Christian has come a long way in seven years.

He and Edge debuted for WWE as members of the black-clad silent faction known as The Brood. On Oct. 18, 1998 at the Judgment Day pay-per-view the little known Canadian-born won the Light Heavyweight Championship from Taka Michinoku.

Today he stands at the forefront of the Smackdown! brand -- and he's known as Captain Charisma.

"This just seems to be my time. I'm on a good streak and I want it keep it going and keep it fresh," Christian said via telephone Thursday as he and his fellow Smackdown! superstars prepare to invade Columbus on Aug. 9.

"I want to take advantage of the push I've been given and develop my character to the fullest."

Known for their "five-second pose" and their enormous success as a tag team, Edge and Christian won seven WWE tag team titles.

They also took part in what are now-legendary matches like the ladder match at Wrestlemania 2000 and the Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match at SummerSlam later that year.

"We hadn't held a tag team title up that point. So to win them there established us as a top tag team," he said.

Working in these extreme-style matches takes a physical toll.

"You know you're going to get banged up because you never know if the ladder is going to break or where it will fall. You just say a little prayer before the match and trust the guys you're working with."

Because of the injury potential, wrestlers don't do ladders or tables matches too frequently.

"You don't want to do them all the time. Otherwise, they'll lose their luster and become routine. But I like doing them in the right situation."

With the success and popularity he and Edge enjoyed, breaking up the team wasn't easy.

"The first six months or year were tough. You're used to working with someone likeI was with Edge and you feed off each other. When you need a rest, you can tag out."

"But I've adjusted to it and made it on my own pretty well," said the 235-pound native of Toronto.

Christian would like to work more singles bouts against fellow Canadian Chris Benoit.

"I've only worked one singles match with him, but lots of tag team matches. I think we could put on amazing, fun and entertaining matches."

Since receiving a push, his outgoing personality has been allowed to emerge, along with his athletic ability.

"I like to step up and put it all out there, whether it's in the ring, doing a backstage vignette or on the mic."

His fans -- rather his "peeps" -- know that's how he rolls.