How Christian Cage Invented His Finisher

AEW star and former WWE Superstar Christian Cage joins Chris to discuss how he went about inventing his finishing move, the Killswitch.
Watch the full interview with Christian Cage on my main ‪@ChrisVanVliet‬ channel here: • Christian Cage Is Doin...
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[@CVVCLIPS]

Watch the full interview with Christian Cage on my main channel here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipXJg3iids2ge9U

[@grantpowell4135]

Looks like a bond villian worh his outfit

[@TimLoyalToWifeHaterFreeZoneA]

Love It CVVCLIPS Bro.

[@battlerap314]

Christian doesn't get enough credit. the dude is a legend

[@calclark3995]

Named his son after his finisher What a great father

[@shaeisgae8952]

AND YOU HAD A FATHER JUNGLE BOY, BUT YOUR FATHER'S DEAD.

[@matt_valentine]

It's always been my favorite finisher. Christian is a legend.

[@Eligaming778]

It’s top 5 for me edges spear is so great but everybody uses the spear these days so it’s not as impactful as it once was

[@kevinbadger8030]

It’s an awful finisher. Looks awkward and is beyond easy to counter.

[@theonlygoodonehere2259]

@@kevinbadger8030 how is it easy if he is hooking your arms?

[@kevinbadger8030]

@@theonlygoodonehere2259 doesn’t take much to break it. Shaking them off is easy while he’s making the turn.

[@theonlygoodonehere2259]

@@kevinbadger8030 have you ever been locked in the impaler/unprettier/killswitch before???? be honest, especially from a strong guy like christian?

[@bananarabbit3]

Stories about the origins of moves and just moves in general are some of my favorite. I always figured Christian got the Unprettier from the Tamakaze but the additional context on his variation in it awesome. And then the bit about Mero stealing the TKO! Anything about moves is super interesting.

[@ghostmachine71]

Billy Kidman also used it before Christian, in WCW.

[@alaooooy7]

Christian Cage is now more of a master of the game. He's a true in-ring general and his character work and promos are out of this world! A true all-time great!

[@c.antoinehill100]

The Killswitch/Unprettier is a pretty dope finish. It’s like a reverse Pedigree.

[@UltimateBowmanza]

The narrative on Marc Mero was that he was the first guy to get guaranteed money in WWF. Allegedly got him some heat but I love how he takes this, at the time, nobody out to eat, pays for the meal and asks if he can use his finish. What a nice guy.

[@chrisgrudge6964]

It’s standard etiquette in wrasslin’ to ask someone to use their finisher, but yeah, given how further Marc was in his career be could have been an ass and just took it.

[@simsreject5925]

Christian: I'm a student of the game. It's time to play the game Time to play the game It's all about the game and how you play it...

[@jellydamgood]

I really hope the game rehires Jim 😢

[@Doctor_Smith]

If you wanna see Tommy Rodgers do it, google "Tommy Rogers hits the Tomikaze on Lance Storm at November to Remember '97." His was so clean.

[@JeramyRichter]

The Tommy Knocker was LEGIT

[@treyxyz]

So Christian didn’t invent it. That is literally the Unprettier from that twitter video.

[@ajbahus]

I remember how it was called the Impaler in WM 2000.

[@squiddwizzard8850]

YEP. Impaler is way better than U prettier IMO.

[@CodenameRawTV]

I hated that 😂

[@scottdecowski4913]

I still call it the Impaler 😂

[@whisperienced]

Yeah it was confusing back then because the Impaler was a ddt.

[@CodenameRawTV]

@@whisperienced not only that, but it was the name of Gangrels DDT which made it all the more confusing being his stablemate lol.

[@clarencegutsy7309]

I always thought the Unprettier looked really cool, I like that if you view it from above it makes a Cross-like shape which for the Christian vampire gimmick at the time was like perfection.

[@Arikdefrasia]

In WWF Attitude (1999) it was called The Impaler and was one of the most powerful finishers in the game IIRC.

[@Somnogenesis]

It was too, wasn't it? It was right near the top of the finishers list, did something like 9/10 damage as I recall. A fascinating rare example of the game developers seemingly grading a move based on how devastating it actually looked (and in-game it really does, it's animated such that you appear to land sitting straight on the back of the receiving wrestler's head), rather than on how big a name the wrestler it belongs to is. Quite the honour for someone as low on the card at Christian still was at the time.

