AEW Star Expected WWE Main Roster Call-Up Before Being Released

AEW/WWE

An AEW star has revealed that he thought he was about to be called up to the WWE main roster during a call, only to be released instead.

Long before he would sign for the first time with AEW, Brian Cage had a short run in WWE developmental between 2008-2009.

Signing a development contract in June 2008, Cage would be assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling, eventually becoming “The Night Claw”, a character that would be associated with the superhero-themed Hurricane.

Unfortunately for Cage, he wouldn’t find himself main roster bound, being released from his WWE contract in September 2008.

During a recent appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Cage revealed that he thought he was being called up during the call that would see him released by WWE, confirming that there had been talk of such a move, saying:

“There was (talk of bringing Cage to Raw or SmackDown). And then actually, even the day I got released, I thought I was getting the call to go up to Raw. Everyone thought that.

“I was so flabbergasted when I got the call, and I’m thinking I’m getting raised. I think I’m getting called to TV. I’m thinking I’m getting both, and they’re like, ‘Oh, we’ve come to terms with your release.’ I’m like, what the? You called the right person?

“But I mean, I left my time there, and I have nothing bad to say about in that regard, but you know, it’s been a back-and-forth thing, and there is the what-if and the WrestleMania moment that every fan has. But at the same time, I do feel like there’s a nice feather in my cap to have been as successful as I’ve been, to have the house, I have the cars, I have the life I’ve had, to live the career I’ve had, without ever having, like, the WWE rub, I do feel like that’s that’s been kind of a nice little bonus, which is pretty hard to get.”

Cage signed a contract extension with AEW back in 2023 and also revealed that there was interest from WWE in acquiring his services, choosing to remain under Tony Khan’s leadership due to the opportunities and job security it offers.

Breaking Out Of The Cage Without WWE

Brian Cage may have had a brief run in WWE developmental, but never debuting on television and staying in developmental means he never got the “rub” of being a main roster star over there.

First signing with AEW in January 2020, Cage’s in-ring history has seen him competed in TNA Wrestling, holding the X Division and Impact World Championship, along with runs in AAA and a reign as Ironman Heavymetalweight Champion in DDT Pro-Wrestling, demonstrating his international credentials.

It’s this star that WWE missed out on when they released him back in 2009, and were unable to bring in 2023.

That said, it’s entirely conceivable that, as driven and talented as he was during his developmental run, a main roster contract would have seen a very different outcome for the star.

It’s also entirely possible that a WWE run is in his future, with Cage noting to Van Vliet that it’s somewhere he “wanted to go”. At 42 years of age and in the condition he currently exhibits, there’s still plenty of miles on the clock of the AEW star who remains popular on the independent wrestling scene.

To make sure you stay up to date with all the biggest wrestling and WrestleTalk news, follow us on Threads by clicking this link!

• AEW
• wwe
• Brian cage

Share this article with friends