The John Cena match that made Christian leave WWE took place at Vengeance 2005, marking a pivotal turning point for Christian Cage, who realized WWE would not view him as a main eventer after this high-profile triple threat event. The emotional fallout from this match—and the decisions leading up to it—pushed Christian toward his exit from the company in 2005, significantly affecting both his career and WWE’s landscape at the time.
Christian’s Rise, Tag Team Legacy, and Struggles as a Solo Star
Christian Cage, recognized for his innovative partnership with Edge during the Attitude Era, revolutionized WWE’s tag team division with their contributions to TLC matches. While his work with Edge secured them the status of iconic tag champions, Christian’s transition to singles competition came with consistent challenges. Despite capturing titles such as the European, Hardcore, and Intercontinental Championships, he struggled to secure prominent main event opportunities on his own.
During these years, Christian’s frustration grew as he felt increasingly overlooked. With WWE’s focus shifting to other superstars, Christian often found himself without the same chances to shine that others received—a sentiment that steadily eroded his trust in the company’s vision for his career.
Turning Point: The Triple Threat Match at Vengeance 2005
The event that irreversibly shaped Christian’s relationship with WWE was the triple threat match involving John Cena and Chris Jericho at Vengeance 2005. In a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, Christian reflected on this pivotal moment, admitting:
“It was the stuff that I did with Cena.”
Christian elaborated on how WWE management’s decisions impacted his position in key storylines. He discussed an incident during a television program filmed in the U.K. with Batista, where Christian played the heel opposite Batista’s face persona. Unexpectedly, the crowd supported Christian and booed Batista—an organic fan reaction that WWE chose to mute in the U.S. broadcast. Christian recounted how he and Batista were both confused by the company’s handling of his momentum:
“They booed him out of the building, and they cheered for me. When that aired in the United States, you didn’t hear any ‘We want Christian, Batista sucks!’ chants. After we came back, he said, ‘What are they doing with you, man?’ He goes, ‘They have to do something.’ And I was like, ‘I don’t know’.”
The momentum lost by these editing choices weighed on Christian’s confidence in WWE’s support. However, it was the booking for the Vengeance 2005 main event that confirmed his suspicions. Christian explained his feelings during the interview:
“And then the triple threat thing happened with myself and Cena and Jericho. You know, when they inserted Chris into that. Maybe because they didn’t see me as a big enough star at the time to be able to carry that. So they added Chris in.”
This creative decision signaled to Christian that WWE doubted his drawing power and preferred to rely on the established reputation of Chris Jericho alongside John Cena. The realization was painful and, in Christian’s words:
“That bothered me, and I was like, ‘You’re not even going to give me the chance to prove that I can do this. You’re going to just add somebody else in here.’ So that was for me, the writing on the wall. I was like, ‘Nothing’s going to change unless I change it myself.’”
With no new opportunities on the immediate horizon and having lost faith in being elevated as a true main-eventer, Christian made the difficult decision to depart WWE later that year.
A Brief Move to SmackDown Followed by Departure
As Christian’s frustrations peaked after the match with John Cena, he was drafted to the SmackDown brand in 2005. Despite this shift, his fortunes did not improve. Though he was placed in a high-profile World Heavyweight Championship match on his very first night, his role quickly diminished in the following weeks, leaving him once again on the outside looking in.
On October 31, 2005, Christian’s contract with WWE expired. Although a new contract was offered, he ultimately refused to re-sign, a move triggered by cumulative disappointments including his recent experiences on SmackDown. His fading position in the company, compounded by rumors that Vince McMahon did not see him as a potential main-eventer, left Christian little choice but to seek new opportunities where his abilities might be better recognized.
Christian’s Later WWE Return and Lasting Impact
After his exit from WWE, Christian competed in TNA, where he found the affirmation and main event status that had eluded him in WWE. His decision to leave marked not only a personal turning point but a notable shift in WWE’s roster during a transitional period for the company. In 2009, Christian returned to WWE, going on to capture the ECW Championship and ultimately the World Heavyweight Championship. Unfortunately, injuries forced him to retire in 2014, though he would later make an in-ring comeback in AEW in 2021.
The events surrounding the John Cena match that made Christian leave WWE resonate with fans as an example of how creative decisions and talent management can shape careers in professional wrestling. The moment continues to be discussed as a cautionary tale about missed opportunities and the impact of backstage perceptions within the industry.
