Why does Christian "work" as a face now?

[Lionheart]

I remember a couple years ago, shortly after Christian had turned heel during his TNA run, the general consensus on the Wrestlecrap forums was that it was overdue and that he had never really worked as a face on TNA. This saddened and somewhat confused me, because I had always been a sincere fan of Christian as a face in TNA.

Obviously, since his return on ECW, Christian has consistently been the top babyface on the show, and I can't recall seeing anyone complain that he needs to turn heel. Now I realize that this may be at least partially because WWE in general is decidedly heel-heavy right now, but I'd still like to hear people's opinions on why TNA face Christian didn't work and WWE face Christian does work. Or maybe I misread the general mood about his face work in TNA?

[hajimenoippo]

TNA face christian didn't work mostly because he was the same character heel or face, he was also way too dominant and did get "Superman booking", it was irritating because he'd go up against Abyss, Monty Brown, or Samoa Joe (when Joe was heel), and not look like he was in any trouble.

He'd also resort to being a catchphrase monkey when delivering promos.

In ECW he's more or less the fighting champion, who cuts really funny promos, and generally puts on the best match of the night.

[Chiral]

I liked TNA face Christian too...

[Full of IT.]

It's the clapping.

People will get behind anyone who is clapping in rhythm.

[Allie Kitsune]

ECW face Christian is more like TNA Christian's 2nd face run than his first, where Christian basically wasn't being shoved down your throat as "Hey! Christian's a big deal!" (like he was during his first TNA face run), but he'd earned it and became the guy who had the crowd's respect without getting irritating.

He's pretty much the same in ECW now, the collected champion who goes about his business, respects the fans and can even play to them a little without blowing too much smoke up their ass (unlike Cena, who constantly seems to kiss the crowd's ass, to the point where he sounds insincere about it), and just genuinely looks like he loves what he's doing.

Right now, I feel like Christian actually gives off more of a "Best wrestler in the WWE" vibe moreso than Jericho or HHH. He's just really come into his own ever since that final face run in TNA.

[Dub H]

I guess its because he is a Champion that can defeat anyone who get in his face

But not Cena style

With him it looks he can lose at any moment,but he is jut half step ahead of his opponents

[hajimenoippo]

it's exactly the way jeff hardy should have been booked as WWE champion

["The Rated XXX Superstar" Jed]

Nov 14, 2009 13:37:43 GMT -5 Dub H said:

I guess its because he is a Champion that can defeat anyone who get in his face

But not Cena style

With him it looks he can lose at any moment,but he is jut half step ahead of his opponents

This. Right now, Christian IS WWECW. (Though I was really pulling for Regal to get the strap.)

[Albino Heat]

Because no one would have booed him on his return, thus making him work heel would be very forced.

[Citizen Snips Has Left]

Nov 14, 2009 14:44:12 GMT -5 Albino Heat said:

Because no one would have booed him on his return, thus making him work heel would be very forced.

If I recall, around 90% of the Internet expected him to return at the Rumble to cost Jeff the title against Edge, which would have led to insane heel heat.

[H-Fist]

Nov 14, 2009 13:29:03 GMT -5 Full of IT. said:

It's the clapping.

People will get behind anyone who is clapping in rhythm.

This post receives the Cowboy Bill Watts Stamp of Appr...get down off that top turnbuckle, boy!

[Deleted]

I think people dig the fighting champ booking.

Even the casuals.

[Prince Petty]

I still think he's better as an arrogant, smug heel. Which is what he's played for most of his professional career. But even then, there were portions of the crowd who cheered him.

But he works well as a face, too. Just tone down the arrogance, and point it directly at heels, and let him play the fighting champion role. As people have said, he doesn't come across as Superman, he's not booked like Cena or Triple H. He's booked more like Bret Hart or Shawn Michaels were in the mid-90s.