Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Brian Cage On His ROH Debut, AEW Status, Workouts & How He Became THE MACHINE

Episode Date: April 15, 2022

Brian Cage (@briancage) is a professional wrestler known for his time in Lucha Underground and IMPACT Wrestling and is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor. He joins Chris Van Vliet at the Blue Wire Studios at Wynn Las Vegas to talk about his recent debut at Ring Of Honor's Super Card of Honor, when we will see him on AEW television again, what his typical workout looks like, his Redcon1 supplement stack, signing a developmental deal with WWE in 2008 and why they released him, losing his Impact Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship to Tessa Blanchard and much more! For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://chrisvanvliet.com If you enjoyed this episode, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast/iTunes? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.  Follow CVV on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet CVV CLIPS: youtube.com/CVVCLIPS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All systems are going. Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Van Bleas! Okay, here we go, my friends. Welcome back to another audio adventure here on Insight. I'm CVV, Chris Van Fleet. Thank you so much for being with us. I appreciate you hanging out with us inside the incredible, beautiful, unbelievable Blue Wire Studios at the Wind Las Vegas.

I'm just so grateful that I've been able to record here every two weeks. ish weeks since the end of last year. We've had so many amazing interviews. So if you're ever in Vegas and we happen to be recording here, please stop by. Say hello, there's a big casino here that looks out to the casino. So when you're walking by, you can see who's in there, who's recording, who the guest is.

And let me tell you, when you have Brian Cage, the machine, who's wearing a tank top on top of everything, it certainly draws a lot of attention. So, I mean, his back is kind of to the window for a lot of this interview, but there's people just nonstop, like stopping and looking and being like, who is that? Oh, it's Brian Cage. Oh, my gosh.

He's massive. Yeah, he's massive. Give him a follow on social media if you don't already. He's at Brian Cage on Instagram. He's at Brian Cage, GMSI on Twitter, if you don't know what that stands for, getting my, stuff in. If you're not following me, I'm at Chris Van Fleet. Our fan of the week,

Jesus 4, who says, Woo! This podcast is awesome. You're the man, CVV. Keep them coming. And then the fist bump emoji. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. I read one on every episode from Apple Podcasts.

We just hit 2,400 reviews for the show in total, which is crazy. We're almost at 600. ratings on Spotify. Where are my Spotify people at? If you're listening on Spotify, please go in there, leave a rating. It's just just the rating. There's no words on there, although I'd super appreciate the words on Apple Podcasts, but I just thank you for the support. Thank you for always supporting me, whether it's the podcast, the YouTube channel, Instagram, Twitter, now TikTok. You guys are awesome. You know who else is awesome? Our guest today. Please welcome.

The Machine, Brian Cage. Have you made it to the gym yet today? I did. Okay. I didn't know if we were getting you pre-your-post pump because I feel like you're always pumped. No, there was no pump today. It was just a part of you.

No pump? No cardio. The pumps coming next. This is, wait, after this? Yeah. Okay, so break this down for us and get a little, you got to get a little closer than Mike here. Oh, are we started?

We're started. We're started. This is it? Yeah, this is it. We're on. Oh. Yeah, we're on. We've already welcomed them in the intro.

Oh, okay. All right. Yeah, usually, you know, like I just did this workout with Kai Green, right? He had. Oh, sorry about him. I mean, you know. He's only like, you know, one of the coolest Olympians of all time. But whatever. But, you know, I love me.

A lot of people always like to start to like, oh, the man needs no introduction. And then they go on to give you like a 25 second introduction. Yeah. But it was, and it was him and he was just, you know, rapping. It was going so cool. But today, we're going to do something so amazing. Tell him about it. I go, I mean, that was pretty amazing.

We could just leave right now, right? I mean, that, that, that fit the real length. We could just put that in IG and call it a day. And what size do you have to be where Mr. Olympian, Mr. Olympias, start taking you seriously in the gym? I mean, a lot of the Olympians give me the nod. I do think that's like, it cracks me up because everything's like a pro bodybuilder. Well, yeah.

And I'm like, I'm like, yeah, I don't know, you know, I'm looking pretty good. But, these guys are massive, man. And so when they ever leave me, they put me over like, man, you're looking huge. whatever compliment they gave me, I'm always like, what? Not from the normal general population, that's amazing. But to get one from them, it's almost like, you guys pull my leg, like, come on. I mean, I don't know how to look bad, but like, so it always feels good. You're like, all right, all right, I can hang out.

I can rope shoulders with these guys. I feel pretty good about that. I mean, if the average person looks at you and thinks that you're a bodybuilder, how close do you think you are to being like a professional bodybuilder? Like, could you step on stage? Well, you know, and that was, that almost happened this past week. And I know my wife did and she did well for her second show. She's crushing.

She is. She is. She looks phenomenal. And that was the plan was like, oh, let's go do a show together. And because originally, I don't know if she talked about that when she was on, but we were we were prepping to do a show together and then she got pregnant. So, you know, they usually don't let you compete when you're pregnant. Makes sense.

So, no, so we had to cancel that. And years later, she finally did it. Did great. Loved it. Wanted to do it again. And then I got the. itch out of nowhere. Actually, it was in Orlando training out of gym that we were training at during

WrestleMania weekend, wherever WrestleMania weekend that was, like 2017. Yeah. And it just got nostalgic about it. And I was like, you know what? Yeah, maybe let's do the show with him. Why not? I was like, I'm going to be the first like, you know, red con like married couple both sponsored.

Like, oh, that sounds like, yeah, let's do it. And then wouldn't you know what I, I core my hamstring in the about halfway through prep. So it didn't happen. I was like, what? Are you okay now? And I'm pretty much fine now. But, but, but, you know, so five weeks or so there that I wasn't training legs

or doing cardio. Right. And that, that's a big, big amount of time, especially when, you know, the window's closing. So, so you're, you walk around very lean. Yeah. Like, what do you weigh usually? Uh, I'm usually, you know, right? Now I'm usually sit around 255 normally, which is a, I think before I was closer to 265 on the, on the average.

So I'm a little smaller, but I'm also a little bit leaner, but I feel like I still just, I've lost a little bit of size compared to where I normally. And most people probably don't notice that, but I do. And then what would you be if you were a bodybuilder, if you stepped on stage? Well, last time I competed, I was, I was 236. When, how long ago was that, though?

Uh, 2000, 2014. It's a long time. That was another decade ago. Yeah, yeah. So I still feel like I would be around that, maybe a little bit more, but like, It's not always just about weight because I feel like I can come in harder and more conditioned, in which case you would weigh less, but you look bigger. And, you know, like, same thing.

I think Melissa came in about the same weight that she did last show, but she looked way better because she had more muscle. Yeah, yeah. So what is the biggest downfall of looking this big all the time? Or being this big all the time? When people, you know, whether it be in person or online or whatever, they always ask you for fitness advice, but extremely detailed. like long-winded fitness advice,

the act or the, the assume is just like a one-word answer. Like, hey man, what's the best way just to get started and look like you? I'm like, well, I mean, like it's just a quick,

oh, drink honey or so I don't know. Like, like, yeah, we just thought, hey, guys,

you question real quick. Like, it's just a real, real short, small talk and that's the answer. Like, man, that's a little bit of an in-depth. And it's people,

too, which, hey, it's awesome. They're, they're, you know, serious about it. you, especially someone's face to face, you know who's asking you because you really want to know

because you really want to the effort. And people are asking you because they've asked everyone they've ever seen who looks good. And they're hoping someone's going to give them the answer that they want to hear. And like, oh, you're telling me the same thing. I don't want to hear that one. Never mind.

