Brian Cage has explained why he opted to remain with AEW even as WWE came calling.
Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Cage said that when his AEW contract expired in 2023, WWE had genuine interest in signing him, and he was tempted. Ultimately, though, the stability he’s found under Tony Khan won out.
“There was a lot of interest, and 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,” Cage said. “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 pretty hard to have some sort of security in this business.”
Cage pointed to a number of perks that come with being an AEW talent, including the company’s travel coverage and the freedom that comes with independent contractor status. “Travel is way [better]. 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,” he said. “I felt like I don’t have a fear of getting released if I stay here. The longer I stay, the longer I feel I can just keep staying to have longevity.”
Looking ahead, Cage made it clear that he wants to carve out more of a singles run rather than being folded into 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,” he said. “There’s so, so much I feel like I haven’t done in AEW, especially compared to my time in Lucha Underground and Impact and anywhere else.”
Cage noted that many of his AEW matches have come in multi-man or tag settings, and he’d like the chance to shine on his own more often. “There’s just so many matches I haven’t had,” he said. He did, however, single out his bouts with Will Ospreay, Swerve Strickland, and “Hangman” Adam Page as highlights. “The few that I have, the matches with Ospreay and Swerve and Hangman and stuff, obviously been great.”
