Orange Cassidy will face Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship in the main event of Full Gear on Saturday at the Prudential Center (8 p.m. Triller). Before the big game, he took time for a Q&A with the Post's Joseph Staszewski.
(Edited for clarity and length)
Q: The character Orange Cassidy was originally reluctant to jump into a feud with Jon Moxley and put the spotlight on himself. But for you, being in the world title picture and being the top babyface to lead this big story is the opportunity you've been waiting for?
A: No, that wasn't my goal. It was never something I wanted to do. I enjoyed my role in AEW. The match was fun. I really enjoyed the spots I went to. I was very happy with it. But like all of us, I think if you want to be a little complacent or do the same things, you need to change a little. I don't really plan or plan ahead. I usually just take what comes to me. Two years ago I never thought I would be an international champion or an All-Atlantic champion, but it suddenly came to me and I just have to take the punches and now I'm taking a lot of punches.
Q: Why did you feel it had to be you to step up and earn this position now?
A: Probably because I'm the only one available. There are a lot of people who are injured and dealing with other things. As someone who was almost born in AEW, I think that's important to me, right? There are a lot of other people coming into AEW, but they're coming from other major promotions, right? That never happened. That never happened.
AEW is where I got my start and where I got to where I am today. So I think for guys who have been there from the beginning and cut their teeth in AEW to get this opportunity is pretty special. So I'm very proud of that. I think it's extremely important that people like me continue to be placed in such positions.
Q: What does being AEW Champion mean to you? Also, if there are other responsibilities that come with it, is that a role you would accept?
A: That's a lot of pressure. It's such a big responsibility that I don't really care, but I understand what a championship is in the world of professional wrestling and what it means to be the AEW World Champion. What I'm saying with 100 percent honesty is that pro wrestling is like a symbol of what great pro wrestling is, and to win a championship and wave that flag, that's very important to me. I think it's a serious matter.
Q: What do you think about the growth of your character over five years, allowing you to share this special place with the audience?
A: I think it's because they're literally the reason I'm in this position. I think they are taking ownership of Orange Cassidy. I think they have ownership over me because they have been with me from the beginning. They do a great job educating other fans about me. I believe that my fans are directly involved in my growth and feel that they are directly on this journey with me. I also think it's important for them to experience how I evolve and grow in and out of the ring. ”
Q: A dark version of the character has been introduced this summer. Why is it time to move things in that direction?
A: I felt that way too. It just felt right where I was, where I was, right where we were talking. I wouldn't be in AEW without them when I first started with AEW and Best Friends. They made me tag along and watch it fall apart before my eyes. I did it all with Trent. [Beretta] And it took me to places I didn't want to go, and then when I look at my best friend (Chuck Taylor), who I actually lived with and spent my entire wrestling career with, I mean, his My career is almost over (due to injury). I don't express my emotions very often, so I guess I express them in a different way.
Q: You expressed them in the promo where you called out Moxley for the first time. It was one of the most emotional and more intense things you've done in AEW. I don't want to say it was refreshing, but was it interesting to go to that place?
A: I don't express my emotions much. And when we do that, we feel like it needs to be very impactful and very special. Maybe I'm too focused on it and overthink things. There's a reason I don't talk about it. I don't really like doing it, I want to make sure it's very, very special and very, very important. It's a fresh challenge because it involves people closely. But I don't always try to do that.
Q: Why is it imperative to defeat Mox and end this reign of terror immediately?
A: Because I'm worried that the longer this situation goes on, the more influence he will have on other people. We can literally see what his ideas will do to change the future and change AEW for the better. Many more people you care about will be hurt, and their careers will likely be over.
I can't believe people forget that he put a plastic bag over Bryan Danielson's head. This is the type of thing we're talking about. I care a lot about AEW and I care about the future, and the future is full of young, talented wrestlers, but they're very young, talented, impressive wrestlers. He wants AEW to be better, but the way he wants it doesn't mean we have to sacrifice what's ours, and it's important that it stop now. think.
–This will be your third singles match with him. Does his style and level of violence bring out a different side of you when you're in the ring?
A: Jon Moxley is one of the guys I hate in pro wrestling. Because I don't understand his style. I take great pride in knowing the different types of professional wrestling. I take pride in my training and different types of wrestling. Jon Moxley does none of that. You can't look at the tape and be like, “Oh, he does this, he does that, he does that.'' He never does the same thing twice. I try not to do the same thing, and try to stay ahead of others by using a different style. He's a master at it.
The remaining two games with him, my body, my mental state will never be the same. He brings something out of me. We were at Wembley Stadium for the first game of All In and also attended the big game of Stadium Stampede. Before I knew it, I had wrapped my hands in tape and had broken glass wrapped around them.
Q: You've also taken on a bit of a behind-the-scenes role. What was it like playing that role?
A: If someone wants to come to me and ask for help, I'm going to do that, because I'm always just sitting around doing nothing. I'm going to do whatever I can to help because I care so much about AEW and I care about the future of AEW.
Q: Moxley talked about the “Hard Reset” and how things will be done in AEW. As we go into this new TV deal, do we feel like it's time to look at what we're good at and what we're cleaning up?
A: We all can always make adjustments and improvements in whatever we do in life for a better life and a better workplace. Am I qualified to say what it is or what it is? I don't think so, but anything I can do to point us in the right direction, anything I can do as an example of what we should do, is the right thing for me to do.
Q: Do you have any thoughts on whether this is something we need to consider?
A: Yeah, probably when I'm doing an interview and some guys run up behind me and hit me. Let's take a look at it. After my match is over, I can see guys running from the audience to the ring and punching me on the back. You can see all that stuff. That's great.
Q: How did Conglomeration, which feels like a somewhat random collection of members, come together?
A: We were literally a group of people who had all experienced loss, heartbreak, whatever it was. And when something like that happens, we tend to close our minds and retreat into our own little shells. But we all found each other doing it. Start talking to Kyle O'Reilly, Mark Brisco, Willow Nightingale, and Ishii. They were all people trying to find something and find our people again. Somehow everyone came together. They are truly incredibly talented people and conglomerates are not going anywhere.
Q: How do you all stay calm when Mark Brisco starts promoting?
A: The reason I wear sunglasses is so I can close my eyes or not listen when Mark is talking.
Q: You have no idea what's coming from you guys?
A: Neither do we. It's so wonderful.