You mean I got to work really hard? No, no, no, no. How do I do it like really fast and easy and simple? And that's one thing I say to people too all the time. I'm like, look, it's like anything else. It's like learning a foreign language, a martial art, a musical instrument, all the stuff takes time, patience, consistency, and, you know, same with this.

And if you don't use it, you lose it. That's the same thing, too. Because all people will, like, all right, I'm doing this gun home for, you know, three months or whatever it is. And then we just stop. Like, well, and say goodbye to that afterwards. You don't have to work so hard every day. But, I mean, yeah, it has to kind of go from a training, you know, a three-month

training thing to a lifestyle if you want to, like, maintain it. Yeah. What about, like, health-wise? Do you feel like your joints, maybe are tighter? Like, you're carrying a lot of math. Um, yeah, my, my joints don't feel great a lot of times, but that might also be wrestling. I mean, that doesn't help either. And, you know, I was just talking about this too.

The, uh, the travel is it very much unbeknownst and untalked about. I feel like, uh, damage to joints and body. Like, man, I've gotten off a plane so many times where I feel worse than like any mat or any workout where I'm just like my knees, my lowered back. I was like, oh, man, I feel like I hit by a truck. So you throw that combination of like sleepless nights, constant travel, you know, especially if I'm doing like a full weekend in, you know, especially in 2018 and 19, where you're in four different states and four days and you're all over the place. And I'm still training before every show.

And yeah, it's a good little wear and tear on your body. And you're traveling with food, right? Of course. I know. You know, I don't, listen, I was going to get all bits cashing come up into this fancy place, but I was like, listen, that's not Brian Cage. No. This is a body guy, Brian Cage, right?

I'm like Malibu Barbie. All right? This is, this is, this is the gimmick you're getting. he was not a game because this is really me. Yeah, this is you. Yeah, I would love to be able to just go get Mickey D's or the indie pro-Urestor diet. I feel like is Subway and Chipotle and that's it. But it doesn't work that way.

I got a, some promoters will give me a hard time. Like, you come to the diva. I'm like, diva because I want a hotel with the fridge and or microwave and be able to go to the gym before the show. I'm like, listen, I realize you're booking me, you know, because I'm going to go out there, I'm going to kill it and I'm going to own the spot and get my stuff in. But I'm like, the way. look while doing that probably plays a role that sets me apart from everybody else. So for me to look that way, I have to do a certain thing.

And trust me, like I said, if I could just go grab something from the fast food place and sleep in and not go to the gym, that would make my life life easier. But that's not how it works. But I was giving you directions to find the studio. I said, oh, just look for the signs for the buffet and we're just past the entrance to the buffet. And then you basically made a joke that like you were going to clean out the buffet. I also kind of feel like somebody who has to eat as many calories as you, that's not really

a joke. Oh, I mean, another reason I wore the tank top is too was to kind of like flex on the buffet, you know, give them a little, you don't want none of this. You don't want none of this. Give them a little warning sign like, huh, huh. That's right. You better stay closed. Don't open up. Are your meals clean every day? Not as clean as a use. And because I'm like prepping, prepping, but I feel like I eat so clean so often all year long. I do feel like that helps make it more of a struggle to make more of a change because I feel like there's less of a shock I can do because my body's already so used to like, hey, we just do this all the time now. Yeah. But I am more free to lose stuff with diet and eat something if I really want to.

And it's mainly sweets. I'm always talking about such a big, a big sweets guy, especially if it's like a baked good or something that's, you know, that you can't just get anywhere. I'm like, oh, man, that looks really good. But if I have, you know, a specific match or specific weekend or whatever, then I'll buckle down and be like, nah, not, not, nah. but, you know, I always have room to let somebody slide if I want. But yeah, generally speaking, on the normal calorie, you know, meal-to-meal intake, yeah, it's always. And it's pretty much steak, eggs, chicken, sweet potatoes, rice, oatmeal, peanut butter, protein shakes.

Those are, that's pretty much it. You didn't name any vegetables. You know what? I do take my little, my little GI juice from Redcon 1. I'll drink that for vegetable intake. and I always take multivitamins and all the brain get to tell a supplement list. I do, okay,

the reason I only eat as many vegetables, when I'm home or I will, especially if they're already like with them. I love greed means. It's because it travels so much at the prep so much, they go bad instantly. Yeah. And as soon as they go bad,

for having them all space within my meals, my whole meal goes bad. After having to throw away so many meals, which kills me, I hate wasting food. I was like, you know what, I'd rather just skip the vegetables and have a meal

and throw away the whole thing because they just don't travel and keep, Yeah. I remember talking to an actor who was getting like into great shape for a role. And he said if I'm eating six meals a day, I'm seven days in a week. That's 42 meals in a week. If one or two of them is not perfect, it's okay. Well, I do firmly believe it's impossible to get, you know, fat off of one meal. Like, it's just not going to happen. But, and that's why if I do go hard on something, I try to just go hard, just take care of it because of that reasoning. Because if you just have a little bit, it's more like an attempt you have a little bit like in later. And then maybe the leftover the next day.

Now you want a little bit later that. And then that's where it gets you, because you keep on having that little. A slippery slope is what that is. Right. Yeah. But you see the rocks cheat meals. I know.

They are epic. They are so epic. Speaking of those pancakes, we're here in Vegas, I've been dying to go to Stacton Yopes. Have you heard of this place? Let's go right after this. Yes?

It's probably going to be closed. That's what the problem is. This is a brunch place and it's actually might be open until three. But every time I'm trying to go, it's always close. Oh, but their pancakes look just like cakes. Like, they look so amazing. And they have some, like, decent, not as diabetic food that still looks great.

Yeah. But, I mean, oh, my goodness, I've been dying to go there. And we were going to go there post Melissa's show. And for all great, she looked, I made a post about it too because she wasn't talking about it. I wanted to talk about it to put her over that much more. Yeah. So peak week is like such an important week. Every little thing can have such a dramatic change in your body.

And a lot of it's dialing in sodium and water, right? Well, okay, so, and everyone's got their own way, and I prepped her the whole time. So, like, I usually have you by two weeks out drinking up to two gallons, dipping on, male, female, and what class you're in or whatever. Sure. That's the water loading, right? Yeah, yeah. So you want to water load.

The point of water loading is you're taking so much water. Your body's like, oh, my goodness, we got to release this, got to keep it going because we don't need all this water. So then you trick it. So then when you stop drinking water, it still things you're taking in that way. water so let's it go. So yeah, you have the water loading. I cut off all sodium a few days out and then like, again,

and it changes depending on what class you're in and whatnot. There's a bunch of little variables. Whether how much the carb load you, not, this, that, whatever. Anyways, so that Sunday before the show, she got sick. She got a bad stomach bug. Wow. Then, so now that she fell off and didn't really eat that much

Sunday, on Monday and Tuesday, she was just expelling everything for every which way all day long. Didn't go to gym either day didn't eat anything i mean just terrible way to start your your peak week yeah that could really make things go downhill oh absolutely and then wednesday by the end of wednesday she was feeling a little bit better she put the gym she really didn't eat anything that day and then thursday i was like okay like i said i didn't want her she was wanting to pull out the show and i was like right Thursday here look i had to go do a couple different medical IVs to like rehydrate herself because now she's

dehydrated um from from freaking everything else she was doing going through i was like let's try to as much food back into you, go to the jam here. And then she was supposed to be off Thursday and Friday. Like no training whatsoever. Like now we've got to make up for everything. Yeah. So I had to do a little something Friday, full body workout and cardio on Thursday. Try to re-feed her and rehydrate her before we basically dehydrate her again.

