Christian Cage Calls His AEW Stretch as the Finest of His Career After Jumping Ship in 2021

In a recent interview with Raj Prashad of Yahoo Sports, Cage weighed in on the difficulties of wrestlers in the latter half of their careers trying to get back on top.

You don’t typically see it happening with people that are around the 50-year-old age, completely becoming something, this fresh entity. But I’m not like anybody else. And that’s why it works, because I don’t feel like I’m 50 when I’m in the ring or 51. If I couldn’t do what I did at the level that I did it, then I wouldn’t even be in the ring.

Christian Cage via Uncrowned by Yahoo Sports

He then weighed in on his four-year stretch in AEW and called it the best run of his entire 25-year-plus career. 

This is, without a doubt, the greatest, the best run. Did I see it happening this late? No, but it did. And like I said, when I got my career back after being gone for seven years, I wasn’t coming back to do the greatest hits tour. I was coming back to be the best. And that’s the kind of standards that I hold myself to. Anything less than that, you would not see me step foot in that ring.

Christian Cage via Uncrowned by Yahoo Sports

As mentioned, Cage made his AEW debut in 2021, initially portraying the role of a babyface veteran. However, in 2022, he shocked fans by turning heel, betraying Jungle Boy, and embracing a darker persona. This led to the creation of ‘The Patriarchy’ alongside Luchasaurus, a partnership that brought him considerable championship success.

The faction later expanded with the additions of Nick Wayne, Shayna Wayne, and Kip Sabian. But in a dramatic twist at All In: Texas, the group turned on Cage, leaving him outnumbered. This betrayal paved the way for his emotional reunion with longtime partner Adam Copeland.

Now, the legendary tag team is set to join forces once again as they prepare to face FTR in a blockbuster matchup at All Out: Toronto on September 20.

Christian Cage reflects on the instant connection of his ‘Patriarch’ gimmick with fans

For Christian Cage, the upcoming match at All Out against WWE’s Wrestlepalooza represents yet another milestone in what many consider the greatest run of his pro-wrestling career. Since joining AEW, he has made the most of every opportunity, but perhaps his biggest strength has been his ability to generate countless viral moments.

His success as ‘The Patriarch’ was born out of the chip on his shoulder. His first promo as the cold, calculating manipulator gave fans a glimpse into frustrations and truths he had carried for years. 

In that same interview, Cage reflected on how his heel persona allowed him to completely redefine his career, moving beyond earlier labels such as tag team specialist and ‘Captain Charisma’ into something far darker and more impactful.

When I got the reaction, it just made me want to push it further and further, and that’s what I did. I said one phrase, and people went crazy with it. So I just kept pushing it and pushing it.

Christian Cage via Uncrowned by Yahoo Sports

He also emphasized the importance of authenticity when delivering such sharp-edged gimmicks and the effort it takes to make them believable. Taking shots at someone’s late father to generate heat is not something every wrestler can pull off, but Cage managed to do exactly that. A prime example was his infamous segment with Jack Perry, whose real father passed away in 2019.

The thing is, too, you can’t have any reservations about things like this. You have to believe in yourself, and you have to be willing to go to certain places to garner reactions. I was going to places that at the time nobody else was going to….When you go up there and have the ability to say 100% your words and your vision, it’s up to you to connect with the audience. If you don’t, then it falls on your shoulders. There’s nobody else to blame.

Christian Cage via Uncrowned by Yahoo Sports

With the creative freedom to fully build and shape his character, and surrounded by AEW’s rising roster, Cage admitted this is the most successful chapter of his already storied career. At 51 years old, he may not have many years left in the ring, but with his real-life best friend, Adam Copeland, by his side, fans can be certain they will enjoy every moment of what he still has left in the tank.