Brian Cage is cleared — and the anticipation is already building. In an interview with Muscle and Fitness, the AEW veteran revealed that he has received full medical clearance to return to in-ring competition after being sidelined for nearly a year following three knee surgeries in 2025. His last match came in March 2025 against Chris Masters.
“I just got cleared fully from everyone to be able to come back,” Cage said. “There’s the hope of like, okay, this is a perfect way to press restart and start new and come back and re-debut in a good way, in a new way, bigger way, whatever, and make the best of a bad situation.” The clearance process itself required Cage to prove he could handle basic physical demands — including jumping off the second rope and landing on his feet — something he admitted gave him unexpected pause. “It’s not that crazy, but you don’t know. I have post-surgery knees. I’m like, wait, can I? I don’t know. I guess we’ll find out. And yeah, I did it. It was totally fine.”
Cage Dealt With Back Strain Early in Rehab but Pushed Through
The road back hasn’t been without bumps. During an early rehab session, Cage strained his back performing box jumps despite feeling strong going in. “For no reason, on a box jump, somehow I strain my back. My knees aren’t killing me, but my back is killing me — and I’m like, ‘I’m still gonna push through.'” Now 42 and with two decades of experience, Cage also acknowledged he may need to reconsider how frequently he uses high-flying moves, potentially saving them for bigger occasions going forward.
About the Author
