AEW star explains why he rejected WWE’s interest
Brian Cage discussed why he chose to stay with AEW despite notable interest from WWE when his contract with the former expired. He cited the stability, creative freedom, and long-term security he enjoys under Tony Khan as the key factors behind his decision.
Cage told Chris Van Vliet on the latest edition of the Insight Podcast about his decision to choose AEW over WWE. He cited the company’s interest to sign him when his AEW contract expired in 2023 but the perks and longevity of his wrestling career under Tony Khan convinced him to stay.
“I mean, there was a lot of interest and I, it’s funny because I wanted to go there. You don’t know what you’re going to get either place. There’s no guarantees. They could say that we’re going to use you this way, that way, whatever, but obviously there’s you don’t know anything. And after going back and forth, all the different pros and cons, a lot of stuff with AEW just seemed more safe, if you will, which is, it’s pretty hard to have some sort of security in this business.”
“But I’ve been here for a while. Tony’s, you know, they just randomly release anyone like a lot of the perks.Travel is way like he pays for all the travel. So hotel, ground transportation and airfare where WWE is just airfare. We’re an actual independent contractor. So I can do anything else outside of AEW, which, you know, that’s another +2. And then I felt like I don’t have a fear of getting released if I stay here too. The longer I stay, the longer I feel I can just keep staying to have longevity.”
Cage discussed long-term plans and ambitions in AEW. He expressed interest to focus on being a singles competitor instead of being involved in someone else’s story.
“I’ve always wanted to do more solo stuff because I feel that’s how I get my stuff in.I feel like that’s how I stand out more and there’s a plethora, and I think I said this in the last interview too, there’s so, so much I feel like I haven’t done an AEW, especially compared to my time in Lucha Underground and IMPACT and anywhere else, I feel like I’ve done so much more.”
“There’s just so many matches I haven’t had. And I feel because a lot of my matches haven’t been, it’s always a kind of sort of a multi way match or a tag match or a big, four way, six way, whatever the case may be.”
“So, I’d really like some more single opportunity.I like in the few, that I have the matches with Ospreay and Swerve and Hangman and stuff obviously been great.”
Last year in April, Cage tore his quadriceps at a non-AEW wrestling event and was forced to be sidelined. He returned on the May 13 edition of Dynamite in response to Kevin Knight’s open challenge for the TNT Title.
Rosanne Raphael is a wrestling writer with over three and a half years of experience covering all things related to the industry. From a kindergarten teacher to PR Associate to turning her lifelong passion for the industry into a career, Rosanne is currently writing for F4W Online where she focuses on wrestling news, analysis, and storytelling.
Rosanne previously contributed to Sportskeeda as an Assistant Content Manager.
When not consumed by wrestling, Rosanne is a musician and an aspiring artist.