This commentary came from TNAWrestling.com

April 27th, 2006
Funk's Corner

The history of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship began 102 years ago when George Hackenschmidt wrestled Frank Gotch for the World Championship in 1904.

George Hackenschmidt's shoulders were nearing the mat as Frank Gotch cranked on the toehold; George told the referee that he submitted. He was asked to repeat the "I Give" message to make sure, which he did, and that fall was over after 2 hours and 3 minutes. But it was a 2 out of 3 fall match, so there should have been more.

However, after a 10-minute break where both wrestlers went back to their dressing rooms, Hackenschmidt refused to return to the ring. The bout -- and the World Championship Belt were awarded to Frank Gotch. And so began recorded history and lineage of the World Heavyweight Championship, later known as the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

Christian Cage's wrestling style is completely on the other side of the scale from George Hackenschmidt and Frank Gotch. If I look through the list of wrestlers who have held the NWA World Championship, Christian's technical wrestling style most resembles that of Pat O'Connor. In training with Christian we even worked on some specific innovations brought to professional wrestling by Pat O'Connor however there are some big differences in that Christian is willing to take chances with the extreme "High Risk" maneuver.

At Lockdown, seeing Christian standing, balanced on top of the 15 foot six sided steel cage took my breath away. High Risk is Christian's style. As he said to Abyss and his manager, James Mitchell, "Are you willing to die for the NWA World Championship? Well I am."

If you haven't seen TNA's last pay per view, Lockdown, eight wrestling matches inside the Six Sided Steel Cage, you should. All of the TNA wrestlers have something to prove and they pulled out all the stops with a unique high risk style of professional wrestling.

Dory Funk Jr.