Champion Christian happy to be back in Bristol
By Brad Carroll, Sports Editor
04/17/2007

The last time pro wrestling champion Jay "Christian Cage" Reso came to Bristol he was venturing into unknown territory. For the first time in his long career, he was set to compete on a whole new stage, on a whole different level than the one he had grown accustomed to while in the WWE.

Just over a year ago, Christian chose the city of Bristol to make his independent wrestling show debut. Now, 13 months later, the current TNA star and NWA world champion is set to make his return to Bristol Central High School for Wrestlefest XI this Sunday. "I was treated really well by everyone the last time I was here," Christian said. "I got to meet people one on one in a more intimate and close way. The fans made it a good experience for me."

The fans of Bristol, and its surrounding towns, showed their appreciation by showing up in droves to the Northeast Wrestling event. The night set all kinds of attendance and money records with Christian as the headliner, something that was not lost on the Canadian-born athlete.

"It is a great feeling," Christian said about his role in the record-setting numbers. "To know that people want to see you in person is great. It is one of the things that made me want to come back. It is going to be a big night." With Christian back on the roster for the April 22 spectacular, he certainly isn't coming alone. With the NWA champ putting in a good word, Northeast Wrestling booked two more TNA superstars - Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle.

Yes, that Kurt Angle.

"I told him about the great shows Northeast Wrestling does, and he asked me about him possibly doing one," Christian said of the former Olympic gold medallist and one of the most popular wrestlers in the past several years. "I told him it was a great group and they do things the right way. Angle signed up from there." Northeast Wrestling's Kurt Juszczyk, a Bristol Central graduate, gave Christian all the credit for Angle being on this Sunday's card. "He talked Kurt into doing our show," Juszczyk said.

But Juszczyk and crew has done more than their part in proving they put on some of the best independent shows for both the fans and wrestlers alike.

"There is a big difference between an Indy show and a great Indy show," Christian said. "This is the way it's supposed to be. They work hard to put on a great show and give the fans their money's worth. They give the fans what they want."

Christian is at the top of his profession with TNA (Total Nonstop Action) and is happy with his place in the wrestling universe. Christian is the promotion's champion and is getting ready to wrestle Sting in the main event at the upcoming "Sacrifice" pay-per-view on May 13.

"I'm having a great time at TNA," he said. "The show is plugging away on Spike. The only thing I wish would be different is if they made the show two hours long. There is too much stuff to cram into one hour right now.

Plus, with the signing of Angle to TNA, Christian is more than happy to be part of a growing promotion that hopes to take a chomp out of the popularity of the WWE.

"Angle brings a lot of credibility to TNA," Christian said. "To have a former world champion says a lot. We have viable competition - people may be more exposed to that now."

Either way, Christian has no designs on leaving the company now or in the near future. "As long as I'm happy, I'm going to be there. I want to enjoy this time."

Time seems to be his biggest ally. With a less extensive schedule than what he had in the WWE, Christian has take the opportunity to start new ventures and branch out from the wrestling ring. He will appear in the motion picture "Shoot 'Em Up" starring Paul Giamatti and Clive Owen that will hit movie theaters in September. He is also cast in the movies "Dark Rising" and "Medium Raw." Both are still in production.

"I'm exploring right now," Christian said. "Nothing will take away from wrestling. I've been doing that for 19 years. But if the opportunity presented itself, I would go for it."

The next big event on the docket for Christian, however, is Sunday's Wrestlefest XI at Bristol Central High School. The event will include eight matches and will include a special fan "meet and greet" with Christian, Angle, Samoa Joe and all the stars before the show, which has a bell time of 5 p.m.

The night will benefit the Bristol Central Graduation Party Committee, which is an organization of parents and high school seniors who plan and finance an alcohol and drug free after-party the night of graduation.

"I can't wait to come back to Bristol," Christian said. "I like the people ... I like eating in the diners there. It's the little things that I enjoy."

There will be nothing little about the event that Christian and Northeast Wrestling put forth, and the ultimate winners in the end will be the fans that pack the Central gym on Sunday night.