WWE: Special focus on "Captain Charisma" Jason Reso

“Then there are some guys, like Christian, who are dying for that chance and aren’t being given that opportunity. I’m a huge fan of Christian. I enjoy every aspect of his work, the fans love and appreciate him, he has a great attitude, awesome work ethic, is always in shape and is very smart about the business. I feel very strongly that he’s underutilized” – Dave Batista

Christian

In the wrestling industry, very few make it to the top, the creamy layer of the industry. As every superstar dreams of becoming the “next big thing” in professional wrestling, only few get to live it.

You talk about the Hulk Hogans and the Ric Flairs, and they’ve been there and done that. These were the superstars that captivated the entire wrestling industry at one point, and were responsible for professional wrestling’s boom in the 80s. Although many people dream about getting into the industry which can be cut throat and unforgiving, very few ever take a chance, the step that can alter their lives.

Two individuals set their goals at a very young age, and after a decade of hard work and persistence, they made it to the WWF. They were Adam Copeland and Jason Reso, better known to the fans as Edge and Christian.

The first time I remember watching them, which was during their time in the Brood, they were like any other “edgy” character in the then WWF. Edge and Christian did manage to set themselves apart from the rest of the locker room, and were one of my favourite tag teams even when I was about 9, but were never seen as the guys who could make it big in the industry.

There are people who’re seen as the future right off the bat, and then you have guys like Christian. After Edge and Christian decided to go their separate ways, Edge got the apple, while Christian was left in the mid card. Although Christian was a top notch worker, and his feuds with the likes of Jericho earned him a lot of praise, he wasn’t seen as a legitimate main eventer until 2005.

The thing I love the most about “smart fans” is the way they get their point across. In 2005, Christian’s work ethic made him the top heel in the company, while he still wasn’t in the main event scene. Christian was so over with the fans that they started cheering him, and started chanting his name. Captain Charisma’s time finally came in the WWE, and years of hard work, dedication and putting his body on the line was about to pay off. That was until the management decided otherwise.

It is well known backstage that Vince McMahon wasn’t a big fan of Christian, and once had the ingenious idea of putting a blue dot on his face because it bothered him. This was the period when Christian was red hot, and WWE dropped the ball with him. And then, Christian left.

Reso jumped ships to TNA, which was TNA’s biggest acquisition at that point. The fans loved the move, as they now could see Reso main eventing in the company, putting on great matches and could now hold the prestigious NWA World title. Reso did just that, but he was a big fish in a small pond, and as TNA missed the plot of its very existence, he found his way back to the WWE.

Christian then won the WWE – ECW title, and showed the fans and the management that he was still at the top of his game. In 2011, Edge unfortunately retired, leading to a ladder match between Christian and Alberto Del Rio. After nearly 15 years, Christian achieved his dream when he won the World Heavyweight championship, becoming the very first person to hold the NWA, ECW and WWE World titles. As the fans rejoiced, it looked as if the Charismatic era was about to begin in the WWE. But like before, all those hopes were shattered when Orton won the title from Christian.

In the industry, they say you need to pay your dues to earn your opportunities. While that used to be true in other organizations, WWE was always about putting their favourites over. On very rare instances does WWE listen to the fans, but in the end, Vince does what he wants. Christian is one of the unfortunate performers who wasn’t seen as “the guy” in the WWE, even after giving his heart and soul to the business. With age not helping his cause, there is a good chance that Reso will retire in the near future without holding the World/WWE title once again.

When Edge and Christian started, very few would have expected either of them to do what they did in their careers. Although Edge was more successful, winning WWE/World title 11 times, Reso will go down as the more talented worker. Christian might not have won many titles, or might have not main evented as many PPVs as the Cenas and Edges did, but Christian gave more to this business than most other people.

Whatever may happen in the future, Christian will be loved by the fans for being “Captain Charisma”, and for entertaining them for a decade and a half. Christian won the fans by putting on great matches with almost everyone he had ever worked with, and in the end, has been one of the very few “darlings” of the wrestling fraternity.