And on top of that, something I don't have to worry about, thankfully, but she also ended up getting her period, which is also very uncommon, usually two for lack of competitors. Because you're usually so depleted and so mountain-nourished or low-in-body fat that doesn't always happened. So she just had a lot of things going against her. Yeah. And so we're out there and killed it. But a great coach. Oh, you know. What when, so you always post these throwback photos when you look like you were certainly a lot leaner, a lot skinnier, you look like you were in a boy band. When did you make, you definitely could have been? When did you make the shift to become the machine that you are now? Well, I mean, funny enough, that actually was already in the process of being the

shifting to be in the machine because as, quote, small as I was there, I was way smaller before that. So, like, everything's, you know, not just me, but I feel like when anyone sees anyone who's jacked or muscular, they just always were like that. I graduated 155 pounds from high school and took me forever to get, like it took me quite a few years to get to the boy bound look, but you saw. Which was what, like 200 pounds? I was, uh, depends on which picture you're talking about.

But yeah, I was probably in the low 200s. Like how much did you weigh when you made your wrestling debut? No, I was in the 200 pounds, but I was sloppy. I was over 200 pounds, but I was sloppy. I was good in a shirt, not so good out of the shirt. And that's what we did is too, because you try to like do that bulk and just gain all the weight. Yeah. And then you cut it back down.

It's a lot of rubber banding back and forth, back and forth. But I mean, to get to like what I've basically been now for the last majority of my career, it probably took me a little over 10 years to really build up to about this size. And everyone thinks I was doing bodybuilding. first. Like, no, I wrestled through and through. I just, you always joke. I'm not a bodybuilder trying to be a pro wrestler. I'm just a pro wrestler. It happens to bodybuild. And I, I competed. I did five shows all throughout my wrestling career. And I wrestled every weekend throughout my entire prep. And then I would take the Friday and Saturday off of the show, obviously, because you

have to. But then every Sunday, after the show, I'd get up, do an hour of cardio, hit legs, because you don't train legs during peak week. And then I would fly or drive to my show and wrestle that night every school. Man. You're kind of a throwback to like how wrestling was in the 80s and 90s when it was big dudes who were, you know, then wrestling. Well, you know, and that wasn't even my plan. I was like, oh, was it always your plan to get this big? No, I wanted

to just to be, you know, Jackson Shredden and looked apart because I realized, again, I said I graduated 155 pounds. I would back and wrestle with my friends, you know, I was a teenager and I was bigger to them because they were 130. Yeah. But I was like, this isn't going to be it, man. This is going to cut the mustard. So I had to switch stuff around. It was never my intention to get this big or didn't think it was possible. It just kind of eventually started happening.

And I am more of a throwback in that regard because, yes, the body guys are definitely a dime breed now. But I feel like I am also a new breed and the fact that I'm definitely way more athletic and I guess just have more ability in the ring than allow the throwback body builder type of wrestling. Yeah. Sure. There were the body guys that you looked up to when you were growing up. I mean, obviously everyone got to look Scott Siner, right? He's the man. I don't know if everybody knows how great your Scott Steiner impression is.

Well, you know what? I even thought about that. But then after you do your work on, we do a killer cross and he drops that amazing Jesse Ventura. Wasn't it incredible? It was so good. I'm like, well, I don't even want to try to you. There's going to be a lot of people, though, that are just listening to this and they

might not see you. So give us some Scott Stuner. You want some Scott Stiner? I don't remember. What do we do when we, this is my very first interview. Yeah. They're very fair. Throwback in Florida.

That's right. Yeah. You gave us the math. I did. Oh, yeah, yeah. I gave you like, it was the Lucha Underground one, uh,

the version of it. I saw somebody write up. I don't know. Uh, one of my favorite ones is just, I loved it more so too, when he, like, Flub's words.

Yeah. Like, just like, like sound bites almost. When he's like, it's like, it's because I'm a physical for Mammanon. You always like,

what are you mean? Umon, Scottie? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All right. I did that with you too

when he's being interviewed by Borash, he was and he's all, I'll be the modifier. He's like, you mean the meteor? So, shut up!

He told me what it is. You know, there's a lot more explicit ones, too, that are good. I got to team with him at Bar Wrestling, which was amazing. Amazing.

And, yeah, actually, were am I allowed to say on here or not? Well, you can say whatever you want. Okay, okay, okay,

okay. So that was the best because I came out with the chain mail hat, right, and the crown and the glasses and stuff. It's it's,

Melissa's the ring announcer. It worked out that much better. Yeah. I come out there, you know, don't the big double buys and stuff being Scotty. And as Melissa has the mic, because she's the ring announcer, grab the mic from her.

And I'm like, you're going to suck my dick or what? It's like, I don't people know that line from him, but all the crowd came on glued for it. And it feels so bad because, you know, it's my wife.

It's like, and it's a Scott Sider line too. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And somebody actually made an acronym of, of, of, of,

suck my dick. And they broke it down to be like this really lovey expression. I don't remember what it was. I haven't posted somewhere. I remember seeing that. It was hysterical, though. Okay, so Scott Steiner's a body guy you looked up to. What about, like, I mean,

Triple H for sure as well. I had a poster of Triple H on my bedroom door. I had his book. You know what's fine too? I feel like Triple H, especially post-quad surgery, Triple H, I feel like might be the best body in all of rest. He looked amazing. And I felt like he never really got promoted or even himself,

never really carried himself as a, you know, big body guy or person. power guy. You know, he did the gimmicky stuff with Scott Cyrus, speaking of Scotty, but outside of that, I feel like he always just, he looked so great, but I felt like it never really went with his character. No, he's what he talked about. And I'll give you

a theory on that. I think it's because he's so good at selling that he didn't sell like a body guy. He didn't sell like a big guy. Well, and even then, I know he was big and he lost some weight, but like, even when he was in W.S.W. When he first came to WWF and everything else, he wasn't, he obviously wasn't the same sizes as he later to be camp.

became. So almost like he still wrestled the same. Yeah. And I know I got, I got a lot of, I still get a lot of flacks. Sometimes you know, bumping too much and taking too much for being my size. But at the same time, I feel like I was still trying to wrestle the same way. I always wrestled from when I first started. And I would never, you know, because I enjoy that type of wrestling. That's how I want to compete. And I would never see myself differently.

But there's been a few matches of mine where I see it. I go, man, yeah, maybe this looks a little foolish. I'm a lot bigger than that guy. I don't know if that really makes that much sense. Well, I think a lot of people think you're six four or six five. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's something, too.

It's like, I'm not short, but I'm definitely not tall. Yeah. And then, but I carry myself bigger. And because of my size, it makes it look like I'm so. That's why I can say I'm a body guy, not a big guy. There's a difference. There's difference. Weight wise and still a super heavy weight.

Yeah, but I feel like, I feel like a big guy is more so for the tall guys for a description, if you will. Yeah, big guys like Paul White. Yeah. Yeah. Well, that's like the biggest guy, but. Great Cali. Like, like I would say like Lance. Right.

