10 Wrestlers Who Overdelivered In 2023

For the first time, in 2023 AEW looked to be making damaging moves in its scooping up of venerable talent. While experience can bring a lot to the product, weird cameos like that of Sabu and signings of Ric Flair and, let’s face it, Adam Copeland seemed to be as much Tony Khan wanting to meet his heroes as good business sense.

Thank heavens for the committed work of Sting, then, and even more so, the career renaissance of Christian Cage. This has been a banner year for the perennially underrated Canadian, who has been let off the leash completely and found a niche as a patricidal malcontent who hasn’t yet found a line he won’t dance over.

Cage’s presentation is career best, from the turtlenecks to the belligerent but captivating mic work to propaganda minister Nigel McGuinness singing his praises from the commentary desk. He’s the nastiest, most cowardly heel in the business, and fans have never been more on his side.

It’s hard to imagine the band not eventually getting back together with Copeland and Cage on the same roster, so it’s important to enjoy arch heel Christian while he's still around, before he’s forced to plod through a best of seven series with the Hardyz for old time’s sake. Maybe Tony will sign Teri Runnels for completeness.