Report: Brian Cage Telling People AEW Have Picked Up His Option Year

While he hasn't appeared on AEW TV since October of 2021 and many expected him to depart the company when his contract expires, Brian Cage looks set to remain All Elite.

Fightful Select reported that Cage has told people close to him that AEW picked up the option year in his contract. He has also told others that he thinks he is one of the highest-paid in the promotion.  

The Machine is believed to have been surprised by AEW picking up his option as he and "virtually everyone" on AEW's roster thought his contract would be allowed to expire. 

Cage has since responded to the report, writing: "Hmmm, not sure who I told all of this too," but Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful has stuck by what they wrote.

Cage made his AEW debut back at Double Or Nothing 2020, winning the Casino Ladder Match. He then unsuccessfully challenged Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship and feuds with the likes of Sting and Darby Allin, and Hangman Page followed. Team Taz then turned on Cage and The Machine had a programme with his former faction until he lost to Ricky Starks in October. 

Cage has continued to perform for various independent wrestling promotions, including Wrestling Revolver, Warrior Wrestling and XPW since his last AEW appearance.