A well-known WWE veteran openly criticized Christian Cage’s recent promo on AEW Dynamite, expressing disappointment with his portrayal and labeling the babyface turn as poorly executed. This segment marked Cage’s first televised appearance since his significant defeat alongside the Patriarchy at the All In event. Following his promo, Cage was ambushed by Nick Wayne and Kip Sabian, which has since drawn sharp comments from wrestling figures.
On the Jim Cornette Experience podcast, Jim Cornette directed strong criticism at Cage’s promo delivery, emphasizing its awkwardness and lack of clarity. He said:
“And it went on and on, where he was, the material is horrible. And he was reminding Edge of all the shi**y things he said about Edge, but Edge, you’ve done some shi**y things too. And then he got distracted again. I am conducting business here. I am like, what kind of babyface turn is this? Are we supposed to feel bad for him because this is so awkward? The Patriarchy embarrassed him, but he is still acting like an a**hole, and he is admitting, ‘I am an a**hole.’ But he is not acting like an a**hole like I am your a**hole to the fans. He is just being a prick to everybody. F**k you, Edge.” —Jim Cornette
Cornette’s remarks underline frustration with the character’s inconsistent behavior, contrasting the typical characteristics of a babyface turn with what Cage displayed on the show.
Bully Ray Critiques the Attack on Christian Cage
Following the aggressive assault on Christian Cage by Nick Wayne and Kip Sabian, which featured a con-chair-to move, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray also voiced his dissatisfaction. During a conversation on the Busted Open Radio podcast, Bully Ray criticized the execution and presentation of the attack, indicating it fell far short of expectations.
“We gonna say the physicality sucked, or we gonna dance around it? The way it was shot, and the way those guys executed it, if you can’t do it, don’t do it… Because if you can’t do it as well as Edge & Christian used to do it, it’ll look like sh** and it looked like sh**.” —Bully Ray
This blunt critique highlights concerns over the quality and impact of in-ring actions, particularly when compared to the high standards set by previous performers like Edge and Christian.
Implications for Christian Cage and AEW Storylines
The combination of harsh promo reviews and criticism about the attack’s execution signals potential challenges for Christian Cage’s character development within AEW. Such negative feedback from respected veterans could impact audience perception, making it harder for the promotion to establish Cage’s intended babyface role convincingly. With tensions running high and expectations elevated due to Cage’s legacy, AEW may need to reconsider how they handle his storyline and in-ring portrayals moving forward.
The reactions from Jim Cornette and Bully Ray underscore broader concerns about maintaining character integrity and match quality, especially when involving talent with a storied WWE background. How AEW addresses these critiques could be crucial for Cage’s success and the promotion’s overall storytelling progression.
