“They Just Randomly Release Anyone” – AEW Star On Not Signing With WWE

A current AEW star opened up on why he refused to sign with the WWE. The star in question is Brian Cage.

Brian Cage has been in All Elite Wrestling since 2020. Aside from winning the FTW Championship once, Cage has yet to win a major title during his AEW tenure. The 42-year-old star is currently a member of the Don Callis Family faction.

In 2024, Brian Cage’s previous contract with AEW was coming up before he eventually re-signed with the promotion. Meanwhile, Cage revealed how WWE was interested in signing him at that time.

AEW star on refusing to sign with WWE

In an interview with Chris Van Vliet on Insights, the AEW star Brian Cage was asked if he was close to signing with WWE in 2024. Cage revealed that there was a lot of interest from the Stamford-based promotion and he wanted to go there, but eventually, AEW seemed safer for him so he re-signed:

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.”

Brian Cage also reflected on how there is job security in AEW, whereas WWE randomly releases everyone. Cage also talked about the benefits in Tony Khan’s promotion:

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.”

Brian Cage concluded that he decided to stay with AEW for job security and longevity:

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.” [h/t chrisvanvliet.com]

AEW's Brian Cage says he thought he was being called up to Raw or SmackDown when he got the phone call about his release from WWE in 2009:

“There was. 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… pic.twitter.com/RXZlwtbW5n

— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) June 30, 2026

Only time will tell what’s next for Brian Cage in All Elite Wrestling.