Lance, I think would be. A big guy. I'm a body guy. So we're both big guys, but in a different way. So I think that with powerhouse Hobbs becoming what he's become, I think it's like, okay, it needs to be Cage versus Hobbs. For sure, for sure. Well, because we had one of his first matches.

I've worked before in the Indies, but, you know, when he's coming into his own and it was just babyface Hobbs. And then we had the match during like all out week last year. And I thought we were going to have a follow-up match that, too. some sort of street fight as well and it never happened. But I feel like because of that match, I felt like that match was more of just like a tease because you were supposed to go into the other match

and it never happened. So, never say never, right? Oh, I mean, you probably, you know, there's still a couple days left in the year and we're both in the same company. So there's a chance it could happen. A couple days, yeah.

Although you're doing big things in Ring of Honor. Yes, that was a big surprise. That was cool too. That was the only company in North America I've never worked for. I was thinking that other than ECW, but that's not a possibility. Well, it's not around anymore.

It's like, you know, I mean, I am the XPW champion, though, so it could come back. But, yeah, it almost happened several times. Never did. And then, yeah, got to make my surprise return. And with TBE, Ploy Blanchard and G.O.A. And so, and actually, talk about body guys. When you see that group shot of us, like, man, actually looks like a real damn pro wrestling faction right there.

Like, I mean, that stands up pretty well, I think, to anyone. Yeah. I like that you call it your return because this was your Ring of Honor debut. Yes, yes, yes. Well, I guess return to, I guess, well, the fact that Tony Khan now owns both. Yeah, yeah. It is a return because you're within that universe. Yes, the universe.

I like that. I feel like universe is used even more now because of the multiverse and Marvel universe. Oh, yes. Yeah, well, and also like there's crossover with A.E.W. An impact and impact in Ring of Honor. All the forbidden door stuff. All of the forbidden doors. And now that forbidden door has been like just kicked right in.

no. Yeah, and that's just our backyard. That's right. And now it also feels like we'll be seeing you, I feel like we'll be seeing you in AEW sometime soon. I absolutely feel like you are correct. And I believe, I know there's a lot of talk and rumors about, you know, Ring of Honor, what's next, what's going to happen. And there's some stuff I know and there's lots of stuff that I don't know. There's lots of stuff a lot of people don't know. But it does look like, you know, hopefully we'll be doing both at the same time. Yeah. And I'll be part of both. I mean, I'm never one. downed to turn down work. I mean, that's why I also feel like I'm one of the

most working AW contracted guys as far as working on the independence and taking all this extra stuff. Because I love this business. I love to go out there and have amazing matches. And that's usually what I do too. Like now whenever we're taking indie booking, it's not like to me an extra payday.

It's like, no, I want an awesome fun match. I can go out there and shine. And because that's my addiction. That's my high. That's my drug, if you will. Yeah. Like, I want to get on the plane. Stoked.

can't wait to land and go kill this match. I don't want to get on the plan and go, what I think is smoking? I should have just stay home. So that's why when people have asked me, I'm like, before anything, I'm like, who am I work? Like, what's the plan? What are we doing?

Because it's not a match that I'm stoked on. I'm like, ah, it's hard to say yes to it. But also, there's going to be a kid in that crowd who's going to see your build and be inspired by it, and then see you work in the rig and go, oh my God, I've never seen an AEW wrestler in person before. Now I want to go do this for a living. Sure.

And that's similar to ask that too. And I was talking about that. I was like, you know, you never know like what fan or you exactly kid, family, whatever. This is their only time. Their first time, maybe the only time to go see you or whomever in person or they traveled so far, spent so much money or waited so long in line or whatever the sacrifice was to be able to make it there and see you.

And so like, yeah, and that's why too, I hate cancel out on anything, too, if anything ever happens. Because, yeah, because that's, you know, it may be a small thing in your life. but it's something big to them. And it's still, I stay pretty humble, it's pretty grounded on things. And, you know, whether it's regarding to indie shows or like a convention or expo,

whenever you meet a fan and you see how much you touch them, it's always like, still like shocking and almost disbelief to me. Like, really? I'm like, I'm just a Western kid. Like, it's not that big of a deal. So it's pretty cool. And when you see that kind of, you know, magic happening.

I don't know. You're a living, breathing action figure is what you are. You know what? Speaking of action, I have my own coming out, right? Let me say, let me say, I have to, I mean, I'm stoked. Uh-huh. I have to complain a little bit because now I am the, I feel, I feel like, let me put myself over first.

I feel like I'm the only guy, one of, if not the most looking guy in the AW roster that looks like an action figure. But I'm the only guy with his action figure that I think actually looks better than his action figure when it comes to looking like an action. You look better than the action figure is where you're saying. Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. And you know what? Even my son, who is not a big fan of wrestling, not a big fan of working out and his up, even thought he goes, Dad, why is you actually a boy smaller than you? I go, look, come on, if he's complaining about it.

Who was the person for you that you lined up to see when you were a kid? It might not even be wrestling. Maybe it's an athlete or an actor or something. Well, I mean, no, well, wrestling-wise, uh, I mean, absolutely, uh, Shaw Michaels. You know, too, there's actually, we went back, Triple H. I remember when I was C, Triple H, and I had his book, too. he was signing it at some book place. And we're waiting there forever.

Like, where is this? And long story short, it ended up getting canceled. And I was so defeated. I think we even slept in the parking lot outside of like the bookstore too. So we first aligned to get it signed and get out of there. No way. And he wasn't even there.

Wow. But so you did wait in line and got to meet Sean Michaels? No, no, no, no. I never got to wait in line and meet Sean Michaels. But no, I was just thinking he was somebody I would have.

I was a big fan of. I don't know if I, we really didn't go many places when I was a kid kid. I really mean anybody. know if there's anybody that like really stuck out to me. Obviously I have other than that triple H time. Yeah. Well, that was, you know, older than.

Yeah. Yeah, you know, yeah, we were, we were, uh, pretty broke growing up. So I didn't really do a whole lot of anything. I didn't go to my first live wrestling event until, uh, probably late into my high school years. I think it was a, uh, and it was a house show in a cow palace the day before fully loaded paper view. It saw, uh, I think it was like Stone Cold and Triple H and Rock and a triple thread or something like that. And had you already decided at that point in time that you wanted to be wrestling?

I knew I wanted to be wrestling. Wow. But at 10 years old, you know, you feel like you can dream to be whatever you want to be. Of course. That's where it's like, okay, you'll grow out of that. Right. That'll change. Then, you know, it's a grade came.

Now I want to be junior high. No, I want to be. Even like, even my friends, doing a lot of people, I don't want to play what was me, but like a lot of people weren't the biggest supporters of it. My grandma really was the only one. Like my mom and my friends, they were all kind of like, like, oh, come on. got to do something like real right you're not really going to do that a lot of people like just like were bombed that's what i wanted to do or just because he thought there's no way it's going

to happen so you might as well like put wasting your time and that really just fueled me more maybe too actually filled me more than if everyone were like yeah go for it you can do it and so and i told everybody was like listen by time i'm 24 i will be signed and by time of 24 i was signed so wow i didn't you know that's i didn't go on to uh to the main roster if you will but hey i was signed and then from there on like my life basically just kept getting better and better and better. Yeah. But I also feel like, especially in any career,

but especially in wrestling, there's those benchmarks that you reach. So what was the first benchmark? Maybe it was your first match, where people went, oh, okay, he's serious about this. Oh, well, I mean, my first match. So when I consider me my first pro match is my match with Chris Kenney. I mean, because I could debate him,

but he is a pro, so like, why? Well, there's no debating that one. And that was an affair that actually ran my hometown. So to get to wrestle, like, one of my idols, inspirations, and great friends. in my hometown for my own promotion, like that's still to the day when my top three favorite moments of my life,

not just career. And is that why Chris Canyon means so much to you still? I mean, that's part of the bazillion reasons. Yeah, but I mean, I know he was just so great. I was a huge fan of his.

