A gifted and underrated in-ring competitor, Orange Cassidy's style makes him one of the most polarizing stars in professional wrestling. But, ts that why AEW signed him to a contract?
Cassidy noted in an interview with Brett Thompson of ESPN, that he started wrestling about 15 years ago. Like most skinny kids who don't get noticed, his career was more about the love of wrestling than the money he was making. That is, until he switched his style and got noticed.
"If I have to wrestle, I'll wrestle," Cassidy said. But, he often doesn't. In fact, his character has become extremely popular because he's about as gifted, but lazy a wrestler as there is in the business. He described the mentality of his character as someone who's constantly thinking, "It's like one of those things, you have a job, you're good at it, but you know, do you really wanna?"
When he's motivated, which isn't all that often, Cassidy is talented. That talent has put him in a program with AEW's top star, Chris Jericho. And, from an AEW perspective, there's likely a lot more ahead for Cassidy's character, which a huge contingent of AEW fans have fallen in love with. Executive Vice President Cody Rhodes has praised what the company thinks they have in the performer and wanting to slow-play his rise.
But, there are detractors. Not every fan loves the fact that Cassidy throws useless punches and kicks and his opponents just let him get away with it. While entertaining, it's not very practical.
The Guys That Count Care
Fortunately, for Cassidy, the people in AEW who matter and make the decisions love his stuff. Beyond Cody, Cassidy said he believes AEW Executive Vice Presidents The Young Bucks wanted to sign him because of what he represents to the industry.
"The Young Bucks were the people that were like, 'We need to get Orange here,'" Cassidy revealed. "Because my character is a giant middle finger to professional wrestling, so they were like, 'Of course, let's get him in.'"