So a wordl title reign would've just put off his move to TNA.

 

[My$terio_Fan]

I think Christian would eventually be right back into the upper mid card. I think the best bet if Christian would have one the title would be a feud with Edge(Christian=Face, Edge=Heel)It could have ended at Wrestlemania in a Ladder match which would have been a great match. But after a short run with the title Christian would be where Kennedy, MvP, and others are stuck between midcard & main event. The only thing is Christian went to TNA had an amazing first year. He won the belt was one of the main players and was over as a heel & face, but where is he now? Once the excitement of Christian jumping ship and once bigger names came(angel) Christian for the last few months has been right back in the upper mid card feuding with Angle, Styles, and now Rhyno & Team 3D. So was the jump worth it? Yes he got a major push, won a major title, but now hes stuck where he was stuck in TNA before. And if Christian were to jump back over the WWE would probably due the same, push him HUGE then drop him back down. So in all even if Christian would have won the title he probably would have ended where he began.

 

[BarryHorowitzfanclub]

I don't think Christian would have lasted much longer even if he won a major title. At best he'd have been a trasitional champion. look at Chris Jericho. yes he was the first undisputed, but after that, not much going on but gimmicky rivalries. There have been better professional wrestlers than The Instant Classic to not make it all the way, or stay there. What's Goldberg doing these days?

I'm not saying Edge is HBK, but Christian was the Marty Jannety of that group. Good, maybe better wrestler, but not nearly as much real charisma (ironically put, eh?)

 

[image1986]

First off edge is a 4 time champion not 5 time. He has only beat two people for the title : cena twice taker twice. Secondly I think christian is very talented but only a transitional champion. If he stayed in wwe he would have been over shadowed by edge and always link to him as a tag team partner. Even in tna as champion he really didn't look like a main eventer. He was charismatic but never seem like a legit threat to anyone and that's the reason he didn't main event in wwe.

 

[Heir To The Throne]

^Actually, to correct yo, Edge IS a Five Time World/WWE Champion.

He def. Cena to cash in MITB

He def. RVD & Cena in a Triple Threat on RAW

He def. Taker to cash in MITB

He def. Taker & Batista at last years Armageddon.

He def. Taker at ONS.

That makes five time Champion, believe it or not. Seems like it went pretty quick in the last two and a half years. He could get up to ten, if HHH doesn't hold him back.

As for Christian, if he did win the title, he would of stayed longer, but eventually left for TNA. I don't think WWE would give Christian the respect though.

 

[ssvegita77]

I miss Christian in WWE because he is good enough to be in the big time. However, I think he did the best thing for his career by going to TNA. Christian's push was on it's way back down. He went out and got himself over and then after it was apparent that he wasn't going to be the guy to beat Cena, nothing. I think he was well on his way back to the midcard and Christian saw it too.

He got out while still being hot enough to make a huge impact on TNA, and thank GOD he did. He's helped the company grow, it's helped him showcase how versatile he actually is (as if we didn't know) and I think if/when he decides to come back he'll be a hotter commodity than he ever was.

I can see Edge as champ making the "I've beat them all twice speech" when the lights go out and our boys theme song hits. Christian comes out and tells Edge that "things have changed." Way to reenergize a great old feud. Gives me chills.

 

[A Phenomenon]

I like Christian the way he is in TNA, I don't think winning one major belt would have made that much of an impact on his WWE career anyway, as he would only have been made champ for a change, and wouldn't last long at all.

In TNA he is a main-eventer, and is better than he ever was at WWE, this is one of the reasons I'm coming to prefer TNA to WWE, they can take a WWE reject and make him great.

 

[TNAw00t]

The only thing is Christian went to TNA had an amazing first year. He won the belt was one of the main players and was over as a heel & face, but where is he now? Once the excitement of Christian jumping ship and once bigger names came(angel) Christian for the last few months has been right back in the upper mid card feuding with Angle, Styles, and now Rhyno & Team 3D. So was the jump worth it? Yes he got a major push, won a major title, but now hes stuck where he was stuck in TNA before. And if Christian were to jump back over the WWE would probably due the same, push him HUGE then drop him back down. So in all even if Christian would have won the title he probably would have ended where he began.

good point, if he was in the main event 24/7 then he may turn out to be a more athletic john cena, i think cage is just takin a break from the main event scene, he isnt the only main eventer there. eventually they're going to give him the title once again and if they dont then they're gay

 

[ssvegita77]

I agree that Christian is going to get the title back. He had a big program as champion, and now its time to step back and let TNA fulfill the longtime coming main event push of Samoa Joe. Christian is still a contender and I don't see him being phased out of the main event for any kind of long duration. Also is it really a step down to be working with Kurt Angle and AJ Styles?