He became really good friends. He helped me all with so much. You know, we got to have that match. We actually had two of them. He was just so influential to me and just such a good dude. Inside out,

not just to me, but so many other people. And I felt like he gave so much much of wrestling. It was so good. And if he was around now instead of the day, and I feel like he would excel so much more. So much more. And yeah, it's just really unfortunate because I feel like

he's not talked about as much as he should be. Yeah. I love how wrestling fans that are around our age, when you say who better, we're kind of like, oh, we know. We know what you're talking about. But like someone who's 20 might not get that. Oh, for sure. For sure. And there's some people that are jackass. Oh, okay. It's better. I'm like, yeah, so I'm saying it. Asshole. I'm like, that is the point. I'm like, if you knew

the story behind us. You go, oh, awesome, man. Cool. I actually never said that until after he passed, too. And then that was like just my, because I used to always write the RB Canyon on my wrist tape. And I got gauntlets with his logos on my, uh, my, well, logos on my, well, logos on my on my gauntlets, um, afterwards. And then I started the who better shortly after that. To pay tribute to him. Exactly. Yeah. So what does he mean to you now? Like, now that he's not with us anymore. What does he mean to mean? I mean, just all the same bet. Nothing changed. Like, yeah, he means just as much now. And I, I would, like, like, yeah, he means just as much now.

And I wish he was here, like I said, because I feel like he would still be part wrestling in a bigger way. Yeah. I definitely like he could do a lot in AW. And there is like a mentor, you know, like almost like, I mean, look at him as a fathery figure. I feel like we're more friends. But there's like that mentorship where I would love to see him,

see where I've, you know, gone myself. So. Okay, so that's a big benchmark. Your first match with him, your debut, obviously, at first, you know, first pro wrestling match, then you wrestle him. What's the next thing where people in your family or dad, out or stuff to go. Oh, he's actually doing it. Like, and it went up and down too. So soon like,

I remember my first got my first like extra spots in the movie. Okay. And they're like, okay. Well, like if you don't get, you know, signed, like that's awesome. Great. But if you don't get signed, like, you'll stop then, right? I'm like, what? Like, that doesn't work like that. You just show up and you get signed or not. Like, I was like, no. And then can you help me get into Deep South wrestling and I went out there. And I did everything with them, uncontracted, part of every show, every house show, every training camp. And I remember, um,

you know, my mom hoping that I get signed. She's like, okay, well, it doesn't work out. You're going to stop them. Right?

Like, no, this is like, this is like part of the process. Stop and do what. And, uh, the,

they got shut down and everything. I moved to Florida, right? So then I moved back. I did say anything change. I'd move back. So I moved back home. And then, uh,

then I got the extra loops again. And I got signed off the actual loops, which was unbelievable. What I didn't, I was like, Hey, look, job to be able to get asked back the next time. So then I was like, oh, overjoyed. And then when

I eventually get released, same thing. She's like, oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry. All right. Are you going to stop now? Like, it was always that. It was like, oh, awesome. Like, let me brag about you. Congratulate. This is great. And then as soon as they're a step back, it's like, okay, he's just stopping get a real job now. And I'm like, man, this is like part of the process. And it makes you appreciate everything so much more. Not only every drop of success, but like just, um, I guess it too. And we grew up pretty poor. And I had plenty of struggle. and plenty of rock bottom times throughout my life and my venture throughout this wrestling. So, I mean, so much so where like, I was like, oh, man, I can't wait to buy, you know,

soap that doesn't have to be for the dollar tree on discount or something. Like, such little things. Like, those ideas would sound so awesome to me. And even though, like, I've always bust my butt and I've always had the hustle and grind to, like, you know, pay all my bills and get everything done. Obviously, I don't have luxury to do a lot of things. And that's, I feel like, too, that helps create, again, not only an appreciation, but just, character, a lot more character in yourself. And I'm a pretty, I'm not a big spender on a lot of things.

And I, I see money a lot and stuff. And I feel like, too, it's because of that. And so I'm not out there to like showcase. And that's again, too. You know, that's why I'm not wearing some five-piece suit right now. I mean, you're dressed down a little bit too. I'm dressed down today, but I can't hide the guns. Right?

I mean, which I got to, my suits are all custom because of that. So there's a little price. You know what I mean? But, but yeah, but, but, but yeah, that, that was, another moment like man as soon as we can you know I don't have to buy everything on discount or on sale or whatever little shortcut ad have to take to go to get by

the fact that I could go to any gas station not just a really cheap unnamed one like those are like oh I can't wait for that moment I think there's a lot of people that would look at you being signed at WWE back then and go I don't get it you tick all the boxes yeah what was the reason they gave you when they released you

um well and I remember I was I was I saw a story like I was waiting on a race, was due for a raise, and everyone was talking about, well, everyone, Dr. Tom,

the head train, and there was like, hey, someone was going to call this weekend, you're going on the road. Everyone thought it was me. Everyone was like, oh, dude, Logan,

my name there was Chris Logan. I had to change it for Brian Cage, and Christopher Canyon, Logan for Wolverine. And I missed a call from the office. And like, oh, man, everyone thought,

that was going to be me. It is going to be me. I'm so stoked. I call him back. I'm all excited. I'm like, oh, hey, Brian, how's it going?

I'm good, good, you know, just in the gym, like trying to play cool. And they're all right, all right. Well, you know, this is kind of a hard part of the job sometimes, but we're going to have to come to terms with your release. And I literally went, not even like, you know, being a smart ass, I was all, do you call the right number? Like, I was so indisible. I was like, what?

No, this didn't even cross my mind. And they're like, oh, yeah, sorry. I'm like, what? Why? And of course, he always give you a BS reason. And they go, well, you know, we think you need to just go get some. more experience because you're a little too indie and I go

huh so you're going to release me to go get more experience in the indies to not be so indie okay all right sure that makes a lot of sense but but then you go to TNA you go to Lucha

Underground you go to Impact Wrestling did WWE at any point go we've seen what you're doing um you know so uh and I did a lot too So I tried not to ever reach out to them. Well, they did reach out to me and they were going to put me on tough enough. The first one they brought Stokel back and then they took me off the list.

And then they came into Fresum when I was living there and they invited me down and I thought they were going to bring me back. And I remember they wanted me to for NXT season three before it became all girls. And then they changed their mind on that. And then went back and forth. And finally, uh, I got a message saying, uh, never mind. you know, we're no longer interested. And like, what do you mean? What happened?

