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 When Jay Reso (better known to millions as Christian Cage) made his TNA debut at Genesis in 2005, wrestling fans knew that TNA’s future was only going to get bigger and better. Just how big--and how fast--though, no one could have ever predicted.
The biggest acquisition in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling history at that point, Reso’s jump from WWE to TNA was soon followed by former WWE Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle in 2006. Then, in 2007, just one month after “iMPACT!” went to two hours, one of the most decorated athletes in professional wrestling, Booker T, joined the TNA roster. Around that same time, TNA released a single-disc DVD highlighting all of The Instant Classic’s greatest moments since entering the six-sided ring, The Best of Christian Cage: The Instant Classic (TNA Home Video, MSRP: $24.98). Featuring seven of Cage’s most memorable matches since his debut in TNA, including his match against Jeff Jarrett at Against All Odds 2006 for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, The Best of Christian Cage gives fans a glimpse into the life of one of sports-entertainment’s most charismatic wrestlers--both inside the ring and out.
“Overall, people seem pretty happy with [the DVD],” Reso told SoCal.com. “Everyone I’ve talked to seems to enjoy it. My only regret is that it doesn’t feature more interviews with some of the other guys. Having, for example, Rhino’s perspective [on the Bound for Glory 2006 8 Mile Street Fight or the Barbed Wire Six Sides of Steel Match at ‘iMPACT!’] might have added something. Maybe if there’s another DVD that’s something we can include.”
Given Reso’s impressive list of accomplishments since coming to TNA, another DVD on The Instant Classic seems likely. Having claimed two World Title reigns in just two years--and going for his third one Jan. 6 against Kurt Angle at Final Resolution--Reso’s impact on TNA has been hard to ignore. But his recent success is something that’s been a long time coming. Fans get to witness all of the hard work Reso’s put into his career during The Best of Christian Cage, which features early interviews with the man who would later become a two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
 “The bonus features, the early footage from my career and the first interview I did in front of a camera, that helps show what kind of hard work and the amount of time I’ve put into this business to move on up to the top,” Reso said. “It takes a lot of work both in the ring and on the mic, as well as working on your character. It’s interesting for fans to see that transformation.”
While Reso’s favorite moments on the DVD include the match against Jarrett where he won his first world title, the aforementioned barbed wire match with Rhino and his Destination X 2007 match against Samoa Joe, one of the crowd-pleasing moments on the DVD is the early interview footage of Reso alongside his former WWE tag team partner (and longtime best friend) Adam Copeland, a.k.a. Edge (“I have the chubby face and bad hair and Adam just looks like a porn star,” Reso chuckled). Even back then Reso’s cockiness and confidence radiates from the screen, though off-camera the Ontario native is actually quite the opposite.
“I think fans get to see the real me when the cameras follow me around my house or during the sit-down interview portion of the DVD,” Reso said. “I’m pretty laid back and quiet, but there’s always some [Christian Cage] in me. I’m a smart-ass and a pretty sarcastic guy to a certain extent. [That’s why being a heel] seems so natural for me; that smart-ass comes out a bit more. I’m the guy people love to hate. But really, fans can boo, they can cheer, I don’t care. So long as they react, that’s the main thing. I let the fans decide if they want to love me or hate me.”
 Although Reso is obviously one of the top names in TNA, he’s well aware of how the recent influx of WWE talent can hurt the brand as much as it can help it.
“There has to be a mix of both [TNA and WWE] talent,” Reso replied when asked about so many big names jumping ship as of late. “You can’t just shut the door and push out the homegrown TNA talent. And there’s still so much untapped potential; Kaz puts on some good matches, and the X Division--Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley--they’re the future stars of TNA. But the company’s only five years old; it’s still pretty young, and it needs those established guys to bring some credibility to the show. People will flip through [TV shows] and stop because they’ll see Kurt Angle in a match and they’ll ask themselves, ‘Hey, who’s that he’s wrestling?’ Then the next time they’re flipping through they might recognize that name and be like, ‘Oh, that’s Kaz,’ and stop to watch and see who he’s wrestling. It’s a fine line, though.”
As fine as that line is, Reso said he’s hopeful to see one of his former WWE colleagues enter the six-sided ring…and it’s not who fans probably think it is.
“As far as guys who are free agents, I think Rob Van Dam would be a huge asset,” Reso said. “He’s such a tremendous talent.”
Not to worry--Reso and Copeland are still the best of friends; in fact, the World Heavyweight Champion was just over Reso’s house for his birthday.
 With everything TNA’s accomplished since Reso first signed with the company, it’s only natural to wonder where the wrestling promotion is headed in 2008. And while Reso expects a lot from his current home in the future, the key to success, in Reso’s opinion, is basically more of the same.
“It’s sort of been baby steps [thus far],” he said, “gradually building the audience. First there was the national TV deal. Then they moved ‘iMPACT!’ from Saturday to Thursday nights. Then we went prime time. Then we expanded the pay-per-views. Now, we have four shows in Canada…it’s all about getting out there and reaching a new audience. We need to build on what we already have, and the two-hour ‘iMPACT!’ helps us do that ’cause now we can have longer matches and women’s matches.”
Speaking of women, since both Kurt Angle and Booker T’s wives are part of TNA’s roster, can fans expect to see Reso’s wife, Denise, return to “iMPACT!” anytime soon?
“I don’t know,” Reso answered with a laugh. “I haven’t thought of that. We’ll have to wait and see.”
 While Denise may not be gracing viewers’ television sets in the near future, someone Reso said fans should keep their eyes on is current TNA World Tag Team Champion AJ Styles.
“His in-ring talent is second to none,” Reso said. “He does things inside of the ring that I’ve never seen done before.”
As for Reso’s own plans in 2008, the professional wrestler hopes to continue to challenge himself in the new year, possibly with some additional acting roles. After a brief part in the Clive Owen/Paul Giamatti action-comedy Shoot ’Em Up, Reso said he was bit by the acting bug--but not so hard he’d ever leave wrestling.
“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “I enjoyed it quite a bit. It was different.”
Unfortunately for Reso, one of his favorite actors (and the man behind half of his in-ring name), Nicolas Cage, recently dropped out of the upcoming Darren Aronofsky film The Wrestler. A bit part in that would have surely made Reso’s year.
In the meantime, Reso’s still focused on his career inside of the ring, and hopes to “pretty much wrestle everyone in TNA” just like he did in WWE. When asked if he has any plans to follow The Best of Christian Cage: The Instant Classic will a tell-all book like so many of his colleagues, Reso just replied, “We’ll see what happens. I wouldn’t rule it out, but there’s still so much more I want to accomplish in life.”
 And if you’re wondering just what’s left for the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion to accomplish during his already storied career (besides winning back the title he never lost at Final Resolution), the answer is quite simple.
“I want to become the Lord of the Dance,” Reso said.
If you haven’t already watched the DVD, his answer will make a lot more sense to you once you have.
The Best of Christian Cage: The Instant Classic is now available on DVD.
TNA Final Resolution airs live on pay-per-view Jan. 6 at 5 p.m. PST.
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