Why AEW’s New Signing Is Controversial (But WILL Get Over)

Hobbs And Shaw Dwayne Johnson
Universal

It is incredibly niche. But so was Pro Wresting Guerrilla, with its invisible grenade-throwing antics in its total dive of a location, and NXT would be unrecognisable without it.

There’s a certain hypocrisy to the furore, too.

While prevalent, what follows is the worst possible construct for a take, because it broadly assumes a group of people is a hive mind. It applies here nonetheless:

[Wrestling fans]

“Man, wrestling is so boring now. It was so much better when it was full of unusual, larger-than-life characters."

[AEW]

*Hires several unusual, larger-than-life characters*

[Wrestling fans]

“There are too many gimmicks in AEW!”

The mentality that will drive Cassidy’s success in—and not ruin—AEW extends well beyond professional wrestling.

‘Hobbs & Shaw’ is the biggest blockbuster of the summer, and it is f*cking ridiculous. Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham do sh*t in that movie that Arnold Schwarzenegger would never have done in his era of action movies. The stunts and the set-pieces would have looked too ridiculous.

Back then.

Now, filmmakers toy with conventions affectionately, removing any semblance of logic to mock and maximise the essence of the action movie. It’s almost parody, but it’s selling more than what is being parodied ever did. Clearly, hilarious, dumb action totally unmoored to reality sells, provided enough star-power carries it.

And Orange Cassidy is a star.

CONT'D...(3 of 5)

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!