And they're like, oh, let's just face it. You're average at best and we're no longer interested. They said that? Yes, and text. I was so heated. No way. And I kept it as, you know, professionals I could. There's a lot I wanted to say, but I was like, all right, well, I think you and I

both on better than average. But that's fine. I appreciate you getting back to me. Maybe we'll work together again in the future. And that's what made me go, look, I'm not shutting the door on them. That's where like my desire of like, I have to get back there, went away. And I feel like, actually, my life professionally and. personally excelled once I finally like let go of that like oh my gosh I need to be there I

needed to be there I have to be there and uh yeah everything just started kind of working up and getting better and better and they reached out to me several times a lot of people would like reach out to them about me whether it be you know some of the people outside of wrestling that would just go and look for talent talent scouts other people who used to be there are currently there and they talked to me a lot of times about turning for try out and they would never happen and it almost happened. And then when it finally was going to happen, I actually turned it down because I just signed with AAA and Lucha Underground.

And it was kind of cool, too, to be on the offense there. The very, very, very, very offense. I was like, you know what? It's okay. And I remember they were kind of like shocked. Like, what do you mean? You don't want it? And I was like, well, there's some other stuff.

I'm going to go ahead and explore. And I think I'm going to check that out instead. And they're like, what? No, you're not supposed to say that. And I'm like, and it felt kind of good, especially after the kind of like, you know, think me around for freaking so long. And so and then there was, you know,

some small talks, but nothing was ever like going crazy. And again, it wasn't, um, it was never about feeling like, oh, I have to go there.

I'm like, look, I just want to wrestle and there's a place that's going to offer me a great deal. And they have, uh, a great, you know, either story for me or just great people for me to work.

And that's all I care about. Yeah. Like I loved my time and impact. I love my time with your underground. That was probably some of my favorite stuff. Um, and then I ultimately I want to go to ATAW, especially because,

there were so many people there that haven't worked. I wanted to work with again. Yeah, yeah. And I remember because a lot of people were giving pretty good deals are offering pretty good deals, like towards the end of the impact run, including an impact, to stay there. But I ultimately was like, no, I want to go.

I feel like where I was at, if I stayed in Impact or Ringabon or I went to New Japan or whatever, I felt like my ceiling was still kind of capped. I feel like for me to go to AW's only way to kind of try to get above the feeling that I was currently at. Do you have any fans that look at your last few matches and impact and go, I can't believe you put Tessa over? Are there still fans to say that?

There's still people that try to like, oh, you know, first of all, do they track like I got beat by Tess all the time. Like, listen, I beat Tess every time. Secondly, they act like I got like dominated by Tess and much. You got to like you roll up to it on top of that. And I wrestled Rich Swam right before we wrestled. But, yeah, we tried to still do that stuff.

But, I mean, I get it. That's always a easy go-to, like, little, like, you know, whatever thing. but I think she's hands down still the greatest in the female division of all wrestling. Like, and people can, you know, not only as a fan watching it, but having, and I've had plenty of intergender matches too. Yeah. And I mean, I just, that itself, too, gives you a better experience or standpoint from it

because you're like, hey, that girl's great. And I'll work her. I'm like, yeah, she's good. And then you work, that girl, like, she's great. Man, that girl's really good. So. But you didn't have any problem wrestling her. And there's other people, and I won't say their names here,

but they did have this. choose wrestling. Sure, sure. And I get it. Because, like, I'm actually not even the biggest fan of Indigenter Wrestling, too. And I would, I wouldn't always be, like, thrilled to do it. But at the same time, I would almost be excited at the challenge of it. So like, you know what? I don't really want to do it. I don't think it makes, it looks as believe it or makes as much sense. But I'm going to do what I can to make it. And especially with my stature, my size. Yeah. I feel like it's that much, you know, more of a lopsided. Yeah. Yeah. But I was like, you know, I'm going to go ahead and show

that I'm captive versus still and I can work with anyone. Yeah. So, and then test you was all my best friend. So that's, you know, that's helped out of it as well. I remember being a double or nothing, the very first double or nothing here in Las Vegas. And I saw you standing there. Like, you were supposed to be part of that show. Yes, yes, I was. Like, you got called in to be part of that show. And I know you've told the story before, but basically you got pulled off it at like the last minute. But I remember like, I remember seeing you from the crowd. I remember seeing you backstage. I was, uh, I was so stoked. It was such a well-kept secret, which is very rare, very rare this day and age.

And I was like, I was so excited for that surprise pop, you know, come back and I was Impact World Champion too at the time, which I felt like, because they're the ones that had the issue with it. And I was like, which is funny, right? Because look how it worked out in the long run. Yeah, it's funny. Yeah. But I felt like they were going to have the most to gain from it.

Like, it's cool for me. You know, it's neat for AW. They don't need me or impact. But I thought impact had the most to gain from it. And they were going to, I mean, really let me shine and put me over. I wasn't going to win the battle royal, especially because, I mean, I wasn't even signed to their company. But I remember that he specifically wanted me in the battle royal too,

so that way I didn't lose. Like, no one was beating me. And as a world champion, once in fact, got word of that, they flipped it. Because you were the champion? Yeah. So if you weren't the champion, it probably wouldn't have been an issue. I mean, there's to say. Yeah.

Right. But that was what they hung their hat on. And I get it from a tiny point, but I mean, it's still, it didn't make sense. Well, I can't imagine having to deliver that news to people in AEW. Right. Oh, it was awful. I was trying to find it. I was looking at my contract and blah, blah, blah.

And it was, um, and then finally to have to go up to like Cody and Tony and like, I'm like, man, yeah, it sucked. Yeah. And I was, you know, it was crazy. A lot of them were apologetic to me though, which was, which was, which was nice, but I still felt awful. And then I was like, man, like, again, I wanted that, you know, like, not once in a lifetime, but we'll just use that expression.

That's a surprise pop that you're going to get. And then, you know, the next year, I got to make my debut at double or nothing. Like, I keep hitting this mic with my chin. And I got to make my surprise debut at Double or Nothing, but it just happened to be in front of zero people. So wasn't quite the same. And that night, the very first Double or Nothing was full of surprise. Oh, yeah, yeah.

Like John Moxley and Brett Hard. Yeah. The show itself was just, yeah. It was amazing. Yeah, it was so good. So when, like, you made your debut in May, double or nothing, but there were these rumors like months before in January that you had signed, you were going to go to AEW,

you and you were basically like, yeah, that's not true. How much truth was there? Okay, so here's the issue with that, too. And I don't know if we ever covered this before either. I don't think so. So like, so I had talked to, you know, I said several companies. A lot of people wanted me, a lot of people interest me. There's a lot of, you know, verbal offers, but obviously nothing actually offered

officially or signed. And it could have been anyways because it's contractually and legality wise, I couldn't. So I tore my bicep, uh, the day before, hard to kill, which you're supposed to work. RVD, which was under my current contract, my last match with Impact. And then so like Monday, I think would technically be a one of the free agent. I could sign it whatever I wanted. So now, and I was like, already decided like, okay, I'm probably going to go with the AW. And go here you go this weekend, whatever, care of the bice.

I'm like, no. And Impact Wrestling was supposed to hand me a contract in person at the, like an updated one from what they just already tried to offer me. We're going to offer you another one like in person. you take it home and look at and sign or whatever. So I was like, okay. I mean, I'm still like, also look and, you know, maybe, who knows? So I get there and, you know, tell them what I have my arm and stuff.

And they're not opposed to, like, trying to keep me and they're working around for the match. That's why anyone who sees the match is when the match, doesn't ever officially start and dog it comes out and I just try to figure out what we could do with it. So right after my match with RVD, I come back and it's like just weird. The vibe was so weird. I mean, it's always, it was so chill impact. And everybody's looking at me weird.

