AEW Star Started Marvel-Inspired Gimmick Because He Hated Shaving

This AEW star incorporated a popular Marvel character into his wrestling presentation simply because he disliked shaving.

Appearing on The Hot Seat podcast, All Elite Wrestling’s Brian Cage was asked by eight-time Olympian Wendy Fortino about how Marvel Comics’ Wolverine became part of his in-ring persona.

Cage explained that it all started with his grooming choices, as he originally grew out large sideburns just to avoid shaving. A friend later encouraged him to try a pointed style after seeing former WCW wrestler Lash LeRoux sport a similar look.

“Well, I hated shaving, so I grew these huge sideburns just so I didn’t have to shave. And then there was an old wrestler named Lash LeRoux that had these cool little sideburns that point. And my friend’s like, ‘Oh, you should shave like that one time,’ and so I did. People called me like Wolverine, or Hugh Jackman wishes he was this buff,” Brian Cage said.

Brian Cage on embracing the ‘Swolverine’ identity

Cage revealed that one fan eventually dubbed him “Swolverine,” a name he liked so much that he considered trademarking it. Being a longtime Wolverine fan, he admitted he began weaving references to the character into his wrestling moveset.

“And then a fan was like, ‘Oh, it’s cause you’re the Swolverine.’ I went, ‘Oh man, Swolverine! I’m gonna write that down, get that trademarked and patented.’ So I was like, ‘Oh, that’s pretty cool, let me add that into it.’ Since I was such a fan of Wolverine anyways, even like moves I do — Drill Claw, Weapon X, Tornado Claw — those are all Wolverine references from different fighting games and stuff like that.”

He added that as he grew a beard and longer hair, especially during the era of Logan and newer Wolverine portrayals, more fans began saying he resembled the character. Cage clarified that it was never intentional, but he appreciates the comparison as a compliment.

“When I changed my look and grew the beard and hair, especially from Logan and the new Wolverine, they’re like, ‘Man, you look more like Wolverine now! Is that what you’re going for?’ I was like, ‘I wasn’t trying to at all!’ But the fact that everyone keeps thinking I do, I’m like, that’s great. That’s an awesome compliment to me.”