Brian Cage Bio
Brian Christopher Joseph Button, born February 2, 1984, is an American professional wrestler and bodybuilder widely recognized by his ring name Brian Cage. He currently competes for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a member of The Don Callis Family and forms one-half of The Murder Machines tag team alongside Lance Archer. Cage established himself as a dominant force in professional wrestling through his impressive athletic abilities and powerful in-ring presence across multiple promotions including Impact Wrestling, Lucha Underground, and Ring of Honor. His career has been marked by championship victories and memorable performances in major wrestling events worldwide.
Cage gained significant recognition during his tenure with Lucha Underground from 2014 to 2018, where he performed under the simple ring name Cage. He later achieved major success in Impact Wrestling, capturing the Impact World Championship in 2019. In 2020, he signed with AEW and quickly made an impact by winning the Casino Ladder Match at Double or Nothing, earning him a title opportunity for the AEW World Championship. Throughout his career, Cage has been known for his strength, agility, and distinctive finishing moves.
Early Life and Background
Brian Christopher Joseph Button was born on February 2, 1984, in Chico, California. He graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in 2002, the same year as NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers. His passion for professional wrestling developed during childhood while watching wrestling on television. This early interest eventually led him to pursue wrestling as a career after making a connection with established wrestler Chris Kanyon at a show held in Sacramento at Arco Arena.
Kanyon became Button’s biggest advocate and mentor, encouraging him to pursue professional wrestling seriously. This guidance proved instrumental in Button’s development as a wrestler. In 2004, Button and his friends established their own wrestling promotion called Main-Event Wrestling Federation in Chico, California. This grassroots beginning provided him with initial experience and training opportunities. Button made his wrestling debut at an MWF show against Kanyon himself, demonstrating his early potential in the ring.
Path to Professional Wrestling
Button continued training at Pro Championship Wrestling and competed with various California-based promotions including All Pro Wrestling, Supreme Pro Wrestling, and Fog City Wrestling. Following Kanyon’s advice, he moved to Atlanta to work with WWE’s developmental territory Deep South Wrestling. While not officially signed with Deep South Wrestling, Button competed in matches against WWE wrestlers, gaining valuable experience. When WWE ended its relationship with DSW, Button returned to California to continue his independent circuit career.
During this period, Kanyon asked Button to portray the Mortis character, keeping the name active for a potential comeback. Button became the only person other than Kanyon to perform as Mortis. This early phase of his career helped him develop his in-ring skills and establish connections in the wrestling industry. His performances on the independent circuit eventually caught the attention of larger promotions, leading to his first major opportunity with World Wrestling Entertainment in 2008.
Brian Cage Career
Early Career (2005-2010)
In June 2008, WWE signed Cage to a developmental contract and assigned him to Florida Championship Wrestling in Tampa. Initially competing as Brian Cage, he was asked to change his name and adopted the ring name Kris Logan, paying homage to Chris Kanyon while incorporating Wolverine-inspired elements into his character. His most notable achievement during this period came on July 23, 2009, when Logan and Justin Gabriel defeated The Dude Busters to become FCW Florida Tag Team Champions, though they lost the titles later that same night against The Rotundos.
Cage later developed the Night Claw character, which appeared in a few matches but never fully materialized as planned. WWE released him from his contract in September 2009. Following his release, Cage returned to the independent circuit and competed in Asia. He won the Main Event Wrestling California Cup by defeating Ryan Taylor, Joey Ryan, and T.J. Perkins. In October 2010, he defeated Kenny Dykstra at Main Event Wrestling in an internet pay-per-view event.
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla Breakthrough (2010-2018)
Cage made his Pro Wrestling Guerrilla debut on July 30, 2010, against Brandon Bonham. He later formed the Fightin’ Taylor Boys stable with Chuck Taylor and Ryan Taylor, adding the Taylor surname to become Brian Cage-Taylor. The group found occasional success but never challenged for the World Tag Team Championship. After the stable disbanded, Cage received his first PWG World Championship title shot against Kevin Steen at Death to All But Metal on May 25, 2012, though he was unsuccessful.
In January 2013, Cage and Michael Elgin formed the Unbreakable F’N Machines team. They won the PWG World Tag Team Championship by defeating the Super Smash Bros in the opening round of the 2013 Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament but lost the titles to The Young Bucks in the semifinal round later that day. The team remained active in PWG’s tag division throughout 2013. Cage also participated in several Battle of Los Angeles tournaments, competing against top independent wrestlers. His last PWG appearance to date occurred at All Star Weekend 13.
Impact Wrestling Breakthrough (2018-2020)
Cage returned to what was then known as TNA in January 2018, officially signing with Impact Wrestling. He made his in-ring debut on February 15, 2018, defeating John Cruz. He quickly established himself as a dominant force, winning the Impact X Division Championship at Slammiversary XVI in June 2018 by defeating Matt Sydal. Cage successfully defended his title against Sydal, Fénix, and Rich Swann before exercising Option C to surrender the X Division Championship for a shot at the Impact World Championship.