It's so quiet. And it's just real awkward. What's going on? I sit down, I pick up my phone, I look at it, and I'm just blowing up, oh, Brian Kate,

size of AW, signs AW, signs of A2, and I'm like, you have got to be kidding me. Hey, yeah, because the cat's out of the bag, but the cat was never even in the back.

And now, so you weren't actually signing with A. No, at that time. And then so my worry was, because now this contract they had in person, they didn't give me.

And they're like, oh, you know, we'll just, we'll email you later. Because now my fear was, I was like, okay, if Impact someone wants to sign me, because now I'm injured, right? So now I'm like, damaged goods. If Impact someone wants to sign me, maybe AW still want to sign me. Because if you don't, they'll sign back with Impact. I'm like, well, that'll be cool. But it's like, now, Impact thinks I signed with AEW.

Now they're probably pissed off. I don't know if they're going to try to do illegal actions. Now they, maybe they don't want to sign me now because I'm hurt and you think I did that. But I really didn't sign with AEW. And then I don't know that I've hurt. Maybe AEW is like to sign me either. So now I'm thinking like, great, and I'm just nowhere without a job and injured

because some freaking dirt sheet wants to get some clickbait. So, yeah, I was furious. Who leaked this? I don't know. I don't know. And that's why when I was going hard, it was like, oh, you're just trying to move the surprise. Like, no, you guys are literally ruining my livelihood right now

because you guys want your little freaking 5,000 hits. And that's what I seem like Melissa went on at hard. Like, yeah, I was furious. But luckily enough, Impact still actually did end up sending an offer to me. And Tony reached out to me as well. I told him like, yeah, this is what happened in injury. And he's like, don't worry. I'm sure you're probably worried we're going to, you know,

rescind any offer or whatever. He goes, but we still want you here. I still have faith in you. And they even offered to have me go see his doctor do the surgery. But with certain tendon injuries, you have to get him repaired with an X amount of time or it's too late. So, but no, yeah, I was always super thankful for him and how well he handled it.

I mean, as well, his impact, too, that they were still willing to keep me on board and pay me while it's going to be out. So, I mean, goodos to both of those companies. There's going to be a lot of people that think that you leaked that news. I'm sure you've heard that all the time. Yeah, sure. I'm like, no.

I was like, and even then, because there was nothing for me to leak either because I had signed anywhere. Now, there is obviously multiple friends close to me that I had said stuff to you like, oh, you know, talked about different options. Now, did they say something to somebody? I don't know. I mean, of course, anybody asked, they said no, because they're going to say no. Well, look, it's all worked out for you. I mean, yeah, yeah, it did. Are your sights now set on the Ring of Honor World Championship?

You know what? I don't know. I don't know what my side's your name. Or is it on the AEW Championship? Realistically, I mean, I always say, too, if you're not in this business to be champion to be number one, then I don't know what you're doing. Yeah. But right now, I think more than any title, I just want to get back in there and just have

amazing matches with a lot of amazing talent that haven't worked. Yeah. Like, who haven't you worked yet that you can't wait to? Oh my gosh. There's so many. There's so many. Like, I think there was like 20 names that I wrote down that I wanted to work with. You actually wrote them down.

I love this. And, and I've worked with one of them. So, like, there's a plethora of names. Who have you worked with? Huh? Who have you worked with? Okay. So the one match that I asked for, and he was, wrote down yet.

The one match I kept asked for just because I wanted a match that was more of like a Cajic match. It was Matt Seidel. They gave me that dynamite, right? Then I got to work with Paige, which was unexpected. And I loved that match that we had at double or nothing. And those were the only two that like I was like, I feel like our,

our cage-like matches if you, Brian Cage matches. Yeah. That felt like like that's, that's what I want. And I feel like that's what I was getting everywhere else and being able to showcase what I can do. Now the cinematic match was a nice huge bonus.

It's a different style of match, but I do feel like that's like the best cinematic match. Well, even if I wasn't in that match. It was so fun. Like, because it actually looked like a movie. That's why I feel like a cinematic match should be a movie,

not still look like, you know, a life sporting event, like film different. But I mean, obviously, I really do everybody wants to, same with me, the match with Kenny Omega. I really love to work with PAC. I mean, now that we have, you know, Brian Danielson there. I think he's been like the MVP.

He's been killing it every time he's been out there. Even a throwback to the Luch Underground, love to work with both Lucha Brothers and Halocoe and Jack Evans. I know I was going to do stuff, a bunch of stuff, a private party in the action, the original Battle Royal. So I still love to work with them, too, because I haven't worked out and to work with them. jungle boy would great all the big guys you know the first one that go you know Wardlow luchosaurus me Lance were teased so long I would love to do something

in Murro you and Wardlow makes a lot of sense I mean there's there's so many there's so many matches I mean obviously if they get back on the face bandwagon like MGF and I could do some fun stuff I'd love to have another shot at page and Maxley you've named half the roster

it's a lot too he's great he's great. I've never I've worked Adam Cole single and tag. I've never worked Kyle Riley in singles before. But that's it. You know, Keith fleas are not and I love working Keith Lee. But like I'm trying to think of like the OG roster. But then yeah, then they've signed some more people. So like yeah, there's it's it probably easier to give you less people I don't want to work. Like, who I want to work. But I feel like you'll work anybody.

And you'll have a great match with them. For sure. That goes back when you said about the intergender stuff. Yeah. It was like, I like to showcase like, I can get a good match out of that person. So you can't see it because you're back It's too, but everybody's taking photos Of this giant man on a tank top here You should give him a flex There's that peak right there

Yeah Yeah When you walk through the casino here We're at the wind hotel So it's very busy here When you walk through being this big With this kind of tank top on Is everybody staring?

I mean, yes Yeah You know You get a few hollers You know from some of the girls Do they holler if they hear you? Ah, I mean they're hearing me oh they're for sure hollering if you hear me you hear the sirens go on you

everybody's got to put on the glasses because it's so dark are so dark so bright uh oh you asked me tell a story yeah well what i was basically asking you before was like when you look like this everybody's asking you body questions right yes and then like when you go to shows everybody I'm sure is asking questions and looking and touching that happens all the time for you I mean, maybe not all the time, but I just do some amount of time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. More than it happens to me, okay? So, you know, I do garner some attention.

It is funny, going back to the boy band, so I was going to make this reference too. Like, I get a little heated sometimes. I mean, they're fun throwback photos, but sometimes I get a little heat because I feel like I get way more, like, interaction from girls in those photos than the photos like now, current rankings. Oh, sure.

And it kind of goes to like all those memes you see when people are like, oh, what you, you know, the tension you think you're going to get. Yeah, with all the women. Yeah, right? Because like, here's a throwback photo. All the women are coming on that. And I'm going to get Jack. I'm going to get all that changes from all these girls. And then now it's just me always answering questions from guys about how I got so jacked.

Yeah. So do you drink the total war every? It's it five minutes before your workout or is it 10? And by the way, what is it? I love total war. 30 minutes. 30 minutes before my workout, two hours after my last meal. That's the perfect time.

