Everybody likes Orange Cassidy. Whether he’s leading the Best Friends to victory or defending the AEW International Championship against all challengers, Orange Cassidy has made a career out of being one of the most unenthusiastic yet undeniably talented men in the world of professional wrestling–as well as one of the most popular.
But perhaps no one likes Orange Cassidy as much as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania star Paul Rudd, the 53-year-old star who in 2001 starred in the cult comedy classic Wet Hot American Summer as Andy, a man who seems to base his personality on being too cool for everything around him, a character who clearly was based on Orange Cassidy, who first began wrestling as Orange Cassidy in 2012.
Orange Cassidy, of course, is one of the more gifted wrestlers in the business, who first started going viral even outside the wrestling world not only for his acrobatic work in the Chikara promotion, but for his nonchalant character who is too disinterested at times to attack with anything more than a slight tap, who gives half a thumbs up and rarely talks, who struggles with motivation. The character has grown and changed of course as he has soared in popularity, becoming far more than a comedy sideshow, but the antics remain a central part of the character’s charm, which Rudd clearly is jealous of.
Heck, the movie even includes the song “Jane” by Jefferson Starship, which Orange Cassidy has used as his theme music ever since All Elite Wrestling owner and booker Tony Khan was able to secure the rights.
Word, however, had not travelled to Orange Cassidy, until I myself told him this evening about Rudd.
“Are you aware that there’s an actor who based an entire character on you for the movie Wet Hot American Summer?” I asked ORange Cassidy to start our interview, showing him a photo of the Mike-from-Friends-y one.
“No.” he said with disinterested look on his face.
“His name is Paul Rudd,” I responded.
“The guy from Clueless?” Orange Cassidy responded.
“The guy from Clueless,” I confirmed.
“Why?”
I encouraged Orange Cassidy to look into it more, so we can only hope that Rudd will be making an appearance in AEW soon.
How about it, TK?
Read our full interview with Orange Cassidy below
Hey, Orange Cassidy.
Hey.
Quick thing.
Yes.
Are you aware that there’s an actor who took your entire character for movie called Wet Hot American Summer?
No, I’m not.
His name is Paul Rudd. I think you need to look into this.
The guy from Clueless?
The guy from Clueless. Took the entire thing.
I mean, why?
Can you really blame him? It’s a good look.
Yeah, I guess so. Does that work for movies?
I think certain people can pull it off. Are you a movie fan at all?
Yeah, I’m a huge movie fan when it comes to Fast and Furious movies.
What do you like about the Fast and Furious movies?
I like how they always have to race. I like when The Rock shows up. In Fast Five, and he’s constantly sweating. I like how there’s lots of action. Jason Statham. I like how there’s, like, these rockets that fly all the time. And they shoot each other with guns. And they’re still in their cars racing. So that’s always fun.
I like when they drop the cars from a plane.
Yeah, they never shy away from airplanes in those movies about cars.
What other movies do you like?
I don’t really like any other movies. That’s pretty much it. I mean, Fast Five and on. That’s what I watch.
What do you watch on YouTube?
What I really like is Vine compilation videos. You know that thing Vine that used to be that app? There were like, six second clips? So on YouTube, people make compilation videos of all the best Vines that were ever made. So I’ll watch those sometimes. And more recently, I started watching a lot of the UK version of Gladiators, American Gladiators, but it’s called UK gladiators, from the 90s.
Do they have the same gladiatorial spirit?
Yeah, kinda, There’s no Malibu. But yeah, they got some good gladiators in their like Wolf.
Yeah, no one could take a licking like Malibu. No TikTok?
I do some TikToks here and there, but really, I’m going to be honest with you, my TikToks are just me recreating Vine videos that I liked.
Why doesn’t TikTok have that same Vine magic?
They were short. Seven seconds and you’re done. If you can’t entertain me in seven seconds, then I swipe away.
If you could be anyone else for a day who would you be?
I can be anybody else for a day I guess just from what you’ve told me, I mean, I guess I’d be Paul Rudd for a day.
What would you do as Paul Rudd?
Probably dress up like me and just be me as him.
You both like ants, so you have that in common.
Oh. He’s Ant-Man. Okay, now it all make sense.
Taking all your stuff. So rude.
He’s trying his best.
What’s the quality that you value most in other people?
I like people who are…
[waits]
…patient.
[stares]
Is that I’m supposed to say?
You’re supposed to say whatever the right answer is.
Well, then my answer is I don’t care.
What’s your favorite memory?
I can’t remember.
What’s your most rewatched TV show?
I don’t have one.
Most rewatched match?
I don’t watch matches.
What’s your most rewatched moment from Fast Five?