[@wildwine6400]

All the blue dots in the background must have give Christian PTSD

[@ColdDrink25]

i dont get it

[@ManiaxOnYTZeus]

Vince thought Christian looked ugly or something like that, and so he wanted to give Christian a blue dot gimmick where Christian's face would be censored by a blue dot over his face.

[@alaooooy7]

Vince is a dumbass. Glad he lost everything that he wasted his life building.

[@theonlygoodonehere2259]

christian doesn't really care, it really gives him fuel, to make it in the business you are not supposed to let down moments you ended up overcoming scar you for life, its dumb, and PTSD joke is so overused, its lost its meaning as its not the correct wor used for moments like this most of the time

[@hungrygator8889]

@@ManiaxOnYTZeus think he was quoted as callin him "ratty" iirc

[@thattomciccone]

If a dude asks to use a move as his finish, it isn't stealing. Now maybe the pressure of that situation was so high that Christian couldn't say no... but he said yes.

[@floggyWM1]

He didnt steal it, Christian allowed him to use it. Stealing would be, if Marc Mero so Christian do it in an indie match, and then just copy the move and use it himself, but he asked like a gentleman if he can use the move.

[@kousikrakshit1295]

Christian is maintaining kayfabe. He probably would have said it differently off camera

[@brainthebrian3690]

Brother, he was just being playful about it... Saying he stole it sound more a little incising than "he politely ask permission".

[@brainthebrian3690]

@@kousikrakshit1295 🙄

[@monsterbrandman]

There was an Indy wrestler named Derek Frazier years ago who did a spinning version of the Unprettier. I wonder what happened to him and why Christian didn't do a spinning Unprettier at least once that I remember.

[@TheSupinesmokey]

Lio Rush does it too

[@alaooooy7]

Christian Cage is still one of the very best in the world both in the ring and on the mic after being forced to retire for seven years! He deserves the very best and I hope he gets a run at the very top in AEW. A Christian Cage AEW World Championship reign would be awesome!

[@shawngreenidge3591]

I wouldn't say Marc Mero stole the TKO from Christian Cage if Marc politely asked Christian if he can use that move as his finisher. It would be theft ir Marc saw Christian do the move in training and then did the move as his finish on Raw. 😄

[@darrelladams4886]

Student of the game? In this entire interview he comes across like the teacher young guys need. Hes got some good insights on wrestling and I think he would have a good post wrestling career behind the scenes

[@andrewft31]

I would listen to HBK before I would him, Christian like Marty Jannetty was always better with his more famous tag partner but alone is boring as they come.

[@Izaan2810]

​@@andrewft31 ...... You clearly need mental help.

[@sleepinggorilla]

The Unprettier actually looks really painful.

[@Connor-ki8zv]

I always thought just how innovative the Unprettier/Killswitch is. Some people think it's kind of overblown just because a lot of people use it, but to me, it's a cool and badass finisher.

[@aaronlinton-chambers]

Christian is so underrated I think WWE just didn’t see his potential as a singles star.

[@andrewft31]

Because compared to Edge, he is just there. Edge had the better personality and character. The Ultimate Opportunist is still one of the top heels. When Edge beat up that laptop (the anonymous Raw General Manager) he got a pop I don’t see Christian being able to pull that off.

[@graysondraven]

Wow didn't know Christian invented the TKO, that and the Impaler/Unprettier/Killswitch are 2 of my favourite moves/finishers of all time.

[@StrongArmEntertainment]

He didn't. Ddp did it in WCW. It was to show how he could hit the diamond cutter anywhere

[@AlexBen-v7y]

@@StrongArmEntertainment I am pretty sure, Mero is credited to be the innovator of TKO.... If Christian is saying that Mero adopted from him, it pretty much makes Christian the innovator of the move.

[@alaooooy7]

The Killswitch is probably my favorite move ever! It looks so unique and so devastating. Christian Cage is the man!

[@StickyShoes34]

its such a great move! really enjoyed this whole interview

[@realmicahrose]

A patriarch figure even back then. Cool story! I always liked Christian a lot more than Edge.

[@DonaldMeyers-v8c]

Definitely one of the most unique finishers. I have always dug it

[@JalenPrice_252]

Yea no doubt the Unprettier/Killswitch has got to be right up there at the top with the DDT. Just innovative, smart and the best part is he protected it before coming to the big time. He is a true student of the game.

