AEW star Orange Cassidy, who made his triumphant return to the ring on the September 24 episode of Dynamite, recently opened up about the difficulty of being on the sidelines for over six months. The former AEW International Champion was out of action with a torn pectoral muscle, an injury that required surgery and marked the longest period of inactivity in his 20-year career. The popular and beloved star, known for his unique, laid-back persona, admitted that watching the company continue to hit major milestones without him was a challenging experience. His comments provide a rare glimpse into the mindset of a performer who is deeply connected to his work and his place in the company.
Speaking with the New York Post, “Freshly Squeezed” discussed what he learned during his time away from the ring and the frustration he felt missing major shows.
“You learn a lot about yourself and your body when you get hurt. I’ve been hurt quite a lot. This is the longest I’ve ever been out of wrestling in over 20 years. It was hard to watch the show while being away from it. I wasn’t there for the All In show in Texas. I wasn’t there for Australia. I wasn’t there for a lot of these big milestones and I was part of all the other ones. So, it made me feel like I needed to get back as soon as possible because, how dare they do those things without me? I need to be there.”
Since his return, Cassidy has immediately been thrust back into the spotlight. On last night’s AEW Dynamite Sixth Anniversary show, he unsuccessfully challenged Kyle Fletcher for the TNT Championship after interference from Hologram’s doppelgänger, El Clon.