The ever-hated Christian Cage made his long-awaited return to AEW on the July 30 episode of Dynamite, and he wasted no time reminding the wrestling world just how venomous he can be. After being absent since his Patriarchy faction was dismantled at the All In event, Cage returned with a scathing promo, taking aim at his rival Adam Copeland and his former protégés. However, his return was cut short by a brutal and personal attack from Nick Wayne and his mother.
Christian Cage Makes His Hated Return to AEW Dynamite
Making his entrance in front of a hot Chicago crowd, Christian Cage took to the ring with a microphone and a laundry list of grievances. He acknowledged the fall of The Patriarchy and the return of Adam Copeland, which led him to re-introduce himself to the AEW faithful with a simple, blunt proclamation: “I’m an asshole.” The statement was met with a massive cheer from the crowd, who showered the veteran with chants of “asshole” in a sign of respect for his masterful heel persona. Cage then reflected on his failed attempt to win the title at the Revolution pay-per-view, making it clear he was back with a renewed, bitter focus.
A Vicious Message for Adam Copeland and The Patriarchy
Cage quickly turned his attention to his career-long rival, Adam Copeland. He referenced a recent promo from Copeland, where Copeland accused him of wanting to cripple him and go after his wife, Beth Phoenix. Cage mockingly wondered if what he had said was really “that bad,” suggesting that Copeland, of all people, understands the “game within the game.” He told Copeland to get off his high horse and enjoy his money. Christian then turned his fire on his former followers, Nick Wayne and Kip Sabian. In a truly vicious moment, he addressed Nick Wayne directly, stating that Wayne “already has a dead father, and now he has another father who’s dead to him,” officially and cruelly disowning his former protégé.
A Brutal Family Reunion
As Christian Cage finished his promo and began to make his exit up the ramp, he was confronted by Nick Wayne’s mother, “Mama Wayne.” As she got in his face, it created the perfect distraction for Nick Wayne himself to appear from out of nowhere, blasting Cage from behind with his championship title belt. The attack didn’t stop there. With Christian dazed, Nick and Mama Wayne set up two steel chairs, placing one under Christian’s head and using the other to deliver a brutal, unprotected chair shot to the head in a modern-day con-chair-to. The segment ended with the Waynes standing tall over the fallen body of their former mentor.
The brutal assault on Christian Cage has immediately established a new, deeply personal rivalry between the returning veteran and his former protégé, Nick Wayne. The image of Wayne and his mother standing over the fallen Cage after delivering a brutal chair shot has set the stage for what is sure to be one of AEW’s most violent and hate-filled feuds. AEW officials have yet to provide a medical update on Christian Cage following the attack.
"My name is Christian Cage and I'm an asshole" – @Christian4Peeps
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— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 31, 2025