[@Janthdanl]

It’s an underrated finisher imo it’s very much like the diamond cutter

[@lookits_jay]

Would be sick to see someone in the wwe start using this if allowed🙏

[@DonaldMeyers-v8c]

Mero! That's the other finish I loved. That TKO was sick looking.

[@grid462]

Now how did a discussion with Tyler Breeze go?

[@derychweber6134]

Is my finishing move in most wrestling games I play. I loved it when I first saw it and didn't know he created it.

[@davidjsaul]

He didn't. There are literally videos of wrestlers doing the move a few years before him

[@derychweber6134]

@@davidjsaul ok thank you for letting me know is good to know that facts.

[@elseals8418]

He will always be in my top 10

[@paulogarcia9739]

Always love this move cause it's pretty unique

[@superanimeboi6547]

Christian is my favorite, love this dude lol

[@THAELITEONE5556]

Wasn’t it first called the impaler ? And so was gangrels ddt I believe. Would confuse me as a kid

[@mayukhkumar1378]

Christian cage, the most loved heel❤

[@LatashaMoore-y7r]

I'm grateful to you for make this videos you are a very nice honest person 👏 ✨️

[@GardenFolklife]

The Game grade on a curve or is it standard? What was his history courses like because I just dont see Trips as a being very strong in that area?

[@insignificantaftermathPROJECTS]

Billy Kidmsn used the Unprettier too.

[@tawhidemtiazjahangir621]

I like Christian’s coat

[@RobertWalsh-vp5ui]

I always thought it was a cool and unique finisher

[@grantirwin7769]

Mero didn't steal it he asked.

[@jackadams3587]

You can’t steal something that was given to you.

[@mikedaman9000]

This is gold. 🤟🏻🤩

[@StrongArmEntertainment]

I've always hated his finish. You can just stand up lol

[@akingwithwords2144]

It ain’t stealing if you literally ask the guy…

[@wwechampion]

The Unprettier always seemed like a less dangerous cousin of The Pedigree but both done on concrete would put someone in a coma in CTE city for months lol

[@FishJesus420]

Christian could do it to Brock. If punk can get umaga up for the gts, I doubt Christian would have a problem getting Brock in a fireman’s carry.

[@anubiisdoesthiis]

I thought it was called the "Unprelliar" 🤦🏾‍♂️😅

[@alaooooy7]

Christian Cage is the GOAT!

[@davidjsaul]

There are videos of Tommy Rogers doing the move before Christian ever did. He didn't invent it at all.

[@VDRP]

Wow Cage broke character when he was talking about Marc stealing his move. I miss the old Christian.

[@everythingmanawsome]

How’s that back feel

[@ghostmachine71]

He didnt invent his finisher. Billy Kidman used it in WCW as the Kid Krusher first.

[@en1324]

If anyone has a link to that Tomikazi (?) move, I'd really appreciate it

[@theboxingboy7422]

AJPW from the 90s is so legendary. Like if you're a guy coming up in the buisness like Christian was back then you got to go back and watch some of them matches if you can. Guys like Kenta Kobashi. Vader. Terry Gordy & Dr death. Mitsuharu Misawa. Stan Hansen. Just amazing workers who influenced so many wrestlers you saw after them.

[@zephaniah666]

Love the tko

[@mushuansari]

Is it really stealing when the man politely asked your permission to use it and you allowed him to?

[@Rockleelives777]

Yes if the person doesn't feel like they can say no.

[@mushuansari]

​@@Rockleelives777It's not like he was being held at gun point now was he?

[@ShaskiiiXO]

Facts hahahahah

[@Rockleelives777]

@@mushuansari Wrestling politics my friend. There are unspoken rules, mainly for the guys on the bottom.

[@cipherpac]

​​@@mushuansari Christian is Canadian. Politely asking is exactly like holding a gun to his head because being nice and obliging is baked into Canadian DNA

[@robertnapier624]

Christian: I am a student of the game. Triple H: I AM THE GAME!

[@Wreck1990]

did brock lesnar at least buy marc mero dinner tho?

[@DewlayLomo]

Shout out to Tommy Rogers

[@ellisjahfinelcraddock]

Amen to that. God rest his soul. 💯👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿💯

[@WarGhoulKharas]

Tommy Rodgers and Tom Maricato did it first.