At Impact Wrestling Rebellion on April 28, 2019, Cage defeated Johnny Impact to become the Impact World Champion for the first time. This victory marked the pinnacle of his Impact Wrestling career. He successfully defended the title against Sami Callihan at Bound for Glory 2019 but lost the championship to Callihan in a steel cage match on October 25, 2019. His Impact Wrestling tenure concluded when his contract expired, and he announced he would take time off for surgery.
All Elite Wrestling Era (2020-Present)
Cage signed with All Elite Wrestling in January 2020 and made his debut at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view on May 23, 2020, as the surprise final entrant in the Casino Ladder Match. Accompanied by Taz, he won the match to become the number one contender for the AEW World Championship. Taz subsequently crowned Cage with the FTW World Championship, an unofficial championship he had introduced. Cage challenged Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship at Fight for the Fallen but lost after Taz threw in the towel.
Cage formed Team Taz with Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs, managed by Taz. He held the FTW Championship for a record-setting 377 days before losing it to Ricky Starks in July 2021. In 2022, Cage began appearing for Ring of Honor, aligning with Tully Blanchard Enterprises, which later became The Embassy. He won the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship with the Gates of Agony. In 2023, Cage signed a new five-year contract with AEW. On October 12, 2023, he defeated Atlantis Jr. to win the ROH World Television Championship for the first time. He later joined The Don Callis Family and formed The Murder Machines with Lance Archer.
Style and Strengths
Brian Cage is known for his exceptional strength, agility, and athletic ability that distinguish him from other heavyweights. His background in bodybuilding contributes to his imposing physical presence in the ring. Cage excels at power moves while maintaining the agility to perform high-flying maneuvers. His finishing move, the Weapon X, has become his signature offensive maneuver. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated the ability to adapt to different wrestling styles and work effectively in both singles and tag team competition.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cage’s career includes several significant milestones and memorable events. His victory in the Casino Ladder Match at AEW Double or Nothing 2020 served as a high-profile introduction to AEW audiences. Winning the Impact World Championship at Rebellion 2019 represented his first major world title victory. His record-setting 377-day reign as FTW Champion demonstrated his ability to maintain dominance over an extended period. The formation of The Murder Machines with Lance Archer marked a new chapter in his AEW tenure. In April 2025, Cage suffered a torn quadriceps tendon at an independent show, rendering him out of action for up to a year.
Brian Cage Career Wins
Brian Cage has established an impressive championship record across multiple wrestling promotions throughout his career. His major title victories include the Impact World Championship, Impact X Division Championship, FTW World Championship, ROH World Television Championship, and ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship. These accomplishments highlight his success in both singles and tag team competition.
Major Championship Highlights
Cage won the Impact World Championship by defeating Johnny Impact at Rebellion on April 28, 2019, marking his first world title victory. He captured the Impact X Division Championship at Slammiversary XVI in June 2018, defeating Matt Sydal. In AEW, he won the Casino Ladder Match at Double or Nothing 2020 and held the FTW World Championship for a record 377 days. On October 12, 2023, he defeated Atlantis Jr. to win the ROH World Television Championship. He also won the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship as part of The Embassy with the Gates of Agony.
Other Wins & Performances
Before joining major promotions, Cage achieved success on the independent circuit, winning the Main Event Wrestling California Cup by defeating Ryan Taylor, Joey Ryan, and T.J. Perkins. During his time in WWE developmental, he briefly held the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship with Justin Gabriel. In Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, he won the PWG World Tag Team Championship with Michael Elgin as part of the Unbreakable F’N Machines. His performances in Lucha Underground established him as a prominent figure in the promotion.
Brian Cage Family
Personal Life
Brian Cage married Melissa Santos on July 12, 2019. Santos previously worked for Lucha Underground as a ring announcer. The couple began dating in 2016 and have one daughter together. Their relationship received attention on Impact Wrestling programming, with the show even holding an on-screen wedding ceremony. Cage was previously married to another woman and has a son from that previous relationship. The family resides in the United States.
2025 Season Performance
In April 2025, Brian Cage suffered a significant injury when he tore his quadriceps tendon while competing at an independent wrestling show. This injury is expected to keep him out of action for up to a year, interrupting his momentum as part of The Murder Machines tag team with Lance Archer in AEW. At the time of the injury, Cage was an active member of The Don Callis Family and had been competing in both AEW and Ring of Honor programming. His absence creates challenges for the team dynamics of both The Murder Machines and The Don Callis Family.
Cage’s injury occurred during what had been a productive period in his AEW tenure following his joining of The Don Callis Family. His partnership with Lance Archer as The Murder Machines had been establishing itself as a dominant force in AEW’s tag team division. The rehabilitation and recovery process will determine when Cage can return to in-ring competition. His five-year contract with AEW, signed in 2023, ensures his position with the company once he receives medical clearance to compete again.
