AEW have been urged to tie down powerhouse performer Brian Cage amid reports his contract with the company could be about to expire.
Cage was a significant player in AEW after his arrival in 2020, holding Taz’s FTW World Championship and challenging Jon Moxley for the AEW world title back at Fight for the Fallen that year.
Despite being a regular on AEW’s programming after that, the 38-year-old had been a lesser used figure for much of the latter half of 2022.
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Momentum has shifted in Cage’s favour again, though, and as one third of the current Six Man Tag Team Champions on Ring of Honour, now under the ownership of AEW chief Tony Khan.
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A decent outing against Bryan Danielson on AEW Dynamite last month came after a string of wins on AEW Dark and Dark: Elevation, pushing the Impact star back to greater prominence.
That’s led to speculation about Cage’s long-term future, fuelled by reports that his AEW contract may soon be about to expire.
Fightful Select in the US recently noted Cage's contract is set to expire in a matter of weeks, having reportedly been extended last year by a further 12 months.
AEW legend Chris Jericho told Daily Star he’d be keen for his colleague to stick around, saying he’s currently in the form of his career.
“I think Brian Cage over the last six months is the best Brian Cage has ever been,” Jericho explained.
“I think he’s finally starting to understand some of the psychology of wrestling rather than just moves and that sort of thing.
“He is one of a kind with his size and agility, but now there is more intensity and I think he’s really understanding who he is as a wrestler.
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“Six months ago I might have said ‘Well, whatever, if he says that’s cool’, but now I think he has become a way more valuable part of our roster and I would sign him for sure. Absolutely.”
Drawing comparisons to his own storied history in the industry, Jericho didn’t accept that Cage’s recent months with AEW as him flying under the radar.
Instead, he feels something is finally clicking for the former member of Team Taz – just as he claims it did for him some 18 years into his own career.
He added: “You’re always given opportunities in the business, like for me – when did I really become Chris Jericho?
“I’d say 2008 – that’s 18 years into [my time in] the business, when I did that feud with Shawn Michaels. That’s when I really got it.
“I had already been Undisputed Champion and all that other stuff, but that’s when it really hit me, what wrestling is all about.
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“You can look at all the stuff prior; debuting against The Rock and the matches I had, they’re all good, but nothing from that time period is as good as the stuff I did in 2008, that’s just my opinion.
“So, it takes a while for guys to get it. So ‘flying under the radar?’ – I don’t see that. You have to figure stuff out on your own and that’s what makes you great.
“If you can stick it all together… I think everybody has their individual journey on how to get there.
“It does take some time but once you lock it in and you have that confidence, nothing can stop you.”
Catch the stars of All Elite Wrestling each week in the UK with episodes of Dynamite and Rampage airing across the ITV network. For more details visit allelitewrestling.com
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