AEW Star ‘Wanted To Go’ To WWE, But Stayed For Job Security Reasons

WWE/AEW

With WWE being interested in acquiring his services, an AEW star has revealed why he chose to stay instead of making the jump.

Brian Cage signed a contract extension with AEW back in 2023, having first signed with the company back in 2020.

Under a WWE development contract back in 2008 until his release in September of the following year, it appears there was interest from the company in signing the star before he put pen to paper on the AEW contract extension.

Cage would be asked how close he came to going to WWE during an appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, saying:

“I mean, there was a lot of interest, and it’s funny, because I wanted to go there. I mean, you don’t know what you’re gonna get either place. There’s no guarantees. They could say that, you know, we’re gonna use you this way, that way, whatever. But obviously, 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 safer, if you will.

“It’s pretty hard to have some sort of security in this business, but I’m like, I’ve been here for a while; they (WWE) just randomly release anyone. A lot of the perks, so travel is way (easier); he (Tony Khan) pays for all the travel, so hotel, ground transportation, and airfare, whereas WWE is just airfare. We’re an actual independent contractor, so I can do anything else outside of AEW, which is a plus too.

“Then I felt like I don’t have a fear of getting released if I stay here too long. The longer I feel like I can just keep staying to have longevity.”

Cage would then confirm to Van Vliet that job security and longevity were the main reasons he remained in AEW:

“Big time, that’s the main one, and just longevity. It’s so much more chill there. I mean, obviously, I haven’t been in WWE for a long time, was there developmentally years ago, many years ago.”

Brian Cage was last seen on AEW television on the May 30 episode of Collision, teaming with Jake Doyle in a victory for the Don Callis Family against Jimmy Wild & Tommy Mars, having made his return earlier that month.

Job Security & Opportunities Matter

When it comes to the history of AEW, there are fewer departures, whether it be releases or contract expiry, under Tony Khan’s leadership than there have been in WWE.

There’s no doubt arguments to be made as to why this would be, but there’s something in what Cage suggests, that there’s better job security and many opportunities to pursue under an AEW contract.

Indeed, for Cage, he has continued to compete on the independent wrestling scene and scored himself a role in Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day, in a role that sees him alongside Chavo Guerrero Jr and Lance Archer, two fellow stars that he is very familiar with. He’s far from the only star to benefit from such an arrangement, too, with Samoa Joe having recently gone on hiatus due to filming commitments.

WWE stars are also able to follow their big-screen dreams, with Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes being two examples, starring in the much-anticipated live-action Street Fighter movie later this year. It’s also not unusual to see a smattering of main roster WWE stars undertake independent wrestling bookings, with Nattie being one such name to ply her trade beyond the Raw ring as recently as April of this year, defeating Shayna Baszler at GCW Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV, a show that also featured Pete Dunne in a victory over Masahi Takeda.

That said, the greater freedom and security that Cage suggests are strong factors in what AEW offers its stars, with their loyalty seeing Tony Khan hold them in good stead when it comes to future opportunities.

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• AEW
• wwe
• Brian cage

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