10 Wrestlers Who Could Leave AEW In 2022

by Andy H Murray

1. Brian Cage

Brian Cage
AEW

Usage levels and recent comments (from The Machine's wife, Melissa Santos) make Brian Cage perhaps the most believable 2022 AEW departure on this list.

Though she has since deleted it, September saw Santos tweet that everyone who'd worked with Cage in IMPACT Wrestling, Lucha Underground, and on the indies knew Brian was a superstar, and that he was being misused. Later, she tagged AEW's official Twitter account in a screenshot of a Q&A stating Cage should be pushed like Brock Lesnar is in WWE.

Interviewed by Chris Van Vliet in November, Santos clarified by saying she wanted to see Cage booked like he used to be in (in AEW elsewhere), adding, understandably, that she is "biased because he is my husband."

Cage's last televised AEW appearance was on the 8 October episode of Rampage. Though presumably still signed to the promotion, he has dropped off the radar completely, wrestling only on the independent circuit over the past few months (though he did work four matches on October's Jericho Cruise). While there's no indication that his lack of matches is related to Santos' comments, it seems, for now, that there isn't a role for him on AEW television.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.