12 Wrestlers Who Did Their BEST Work In TNA & IMPACT
2. Christian
A controversial one maybe, but TNA did what WWE was never willing to do with Christian. He was one of the first to jump ship at a time when TNA was becoming the standout number two promotion in the US. Christian (billed as Christian Cage in TNA) moved across in 2005 and was immediately booked as the guy in the promotion, a main event star, and fully deserving of that position. Within three months of joining TNA, Christian was the NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
It is difficult to accurately describe the wrestling landscape back in 2005. WWE was settling into its position as the only mainstream game in town, tightening its grip on an industry that was struggling to survive from year to year. TNA was offering fans something different, a less-hokey style that focused more on athleticism than aesthetics, although it too suffered from the nepotism and favouritism that has plagued WWE since forever. More importantly, TNA in 2005 had a bucket full of goodwill from fans.
Christian moving to TNA was a big deal, and he was treated as such. It was a far cry from the midcard purgatory he left in WWE, a midcard purgatory that he returned to in 2009. Yes, Christian went on to win world titles in WWE, but he was never portrayed as a big deal. He was Edge’s brother, Edge’s mate. In TNA, Christian was the man.