The IMPACT Wrestling archives are full of unforgettable matches and moments. This week on the Pluto TV Rewind, we head back to 2006 when Christian Cage defended the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Abyss inside Six Sides of Steel!
Christian Cage was on top of the world. Just a few months prior, he made the jump to IMPACT Wrestling and instantly became one of the top stars in the company. He defeated some of the promotion’s biggest names, including “The Alpha Male” Monty Brown. To kick off the 2006 pay-per-view season, Cage teamed with “The Icon” Sting to defeat the team of Jeff Jarrett and Monty Brown.
Having scored a victory over the World Champion, Christian Cage became the top runner for a shot at Jarrett’s title. The match was made official for Against All Odds and on that night, Cage’s dream came true. After a back-and-forth battle, Cage was able to pin Jarrett with his signature Unprettier to call himself the NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
After winning the title, Christian Cage realized that the level of competition in IMPACT Wrestling was at an all-time high – and they were coming for him! Cage defended against Monty Brown at Destination X, as he quickly became one of Christian Cage’s arch-rivals. Cage was able to successfully retain the title against “The Alpha Male” but unbeknownst to the champ, a monster was lurking in the shadows.
Abyss’ maniacal father, James Mitchell, claimed that Christian Cage stole Abyss’ opportunity at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and that Christian was to give “The Monster” a shot at the gold. If there’s one thing we know about Christian Cage, it’s that he doesn’t take commands! Cage declined Mitchell’s challenge and would soon realize his mistake. Abyss and Mitchell wanted Christian Cage’s NWA World Heavyweight Championship so bad that they were willing to go to sick lengths in order to get it. Mitchell even went as far as to involve Cage’s wife in the situation. Mitchell visited her several times in an attempt to anger Cage – and it worked. Abyss attacked an enraged Christian Cage at his home and almost drowned him in his own swimming pool when Mitchell reminded “The Monster” that he can’t win the title from a dead man!
At Lockdown 2006, the time for talk was over – Christian Cage would put his NWA World Heavyweight Championship on the line against “The Monster”, Abyss. Since this match took place at Lockdown, IMPACT Wrestling’s all-steel cage event, James Mitchell wouldn’t be able to get physically involved in the match. A man and a monster would step into the cage and only one would leave with the NWA World Heavyweight Championship around their waist. Both champion and challenger pulled out all the stops, including a jaw-dropping moment when Cage launched himself off the top of the cage to hit a huge Frog Splash on Abyss! Cage continued his momentum with a Sunset Flip Powerbomb from the top of the cage, sending Abyss back-first into a pile of thumbtacks! The final nail in the coffin was when Cage hit Abyss with the Unprettier into the thumbtacks, allowing him to score the pin and retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship!
After the match, Mitchell would orchestrate a violent attack by Abyss with a steel chain. What happened next would shock the world – with Cage unconscious, Abyss unjustly left the arena with the World Title in his possession!
For more unforgettable moments like these, tune into the IMPACT Wrestling channel on Pluto TV.
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