My most rewatched part of Fast Five is probably when like, The Rock and his team are all getting shot up in the armored car and The Rock has to come out and basically, you know, be the only one left alive after he avoids rocket launchers, and he finally pops out and rips open his shirt and he’s all sweaty and he’s last one left alive and then Dominic Toretto and the family come and save him. So that’s my favorite moment.
Is that why you believe in family?
I mean, you said to say the real answer right?
Yeah.
Then, yeah, 100%.
What’s your favorite imaginary animal?
A dog.
I think those are real.
Oh. Then, pass.
How much do you sleep, Orange Cassidy?
I mean, probably too much.
That’s what do you think about to get to sleep?
Same thing I think about pretty much all day, which is nothing.
Nothing will get you fired up?
I mean, besides Fast Five? Really nothing. I don’t know. Nothing.
I’ve seen you get fired up though. I know that gear exists inside you somewhere.
I don’t know why we’re continuing this theme of Fast Five, but my friends are my family and if you hurt my friends then I get a little upset. You can do whatever you want to me but the moment you hurt my friends then I get a little upset.
Do you believe in fate?
No.
What’s your favorite word?
None.
What’s your least favorite word?
All?
Do you have a hidden talent?
No.
Pixies or Jefferson Starship?
Well, Jefferson Starship was always my first choice. And the Pixies were an idea from somebody else that I said okay to, and I ended up liking it. So I like them both, but Jefferson Starship is…it’s really close. But Jefferson Starship.
What do you cook for yourself?
Macaroni and cheese.
What do you order in the restaurant?
Macaroni and cheese.
What did your mom used to cook for you?
Peanut butter and jelly on Ritz crackers.
What fashion piece do you treasure most?
My white t-shirt.
What do you love most about wrestling?
That I can do it.
When did you first know you could do it?
I don’t know. It feels like forever ago.
Do you ever think of giving it up?
Yeah, like every day.
I think people have always underestimated you, Orange Cassidy.
I feel I estimate myself correctly. It’s the other people that underestimate me. And hey, that’s their problem.
I think you’re one of if not the most talented guy in this entire sport.
That’s very debatable. I’m not going to debate you on that, but it is very debatable.
I rewatch the Ospreay match all the time, honestly.
I should have won that one. I really should have. He’s pretty good.
Think a rematch is coming?
Man, I hope not.
How do you feel about Jeff Jarrett?
Jeff Jarrett is maybe my least favorite person on Earth right now. The reason why I’m sitting right now with my leg up on another chair is because my knee is killing me right now. You know, Jeff Jarrett’s a guy who plays a guitar and he struts like a country music guy and he took his guitar and he smashed me over the knee with it.
Disrepectful.
It’s just a pain.
What do you think about the change from AEW All-Atlantic Championship to AEW International Championship?
I don’t know if just reigning over one ocean was good enough for me. Like, why not just do them all.
Do you have a favorite ocean?
People ask me that all the time. I would have to say Atlantic just because I was king of it once.
Do you like carrying around the belt?
I keep it in my backpack.
You ever forgotten your backpack?
Honestly, never.
Is it always the same backpack?
I’ve had the same backpack my entire life.
What kind? We talking JanSport?
Yeah, it absolutely is. Leather bottom? No big deal. I’m not trying to brag out here.
That’s a beauty. Take good care of it?
Well, enough that it’s still around. And it can hold multiple championships.
Any other championships on your list?
I don’t really plan too far ahead.
If you could travel to one fictional land, where would you go?
My bed. My fictional bed.
Describe to me your fictional bed.
My fictional bed is about 15 feet that way. Then I can just lay on it whatever I wanted. My fictional bed also happens to be my real bed.
How do you think you’ve changed since you joined AEW?
I’ve got more friends than I had before. I hang around with the demon man a lot now, Danhausen. I used to not do that. I get stopped a lot at the airport now, because of my belt in my backpack, it always sets off the metal detector. So that’s kind of annoying.
Yeah, gotta get there a little earlier.
Yeah. Other than that, I’m pretty much just the same. For better or for worse. Depends on who you ask.
Is Danhausen more nice or evil in person?
Evil.
Why do you put up with them?
You know, that’s a really good question. I have no idea.
What are you going to do today?
I have to take a couple planes. I have to go to Canada to actually wrestle Jeff Jarrett for the International Championship in Winnipeg. So I got to figure out how to avoid getting hit with a guitar. So that’s going to be fun to think about.
Have you been to Canada?
I have.
Do you like Canada?
It’s cold.
What’s Canada smell like?
It smells like…cold.
Orange Cassidy, thank you very much.
Yeah, I mean, thanks.
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