[@bigvanpapi]

Didn’t Kidman steal it as well?

[@ghostmachine71]

Kidman used it first, as the Kid Krusher.

[@adanfiel4532]

Seriously You Never Asked Him About His Theme Song Just Close Your Eyes?? Wow i can tell that song is ignored I Hate WWE For That

[@via_negativa6183]

I know a lot of people like this move and Christians a decent wrestler but I Dont really like moves that Dont really work in real life and this is one of them, it looks kinda goofy too.

[@symbolic503]

real ones know it was called the impaler first

[@cityindependent2509]

Was that not gangrels finisher?

[@whisperienced]

Impaler was a DDT.

[@ghostmachine71]

Then real ones have memory issues, since the impaler is Gangrel's implant ddt, which edge and christian used while in the Brood.

[@Goujeton199]

@@ghostmachine71 Both Gangrel's Implant DDT and Christian's Killswitch was/is called the Impaler, thus the confusion. Christian's early WWF matches in 1998, particularly at Shotgun Saturday Night has the commentary team call the Killswitch the Impaler, and Christian's first video games like WWF Attitude also called it the Impaler. Then it was renamed to Unprettier, then Killswitch.

[@Somnogenesis]

​@@Goujeton199Ahh thank you so much for this. It's been puzzling me for years. I first knew Christian's finisher as the Impaler in _WWF Attitude_ on the PlayStation - I encountered it there before I ever saw him do it in real life as I was introduced to wrestling and wrestling games at basically the same time right at the turn of the millennium. It looks hideously well-named in the game, because the way it's animated it appears you come down essentially sitting on the back of the opponent's head. Crunch. And Gangrel's finisher in that game is named the Implant DDT. But in almost all the time since I only hear "Impaler" to refer to Gangrel's move. So I've been long waiting for someone to clear this up for me. It's nice to have some confirmation at last that the Impaler name did belong to Christian's move back then. Certainly I knew I don't remember the Unprettier name coming along for a year or two - which makes sense, because thematically it only works once Edge & Christian are in their "reeking of awesomeness" phase post-Brood, doesn't it?

[@miket2215]

Mero took the finisher but Brock stole Sable

[@BeastMaster4988]

👍

[@EGarrett01]

This is not true. Tommy Rogers did the move exactly the way Christian did it, and Tommy did it on both ECW and WWF TV (you can see it on here), AND he did it as his finisher. Christian just stole it. There's literally no innovation at all.

[@supercoolpartydude3575]

To further rub salt on the wound, after Marc Mero went home and had crazy love making with his then wife, absolute peak Sable.

[@SM78-u5d]

First

[@Stixerss]

I’ve always disliked it no hate but it’s very ehhh

[@blade8989]

Fttt

[@amossparks4542]

Never liked the finish. Takes too long and it looks just as fake as a flipping piledriver

[@samchristian37]

I respect his grind and ambition but I think he’s such a horrible and limited wrestler. He’s had a lot of classic moments in wrestling and deserves to be in the hall of fame but skill wise, he’s never appealed to me RESPECTFULLY

[@AlexBen-v7y]

You are a horrible and limited man, and obviously, objectively wrong. Him not appealing to you, makes it better for him.

[@Am0ment0fB]

I always thought the move was dumb. I just don't like the whole twisting thing. I don't know. Ha.

[@soys8834]

Same honestly

[@Austin-l1j]

I like it, and it looks good however the setup is a little slow tho.

[@Am0ment0fB]

@@soys8834 you get it. Here have a 🍪. Ha.

[@Am0ment0fB]

@@Austin-l1j to say the least. Ha.

[@Ghostface-1393]

If you suspended belief its a cool finisher. Obviously it would never work in real life

[@waynekimkeran1581]

When you insult the dead and distespect them you pay the price. Dark magic. Cage must be the most successful loser streak on AEW.

[@stak81]

Pretty lame to keep saying he stole the finisher when he took Cage out to dinner, asked for the move, and was granted permission. Mero wasn't the thief, Cage was.

[@Rj-pw7zs]

Yeah I hate that finisher.

[@AProlificAuthor]

He didn’t invent it he just started using it after he saw someone else using it. I saw guys doing that move years before he ever did.

[@whisperienced]

He literally said that in the clip.