Professional wrestlers have a few ways to become massive stars.
Some come up with a character that makes them stand out. It makes everything they do must see.
Others become great in-ring performers. They learn their craft and put on death-defying matches.
Orange Cassidy might be the perfect mix of both.
Cassidy is a star wrestler for All Elite Wrestling, the professional wrestling outfit that recently celebrated its five-year anniversary.
Every Wednesday on TBS and Saturday night on TNT, AEW broadcasts four hours of professional wrestling in front of a worldwide audience.
And for most of that time, Cassidy has been one of the biggest stars in the promotion simply because no matter what AEW needs, he can fill the role.
That makes him a very valuable asset to the promotion.
“When I was coming around AEW, (AEW owner and promoter Tony Khan) didn’t think much of me and what I was doing because he didn’t see much of it,” said Cassidy, who joined the promotion in 2019 shortly after it debuted. “Just Twitter and gifs. And then later, as I got to know Tony and he saw what I could do, he appreciated that character. He relies on me in a lot of situations where I find it, you know, I appreciate that he puts me in situations if someone gets hurt or if something isn’t going right, he’ll use me.
“I’m pretty much at every show, I’m always around, I’ll do whatever, whenever. I’m Orange Cassidy.”
If you haven’t seen the man dubbed “Freshly Squeezed,” he is nothing like other wrestlers.
He’s not aggressive. He doesn’t come off as a tough guy. He admits he’s lazy, but for a lazy wrestler, he’s one of the hardest workers in the industry.
“I didn’t see myself doing anything. I was wrestling because I enjoyed wrestling and I was doing what I was doing,” Cassidy said of his time before AEW when he mostly worked for smaller, independent promotions. “Between 2017 and 2018, I don’t remember much, around that time, I became the IWTV Independent Wrestling champion. It was an independent championship with a lot of promotions and they all used it as their championship. That’s when I understood I can do whatever I want as Orange Cassidy.
“I can wrestle in a main event match, or have a good time in an opener or an eight-man tag team match. Because of who the character is, I can fit into a lot of different spaces. They never had an Orange Cassidy in professional wrestling. I can fill those roles. I am lazy and I can do whatever, whenever. I do whatever I have to do.”
AEW brings Collision to Temple University’s Liacouras Center on Nov. 2 for a live episode of the show. Stars like Adam Page, Jack Perry, Chris Jericho and all the stars of AEW will be on hand for the big night.
The night will also include Ring of Honor matches that will be recorded for the weekly show.
While Cassidy doesn’t have his agenda for the evening yet, he knows he could be asked to do something he has very little interest in doing.
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley and his crew that includes Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta have been running roughshod over the promotion for years, but things really got heated after Moxley defeated Bryan Danielson for the title.
Danny Garcia and tag team Private Party have been recruiting Cassidy to help take out the top guys in the promotion, but Cassidy isn’t biting.
“Very strange time,” Cassidy admitted. “This whole thing with Mox and another person Wheeler Yuta, who I helped train, and a person who helped train me, Claudio, they’re dangerously incredible. Mox has the idea that he’s going to make AEW better. I don’t particularly agree with it, I don’t want to get involved. I know where it’s going, but I know how it ends up and there are a lot of young guys, Danny Garcia and Private Party who want help. I will help, but I prefer not to, and as I said, I’m not that guy.”
He is a guy well known in the Philly area, though.
Prior to coming to AEW, he would often come to Philadelphia. He wrestled for Chikara, although he wrestled under a mask as Fire Ant.
It’s also the spot he calls home.
“I spent a lot of my career here and I lived with Taylor for three years right in the Fishtown, Northern Liberties area,” Cassidy said. “I couldn’t deal with him anymore, we’re still very, very good friends, but three years is enough.
“Philly is fun to wrestle there if the fans like you. If they don’t, they will let you know. Very passionate place for professional wrestling. The fans are very accepting of something new and unique. If they don’t like it, they’ll let you know. I learned a lot wrestling in front of Philly fans. Everytime we come for AEW, there’s a weird energy that gets the locker room excited.”
He’s happy to wrestle there, and even more so, he’s happy to wrestle there with AEW.
“I’ve known the Young Bucks for quite a while, they are the most genuine and honest people I’ve ever met,” Cassidy said. “They allowed me to join this ride. To see where it’s at in five years, it’s unheard of. We’re only five years in. The things we’re doing, three years in we went to Wembley Stadium and had the biggest show ever. I’m fortunate and proud.
“I wasn’t on the original roster, but I was one of the original people after the first crop of guys. Chucky T and (Trent Beretta) allowed me to get in on it with them. It’s so awesome to see where we come.”
For tickets to the Nov. 4 show, visit AEW’s website.