I feel like I get the tingles seven minutes in after total war I don't know I have a coupon code for Redcon one by the way B-K-K-H B-C-A-G-E but I almost feel like it's unnecessary because they give out so many crazy discounts and like sales like every other day their stuff is so good it's amazing it's amazing they're the whole so you're saying

that there's more men that are asking that's why those means are so funny because they're absolutely true I mean because even me too why someone's Jack or like in great shape like oh well like I'm looking at them more than I'm looking at the girl doing squats over there. You know, I'm like, you look at that guy. What does he do?

Whatever, you know, so it is funny because it is absolutely true. All right, this has been amazing. Thank you for coming by. I can't wait to eat pancakes with you afterwards. I end every conversation with the same question. So I ask this of Melissa. I'm interested to see what your answers are. I'm all about gratitude.

So what are three things in your life that you're grateful for right now? I am grateful for my family as a whole. That will include Melissa. my son Noah and my daughter, Skyler. All three are phenomenal, wise for me for everything. I already have my passion, dedication, determination to make everything I do is success. But if I need any other motivation,

absolutely the three of them are completely it. I'm grateful for actually later today after I gym, after I gym for the second time today. Right, right? Or it was from Carlito, a line that stole. After I get bodyed, when we get in body. What time we get in bodyed?

We were supposed to get bodyed tomorrow. This guy and I, and he chickened out. I'm throwing one under the bus. My incredible camera guy, Zeus, couldn't make it. So May 5th. I could a mile. Let me tell you what. Let me shoot on somebody else.

There's ain't got to even no killer cross workout, right? This is going to be a real deal. I mean, look, come on. What body part do you want to do? It doesn't matter. You pick it. You're going to regret. You pick, you regret.

Dealer's choice. We're going to have to plan it out in advance. Because I can't be like, oh, we're doing arms. like, oh, damn, I did a real body guy stuff. I know, like, that is funny because everybody's asked me when they're working on me, what are we going to train? Like, what, you know, are you going to train? And so many times I'm like, are we going to do chess?

And like, the people are I'm working on. I was like, gosh, the chest, just. So let's do it again today. We're going to plan this out in advance. Okay, okay. We'll figure that out. Okay. So you're grateful for the gym?

Was that number two was? I was grateful for the gym. I was saying, oh, after a gym, no one I'm grateful for. Actually, Melissa and I are going to sign papers to close on our house. Oh, congratulations. Oh, it's amazing. Yes. You could probably buy a mansion here in Nevada from what you could have bought in

I mean, LA. No, yeah, we were, you have a really nice place. I'm really proud of. But also,

if we would have bought it like, I don't know, I mean, as short as four years ago, probably would have been, of course. A quarter of what we bought it for. Yeah.

Jeez. Congrats. That's amazing. Thank you. Thank you. And then I'm grateful that I've been able to be able to be in such a great business that I love for so long. And it's,

and is healthy and able to do it as long as I have been doing it. That's a great one to end on. Those are three great things. Family, this house, it's amazing, and what you're doing right now with Ring of Honor and AEW. I mean, not too shabby. Pretty good. Pretty shabbleous, I'd say.

Right. You know, I used some stacks and yokes. And then we're golden. Can I get a hit of pre-workout? See, here's the thing. I always, oh, you pre-mix them? You know, I have everything all way down. You're like a magician here with your bag of tricks.

First of all, I'm actually a little disappointed because... Put that out here. Let me see. But I'm disappointed because it's always my six-pack bag. And the reason why it's this. This bag is because I'm actually going to LVAC. Normally I'd be going to Dragon's Lair. I'm going to LVAC and they don't let the bigger bags in there, which is a reason why I do not like that, Jim.

If I show this, Cardillo Weight Belt is going to be very upset. Oh, you don't like this? No, I like it, but it's not Cardilla. Well, but it's sweet custom one. It's very good. And what is I supposed to? They will make you a custom one if you want. Oh, yeah?

Absolutely. I've had this custom bad boy for, hey, 10 years now. That looks great. It's, it's, it's a real alligator, too. Oh, yeah, so here's, well, this is the point of the bag. Oh, I see. You got all the powders in there. So it's already all mixed up, measured out to my liking.

And then straps. Oh, my gosh. This is why you're so gigantic. This is just the backup back. There's not. And then a six-pack, I have multiple six-pack bags for different days, too. So I, it's like being Batman, man. What do you call it a six-pack bag?

Huh? Six-pack. Oh, like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Normal people would put beer in there. That's what you're saying. No, my normal, my normal, my normal, lunch bags, my six-pack bags. Remember that?

I'm even on the team with them now because I've been such a long... Oh, I see what you're saying. Yeah, that's what normal... That's my normal bag I always have. Whenever you see me, I always see the black strap food bag, that's my six-pack bag. And a fanny pack, which you aren't wearing right now, right?

That's my... Those are my Batman utility bills. That's why I'm always prepared for any, for any villain that steps on the streets. Well, we won't hold you up anymore from getting even more swall than you are right now. Well, I have... Last meal. I still have... I have about 20 minutes left for I have to have a few minutes left for I have to have

up your workout. But I understand. Ryan Cage, always a pleasure. Yes, it is, it is. So we're still going to do the workout too then. Oh, yeah? Yeah, that's happening. That's like, we'll be like our fourth one then, right? Yeah, we'll talk while we do it, but yeah, we'll work out. Does it bring anybody else you've interviewed four times? I mean, I've interviewed the Rock nine times, not that I'm counting right now. Yeah, but he doesn't count. Dolf Ziegler probably 15 times.

Okay. You're a, yeah. How many times have you interviewed Dolf's brother? Only once. Only once. Only once. I told you my house for that. Did he? Yeah. Brian Cage. Thank you so much.

No worries, no worries. No worries, man. Thank you. Wait. Have you had the rocks pancakes? No, I'd like to. Interview nine times. You can give you one pancake.

No pancakes. Damn. There it is. Although I have bad news to report, we didn't end up getting those pancakes. We ended up chatting for so long after we wrapped up the interview that Brian was almost late for the gym.

So we're going to have to do the pancakes next time. and we teased it here. We teased a workout video with Brian Cage. And if you've been following along, I did one with Mike O'Hern and Billy Gunn, Killer Cross. There's one coming out soon with EC3. And yeah, a Brian Cage workout is coming soon.

Can you imagine what a Brian Cage workout is going to look like? Snap a screenshot. Let us know what stood out for you the most here. Share it on social media. Brian is at Brian Cage on Instagram at Brian Cage GMSI on Twitter. And if you're not following me already, I'm at Chris Vanfleet. And if you enjoyed this episode, please consider following or subscribing to the show

on whatever podcast platform it is that you're listening on. You know, how everyone shares that Wayne Gretzky quote, you know, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take or the Michael Scott version of it from the office. I'm going to leave you with another Wayne Gretzky quote. And for me, as a kid who grew up in Canada, while Gretaxie quote, you know, was still playing, let me tell you, he was something to watch. And I love this quote because it applies obviously to hockey and sports, but it just applies in life too. I skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.

Be great, be grateful, we'll see you on the next one. Have a great weekend. We'll see you on the next one for some more insight. Jim Rome takes on sports. Why? Because I have a job to do with rapid fire takes. So I don't want to hear from you lava pigs on this notion today. No idea what you're talking about. You're complaining more than you like to breathe air. It's like you get up in the morning only

to complain and cry and moan on social media about things that you don't even understand. He's the spitfire of sports smack. Ticket banjov but get up in here. The Jim Rome show podcast. What's your beef? Follow and listen on your favorite platform. You've been warned.