Tony Khan justifies 40-year-old AEW star's fast-tracked push
Tony Khan recently discussed the career trajectories of a couple of beloved home-grown AEW stars. One of the talents concerned, Orange Cassidy, challenged for the promotion's world championship earlier this month.
All Elite Wrestling is currently home to a stacked and diverse roster of stars, many of whom have been with the company since its inception and have gained the admiration and support of its fanbase over the years.
During his recent interview with the CHGO Sports podcast, Tony Khan discussed two names AEW has consistently promoted and featured on television—Hangman Page and Orange Cassidy.
“I think it’s really awesome and really cool that some of the biggest acts and some of the biggest stars in AEW are people that the crowd got behind, and they’re homegrown stars. Hangman Page had been a star around the world internationally but had never been on American TV consistently, and to have Hangman Page become this great champion and star, the fans really got behind Hangman, the fans drove Hangman to the title."
TK cited their appeal among audiences and especially the 40-year-old's popularity on the promotion's digital media channels.
"Orange Cassidy is a digital superstar for us. If you look at the top ten YouTube videos, seven out of the top ten have Orange Cassidy in them,” Khan said. [H/T eWreslingNews]
Page's journey to winning the AEW World Championship from Kenny Omega in 2021 has been viewed as one of the promotion's most acclaimed storylines so far. The Cowboy is seemingly intent on regaining the championship, which its current holder, Jon Moxley, successfully defended against Orange Cassidy in a brutal singles contest at Full Gear 2024.
The Freshly Squeezed star challenged The Purveyor of Violence after Moxley and The Death Riders ambushed his long-time friend Chuck Taylor, who became a casualty of the group's ongoing "war" against All Elite Wrestling.
AEW's Orange Cassidy on the origin of a popular aspect of his gimmick
Despite criticisms regarding the legitimacy of his unique on-screen persona, Orange Cassidy continues to entertain AEW viewers with his in-ring prowess and his ever-developing character work.
The former International Champion revealed in a recent interview with Sportskeeda's Bill Apter how he came up with his iconic hands-in-pockets taunt during an independent match in Beyond Wrestling.
"I was in a match on the indies in Beyond Wrestling, and somebody was like mocking me, and kinda like trying to get in my head or whatever you know. Basically saying I can't wrestle, whatever it is. So I said okay, I can beat you with my hands in my pockets. And I put my hands in my pocket and I did it," he said.
After his major loss at Full Gear, it remains to be seen what lies next for Orange Cassidy in All Elite Wrestling.