 

[The Mark of Zur-En-Arrh]

I think that if Christian had had a little more patience, then he would have definitely made it to World Champ around the same time Edge did, if not, then some time afterward. So around 2006ish maybe. Now, Edge started getting World title shots around 2005, as did Christian, but Edge had won MITB before that time. During 2005 Edge had his fueds with Kane, Matt Hardy and Ric Flair and in January 2006 was champ. He'd been given nearly a year to develop into the heel he is now before actually getting the title. Christian however just got a random couple of title shots here and there and that was it. He had no real opportunity to develop in the way Edge did.

Christian had emerged in the World title picture with a triple threat match against Y2J and Cena. He got drafted to Smackdown and was in the number 1 contender's match straight away. Then about a month later, he was gone.

Since his match with Chris Jericho at WM20, Christian had proved he could hang in the ME tier, and the Captain Charisma gimmick was getting over, and the Peeps were growing in number every week.

Would he have achieved the same kind of memorable moments and accolades as Edge has in the last 2 1/2 years? Maybe not, perhaps he wouldn't have progressed as far as Edge has in terms of character development. I don't watch TNA regularly enough to comment on his promos, but i have seen one or two and they seem very much the same as his WWE promos except he's no longer funny, but like i say, i don't watch TNA so i can't comment fairly on Christian Cage.
Would he have taken more of a Y2J turn, in that he'd become the champ and then would draw based on himself rather than the fued? Maybe, but i think he'd do more of a King Booker. Did anyone else enjoy Booker after he lost the WHC because i personally felt like he was doing nothing and didn't want to watch him. Y2J hadn't done a great deal after winning the Undisputed title, came back after his absence, didn't do anything of merit until getting involved in this HBK angle which has been golden up until now, but people still wanted to watch Y2J regardless of him floating around in limbo. I believe that Christian could have taken a similar direction as Jericho, but maybe less of a draw.

I always liked Christian in WWE, wanted to see him as champ, never happened, probably never will unless Edge can convince him to come back.

 

[Mattyboy]

I always liked Christian, he is talented inring and on the mic, every bit as good as Edge. I dont watch TNA but im glad he got a world title run.If he did come back his stint in TNA would only help him, I can see him as a bigtime heel in the old Jericho mode after he became undisputed champ, cocky and brash.

But you have to wonder why he left in the first place, and i cant see the likes of him, Angle or Booker, people who were big in WWE, coming back from TNA

 

[Shocky]

I think it would have been something special, the big question is, would it have happened. Christian is solid, and he's very solid at that in the ring. He has more ability in the ring then say, either of the Hardy's, MVP, Kennedy just to name a few of the guys that are ready to move to the next level now. He easily has better mic ability then both of the Hardy's, Kennedy, and arguably MVP.

The injury bug that plagued the WWE last year would have scene Christian move up in the ranks, but right now it would have depended on what show he landed on. I would venture to say that Christian wouldn't have made it with a feud with say, Triple H or HBK, but compared with guys like John Cena or Edge, he could have ran for a while.

I think the only person that Cage would have hurt would eventually have been Edge. Edge has moved up the ladder the quickest since Christian's depature. I would see Edge splitting time with Christian, and I think that benefits no one.

 

[Mattyboy]

More to say!

Alot of the time it seems WWE have reactionary champions. After Eddies death, the crowds love of Rey blew up, he was always going to get a sentimental title run. If Eddie hadnt died? Unlikely. And even without that, Batista wouldnt have dropped the title if it wasnt for his injury. The only reason Booker was finally given the title was because they needed a heel for Batista to take the belt from, hence the crappy King of the Ring.

It was the same with Edge when he first beat Taker using the mitb. Kennedy got injured, and Taker wasnt fit enough to handle a prolonged run as champ. At this point Smackdown had no one who could run with the belt, which is why edge got the shot. He dserved it, but my point is if Kennedy and Taker both werent injured, it wouldnt have happened.

I think with Christian, you have a guy who has the ability to be the top man, certainly if they revamped his 'creepy' image, which held him back. But it would a case of a new champ for the freshness, same as Punk. Punk will drop the title soon, and the same would happen with Christian, sadly. Jumping to TNA was the right move, and i have to say that after Angle jumped, you wonder how hard it is for some guys to reach the top in WWE. Angle was at the top, he pretty much came in at the top, and he still left because of politics.

And if it comes down to politics, Christian never had a chance.