When All Elite Wrestling first launched in 2019 a number of WWE stars jumped to the company. In more recent years we’ve seen several AEW stars make the jump to WWE, but one member of the All Elite Wrestling roster decided it was safer to stay with the company.
During a recent appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Brian Cage was asked about the contract extension he signed with AEW in 2024, and he explained why he chose to stay with AEW even though there was interest from WWE.
“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.”
While talking about the job security that AEW provided Cage said, “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.”