Brian Cage Reveals Reasons for Turning Down WWE Interest to Remain with AEW

Brian Cage has opened up about his decision to remain with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) despite significant interest from WWE following the expiration of his previous contract. Cage pointed to creative freedom, professional stability, and long-term security under Tony Khan as the primary motivators for his choice.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Insight Podcast with Chris Van Vliet, Cage detailed the circumstances surrounding his 2023 contract situation. While WWE expressed interest in signing him, the specific benefits and the sense of longevity offered by AEW ultimately won him over.

“There was a lot of interest, and it’s funny because I actually wanted to go there,” Cage admitted. “You never truly know what to expect in either place; there are no guarantees. They might promise one thing, but you can’t be certain. After weighing the pros and cons, AEW felt like the safer option, which is a rare thing to find in this business.”

“I’ve been here for a while now, and there are many perks,” Cage continued. “For instance, Tony covers all travel expenses, including hotels, ground transportation, and airfare, whereas WWE typically only covers airfare. Additionally, as an independent contractor here, I have the freedom to pursue other ventures outside of AEW. I also don’t live with the constant fear of being released; I feel that the longer I stay, the more security and longevity I build here.”

Looking toward the future, Cage shared his ambitions regarding his role on the AEW roster. He expressed a strong desire to transition away from multi-man matches to focus on establishing himself as a premier singles competitor.

“I’ve always wanted to do more solo work because I believe that is how I can truly stand out and make an impact,” Cage explained. “I feel like there is so much more I haven’t accomplished in AEW compared to my time in Lucha Underground or IMPACT. I haven’t had the opportunity to showcase everything I can do because so many of my matches have been tag matches or multi-man bouts like four-way or six-way matches.”

“I would really love more opportunities in singles competition. While my matches against the likes of Will Ospreay, Swerve Strickland, and Hangman Page have been incredible, I want to build more momentum on my own.”

Cage’s momentum was briefly interrupted last April when a torn quadriceps sustained at a non-AEW event forced him into medical leave. He successfully made his return to action on the May 13 episode of Dynamite, answering an open challenge from Kevin Knight for the TNT Championship.

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