50 Best Wrestlers Of The 2020s (So Far)
18. Orange Cassidy
Like other AEW originals on this list, Orange Cassidy has become one of the most unique and beloved figures in professional wrestling during the 2020s primarily for serving to remind audiences why the challenger brand is so important.
With his laid-back persona and unorthodox in-ring style, 'Freshly Squeezed' has served as a conscience and cornerstone of All Elite Wrestling - tags once assigned to The Undertaker at the peak of his powers in WWE. From 'Deadman' to deadpan, their drawn-in demeanours link them, as does the importance of suspension of disbelief in an era where most of the other old methods are done. Cassidy’s best matches blend comedy, surprising athleticism, and genuine emotion from a character that just exists on the fringes of reality. What seems like laziness at first quickly turns into Cassidy unleashing sharp counters and explosive offence, catching opponents and audiences alike off guard.
His character broke the mould of wrestling archetypes and inspired a wave of performers to embrace individuality and humour, as encouraged by AEW as a promotion. That it embraced him and others like him did as much for brand identity as a hundred cookie cutter matches. He’s proven that you don’t need to be loud and ostentatious to be unforgettable, and that despite what Justin Credible espoused in the late 1990s, it actually scans as pretty awesome when you can be the coolest and the best.