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What’s the story?
Last week, Lucha Underground star Brian Cage debuted for Impact Wrestling.
This week, speaking on the Pancakes and Powerslams Show, Cage revealed that he recently turned down a move to WWE, and opened up about why.
In case you didn’t know…
A decade ago, Brian Cage had a short run in FCW before being released by WWE in 2009.
Recently, Cage has become one of the biggest wrestlers on the indie scene - making a name for himself as a dominant force on Lucha Underground and looking incredible on his return to Impact Wrestling last week too.
The heart of the matter
Brian Cage is undoubtedly one of the ones that got away from WWE. When he was released, he was much smaller in size and has obviously grown massively as a performer too in the past decade.
Impact Wrestling's newest recruit said WWE had recently been in touch about the possibility of a return but, after a lot of back and forth, Cage decided to decline the offer.
"I had been recently in talks with WWE and they said that there were these trials coming up and (asked) whether I was available, then they changed their minds saying that they couldn't bring me in for those upcoming tryouts, they would try again for the next one, and so on and so forth."
The Lucha Underground star goes on to say that he spoke to WWE for over a year about a potential return.
"That was the way it went through, about a year and change. Finally, when they were going to bring me in for a tryout I said okay. After I booked my flight and everything, I thought about it and the next day I said, "Nevermind, I don't want to do it anymore."
They said, "What do I mean I don't want to do it?" I responded by saying that I had signed with Impact Wrestling, Lucha Underground, AAA. I just didn't want to go on that weekend that they were offering so I said that I am not interested at this time. It just felt really good to say that.
While Cage didn't feel the time was right to return to WWE, he said it could happen - but only if everything is perfect.
Am I willing to go back? I'm not begging to go back, but it would have to be where the opportunity would be perfect for me to go back.
Brian Cage and partner Melissa Santos, another Lucha Underground talent, have also just had a baby daughter and being signed to so many promotions is obviously keeping Cage happy.
Right now, my life is great, my life is awesome, and there is no need for me to go back. I wouldn't say that I would never go back, but if it doesn't ever end up happening, I am okay with that.
You can hear the full interview here.
What’s next?
After EC3 and Bobby Lashley bid farewell to Impact Wrestling, Austin Aries is currently holding the fort. There's plenty of scope for Brian Cage to rocket himself into the main event picture very soon and challenge Aries for the title.
Author’s Take
I think Brian Cage is excellent and, while I'd love to see him in WWE, I think he's doing an incredible job at Impact, Lucha Underground, and everywhere else he plies his trade.
I hope he returns one day, but Cage could definitely be a dominant force elsewhere for the next few years first. What's important is that he's happy and successful, and it is always good for the business that not everyone wants to go to WWE immediately.
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