Pull Up a Barstool
Pull up a barstool and let's have a real talk about the state of play after Forbidden Door. The dust has settled on another cross-promotional spectacle, and the wrestling world is still arguing over who won the night. But if you look past the five-star matches and the stadium lights, the real stories are happening in the hotel lobbies and podcast studios.
We are seeing a bizarre shift in how talent views the wrestling wars, and it is not what the internet expects. Take Mercedes Moné, who just walked out of the pay-per-view with another trophy. Or look at Brian Cage, who is suddenly the most honest man in the business.
The lines between Stamford and Jacksonville are getting weird, and it is time to break it down. We have champions wearing gear dedicated to rival stars, and midcarders explaining why Tony Khan's checkbook is safer than Triple H's creative promises.
The CEO's Pink and Black Tribute
Let's start with the women's division, where Mercedes Moné continues to treat AEW like her personal playground. She was not even scheduled for the Owen Hart Foundation Cup tournament. Willow Nightingale got sidelined with an injury, and Tony Khan did what he always does when he needs star power.
He pulled the wild card trigger and inserted Mercedes, who proceeded to win the entire thing for the second consecutive year. It is a win, sure, but it feels like lazy booking. Mercedes is already a massive star.
She is already booked to challenge the former STARDOM standout Thekla for the AEW Women's World Championship at All In on August 30, 2026. Giving her the Owen Hart Cup is like giving a lottery winner a free dollar. It does nothing to elevate the trophy or the division.
But the real talking point was her outfit. Mercedes walked down the ramp in pink and black gear. As Wrestling Inc reported, the look was a direct tribute to WWE star Natalya.
It was modeled after the gear Nattie wore at the historic first WWE Evolution pay-per-view. It was a bold crossover move that set social media on fire. Natalya did not ignore the tribute.
She quoted the photo on Twitter with a class-act response. She shared an old photo of herself with Mercedes, Bayley, and the Bella Twins. She added some high praise for her former colleague.
"That gear was from the very first Evolution PPV. A piece of history that meant a lot to me and so many other women wrestlers everywhere. Every piece of gear tells a story and I'm glad this one inspired you. Low-key legends always do..."
It is a nice moment of respect. It shows that despite the corporate tribalism, the wrestlers themselves care about history. But that classiness cannot hide the lack of direction in the actual booking.
The Hard Math of the Wrestling War
While Mercedes is playing with tributes, Brian Cage is talking about the actual business of pro wrestling. He sat down with Chris Van Vliet on the Insight Podcast and laid out the cold, hard truth. Cage was a free agent back in 2023, and WWE was sniffing around.
He wanted to go to WWE. He wanted the big stage. But he stayed.
In an interview reported by F4W Online, Cage explained that the decision came down to simple economics and safety. The corporate structure of WWE is a meat grinder. AEW offered him something rare in this industry.
"I mean, there was a lot of interest and I, it's funny because I wanted to go there. You don't know what you're going to get either place. There's no guarantees. They could say that we're going to use you this way, that way, whatever, but obviously there's you don't know anything. And after going back and forth, all the different pros and cons, a lot of stuff with AEW just seemed more safe, if you will, which is, it's pretty hard to have some sort of security in this business."
Cage did not mince words. He detailed the actual perks that kept him under Tony Khan's umbrella. The travel policy alone is night and day.
Tony Khan pays for the flight, the hotel, and the ground transportation. WWE only covers the flight. That is a massive difference when you are on the road fifty weeks a year.
Cage also pointed out the freedom of being a true independent contractor. He can still work indie dates and make extra cash. In WWE, you are locked down like a maximum-security prisoner.
Then there is the fear of the pink slip. WWE has a reputation for mass releases. Cage felt that staying with Tony Khan guaranteed him longevity.
He does not have to wake up on a Tuesday morning wondering if his job got cut to satisfy Wall Street. It is hard to blame him for choosing the safe bet. But security does not always translate to creative success.
The Body Guy and the Continental Dream
Cage returned to AEW television on May 13, 2026. He had been sidelined for over a year after tearing his quadriceps at an indie show in April 2025. He underwent two surgeries during his absence.
His return match was a random challenge against TNT Champion Kevin Knight on Dynamite. Cage lost after eating a springboard dropkick. It was a flat return for a guy who looks like he was sculpted out of granite.
He is now aligned with the Don Callis Family, which is currently swimming in gold. Kevin Knight is the TNT Champion. Mark Davis is the National Champion.
Kyle Fletcher has held the TNT title twice. The faction has collected almost every belt in the company. And now, Cage wants to add one more.
Cage recently won the overall trophy at the Nevada State bodybuilding show. It was his first bodybuilding contest in twelve years. To celebrate, he wants to bring a custom belt to AEW television.
As WrestleTalk detailed, he is pitching the "Body Guy Championship." The belt was actually made in early 2025 before his injury. The gimmick is simple.
Cage will only defend the title against other "body guys," which means he will never defend it because he claims no one else qualifies. It is a funny joke, but it is a terrible idea for television. AEW is already drowned in championships.
We have the International Title, the Continental Title, the TNT Title, and the ROH belts clogging up three shows. Adding a comedy belt for a guy who just returned from two surgeries is the last thing the midcard needs. It turns the show into a circus.
Cage is a freak athlete who can do a moonsault at 270 pounds. He should be chasing real titles, not carrying around a prop belt. Fortunately, he does have some serious goals.
He has his eyes set on the Continental Classic at the end of the year. The inaugural tournament ended on December 27, 2025 at Worlds End, with Jon Moxley defeating Kazuchika Okada in the finals. Moxley is still the king of that mountain.
Moxley just defended the Continental Championship at Forbidden Door on June 28, 2026 against Bandido. It was a physical brawl that ended with Moxley choking out Bandido with a rear-naked choke. Cage wants a piece of that action.
According to WrestleTalk, Cage wants to build up enough momentum to make a run in the tournament. That is where he belongs. A hard-hitting tournament with no interference is the perfect showcase for his skillset.
But to get there, he has to get past the comedy booking. He has to stop carrying around bodybuilding trophies and start winning matches. The talent in AEW is undeniable.
The contracts are great. The travel is paid for. But at some point, the booking has to match the roster.
Right now, we have Mercedes winning tournaments she was not in and Cage pitching self-made championships. It is entertaining, but it is not great wrestling television. Tony Khan needs to clean house.
