5 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (3 Aug)

4. Jay Lethal Breaks Orange Cassidy Down

It is perhaps a shame that Orange Cassidy's recent 'Jane'-infused heat-up was for little more than to lose to Wardlow and set Jay Lethal up as the TNT Champion's next contender, but last night's match was another strong one in a growing line.

Add Lethal's name alongside those of Wardlow, Tony Nese, and Ethan Page on the list of guys 'Freshly Squeezed' has crushed it with recently. Quietly, Cassidy has become AEW's most reliable TV banger merchant. That he keeps finding ways to transplant his taunt-heavy character into his matches without violating accepted pro wrestling psychology is as admirable as it is impressive.

Cassidy's matches are typically about whether or not his opponents will fall into his traps, be it by taunting them with soft kicks and pockets or by being a tremendous counter wrestler. Here, Jay was suckered in immediately. Visibly wound up by Cassidy, he played Orange's games for long periods, but got nasty after trapping his opponent's ankle between the steps and ring post. The bout's new story was established thereafter. Cassidy still countered his way into opportunities but could never take advantage, even falling while attempting an Orange Punch, such was the damage. Lethal, meanwhile, had a clear weakness to pick apart and after taking advantage throughout, he put Orange away via Lethal Combination. Good in-ring storytelling from both.

Trent Beretta climbing on Chuck Taylor's shoulders and donning a giant coat to thwart Satnam Singh's threat was an early-match hoot. So too was Wardlow's entrance pop after Lethal and Sonjay Dutt called the TNT Champion out after the bell, setting them up for Battle of the Belts III.