wrestling / Columns

Caged: Lucha Underground’s Muscle Man Continues to Impress

January 31, 2015 | Posted by Dino Zee

As one who likes to think more on what it is that I enjoy about wrestling- and what I don’t- and how others react to those very same likes/dislikes, I always enjoy being surprised by someone (or something) that I normally would never see myself enjoying. I’m not a big fan of “the business” side of things, and I find the lectures from those who are to be really boring, especially when it’s the same tired points of “this is marketed towards kids!” or “money from parents is what they care about” or anything in that vein, really. So, for me, discussion about what we like/dislike and, more importantly, why we like/dislike those things (sorry, but “Because it’s my opinion” just doesn’t cut it), is what interests me the most.

When it comes to “types” of wrestlers, I’m usually pretty easy to please, as long as the wrestler is at least somewhat decent at what he does. Cage – the former “Brian Cage” in TNA – has become a guy that I really like to watch wrestle. I’m usually drawn to the more technical wrestlers, but I can absolutely watch two brawling giants go toe to toe, or some aerial wizards flip and twist all over the ring, and I’ll be fine with it. There are some types that I can’t really get into, but there are still exceptions to that. For instance, until I got to see Low-Ki wrestle, I always thought that wrestlers who had a “karate” presentation weren’t very fun to watch. If it was some sort of hybrid, I could deal with it, but overall, watching someone throw a ton of worked power strikes just wasn’t enough for me.

Low Ki, however, showed me that with the right types of power strikes, that style can work just fine, thank you. Low Ki is one of my absolute favorites, and it’s because of how unique his style is when compared to most everyone else on the roster. He surprised me, and I’ve always been thankful for that. And yes, for the experts at picking nits, Low Ki is more than just a karate guy, but his overall style springs from his use of strikes, which is more my point.

At the same time, I can’t stand Davey Richards. They have a very similar offensive presentation, but I hate Davey, and love Low Ki. Maybe it’s because of supposed attitude problems I’ve read about, maybe it’s that he kicks out of everyone’s finisher all the time… I don’t know, but I don’t like the dude. If I’m honest about it, I don’t get why I think Low Ki rules and Davey Richards is atrocious, but I know that’s how I feel. Maybe Low Ki just looks more menacing? Doesn’t point like a Spice Girl? Either way, I like to think about stuff like that when it comes to wrestling. What I like, and why.

More recently, I have been surprised by just how much I’ve become a fan of Lucha Underground’s Cage, the former “Brian Cage” in TNA for a brief moment in time. When I first saw him on TNA’s Gut Check, my absolute initial impression was “Oh boy, a muscular, vanilla indy guy.” I expected to see him flipping around the ring, executing 19 point Rube Goldbergian style moves, and probably messing up a good amount of them in the process.

Unfortunately for Cage, he was against former Team Zee favorite, Jay Bradley. Bradley was clearly being made to be the star of that match, and he beat Cage in short order. I really didn’t take anything away from Cage following that match, as I assumed that was going to be the last we’d see of him. And, since I have the mindset of “unless you’re on the roster, then I don’t care” (which is why I don’t watch shows like The Ultimate Fighter or Tough Enough), I wasn’t about to go look around some more.

Cage, however, would get another chance, this time in a 3 way dance with Sanada and Crazzy Steve (He’s SO Crazzy!). And it was during this match that I realized exactly what Cage could bring to the table. In his match with Bradley, he was in there with a bigger guy who could hit just as hard, if not harder. Cage was unable to really show what he could be, since the goal was making Bradley look good. In the 3 way dance, however, Cage was able to show that he wasn’t just some X Wrestler with muscles. No, instead, he was what I figured would be the absolute perfect addition to TNA’s X Division – he was a guy that had the same stature as an X Division guy, but he also had incredible power and agility that would allow him to walk all over his smaller peers.

He lifted and threw both his opponents around the ring (sometimes at the same time), and just generally looked amazing, in my opinion. He was fluid, he had impressive moves, and he never once looked like someone who shouldn’t be on TV quite yet. He came up short, watching as Sanada pinned Steve following a Tiger Suplex, but when that match was over, I was completely sold on Cage, and was looking forward to watching him embark on his new path as TNA’s X Division Bully.

Sadly, it wasn’t to be, and Cage did not stick around with TNA for the fall of 2014. I wept, thinking that I’d always wonder what could have been with Cage. He appeared to be too small for WWE, and without the luxury of an entire division he could annihilate, why would he show up there, anyways? Definitely bummed out, I resigned myself to the new, Cage-less future that I had to embark on.

Until Lucha Underground saved the day. After a couple weeks of promotional vignettes, Cage made his debut in a 4 way against Aerostar, Angelico, and Argenis. And, wouldn’t you know it? It was pretty amazing.

Cage again displayed his incredible power against his three opponents, along with some crazy athleticism that is hidden by his size. I honestly never thought we’d see someone with such a decidedly anti-lucha style fit in so well with other luchadores, but he does it each and every time. Great throws, slams- he has the power moves of someone who stands 6’8, but isn’t some clumsy oaf, either.
This is the point that I should clarify that I don’t think he’s the best thing going today. I don’t think he’s a “great” wrestler. But I am absolutely entertained by him, and I look forward to his matches probably more than anyone else in Lucha Underground, save for MIJO, Pentagon Jr.

It could very well be as easy as never really having seen this type of character done before. We’ve seen the “Cruiserweight Bully” gimmick tried, but it was usually someone like a Spike Dudley, just being an asshole, and usually with bigger guys as backup. Nunzio did the same type of thing with the FBI watching his back. Cage, however, doesn’t need any help. He’s got all the tools he needs. He is, as the saying goes, a machine.

His match against Prince Puma for the Lucha Underground championship only further showed how good this guy can be. Puma is no slouch in the ring, and Cage looked like he belonged with him for every single second of the match. Sure, the ending was a huge copout and only made Cage look stupid, but I’d argue that one would be pretty hard pressed to not even be at least a little impressed by what Cage can do in the ring.

At only 30 years, there is still plenty of daylight left in the career of Cage, and I hope he’s able to realize his full potential. There is a real possibility that Lucha Underground is the pinnacle for him, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. I’d love to see him continue to wreck all the luchadores there, and maybe end up with that belt around his waist one day. Plus, he has that song that sounds like he’s screaming “I’m gonna shit!” that always gets a laugh.

However, I’d still really like to see him bring his act back to TNA one day. Matches with Low Ki, Manik, and eventually Samoa Joe would be really fun to watch, and would bring his act to a bigger stage. I am still dubious about his chances with WWE, but who knows? Maybe they’ll give him a look some day, and make him a part of a crazy tag team. I’d love to see a reverse TNA Tag Team Formula team, where Cage provides the muscle while his bigger partner provides the technical wrestling.

Either way, when it’s all said and done, Cage was a guy that I didn’t think much of, and in fact was looking forward to hating. But he surprised me with his unique presentation and incredible power, and I now find myself looking forward to his matches every week. It’s a good reminder to not be too set in your ways, and to always keep an open mind. The guy you think will be garbage may turn out to be pretty damn fun to watch.


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article topics :

Lucha Underground, Dino Zee