Ospreay vs Cassidy: With injuries and politics forcing audibles and scheduling changes up and down the card, the Forbidden Door pay-per-view was snake-bitten. It was a true testament to AEW and a nuclear-hot Chicago audience that the event delivered on such a high level. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Zack Sabre Jr. was a clinic; therefore, I couldn’t decide which match to write about this week.
The massive AEW debut of the pro wrestler previously known as WWE superstar Cesaro garnered a monster pop and contrasted Castagnoli’s superhuman power against Sabre’s spinning dervish limbs. However, I expected Castagnoli to be the surprise, and I expected the match to be spectacular; it was, but Orange Cassidy vs. Will Ospreay blew my expectations out of the water.Â
I wasn’t persuaded Cassidy’s act would work on a larger scale when he was signed as part of AEW’s first class. His battles on the independents often required his opponent to play along, so the whole encounter was a massive wink about how ridiculous pro wrestling is. Nothing is worse than terrible improv humor in post-modern sarcastic pro wrestling, yet wrestling comedy seldom even approaches the level of a novice UCB class. However, AEW has cleverly adjusted Cassidy’s demeanor 10 degrees to the left. Instead of seeing wrestling as a joke, Cassidy employs hands in the pockets and gentle kicks to tease and distract his opponent.
I had low expectations for Will Ospreay before this match. He seemed to be the avatar for video game wrestling, in which a bout consisted of a series of decisive moves, one after the other, with minimal connective tissue. The flip was fantastic, but the kick to the gut was terrible. However, since becoming a heavyweight, Ospreay has gained a lot of muscle, began delivering mustard on his shots, and slowed things down just a little to allow the stunning maneuvers to marinate.
Even though I had changed my mind about both players before this fight, I didn’t expect they could provide this—a roller coaster of a battle that combined significant, memorable moments with a well-paced and dramatic tale.
Cassidy began the bout with his hands in his pockets, yet he could still outmaneuver and escape the hyper-athletic Ospreay. Ospreay is a jock bully at heart, and having the casual hipster out-flash him while not caring drove him insane. After hitting Cassidy with a running dropkick on the floor, Ospreay gained control, aided by his United Empire henchman, Aussie Open. Ospreay then pummels Cassidy systematically and savagely with a nasty spinning backbreaker, hard kicks, and powerful Irish whips while gloating and mocking the audience. By slowing down the game, Ospreay, the speedy, athletic wonder, grabbed control.
Cassidy stood up and stubbornly placed his hands back into his pockets after Ospreay’s severe Kawada kicks to the forehead, dropping Ospreay with a no-hands dropkick, kipping up and hitting soft, leisurely, taunting Kawada kicks of his own. Ospreay became agitated and elbowed Cassidy; Cassidy retaliated with a full-force superkick and several full-force Kawada kicks. Cassidy wrestles like a pitcher with a tremendous off-speed game, lulling you with the changeup and then blistering you with the fastball.
Both players’ early mind games laid the groundwork for a chaotic conclusion. Cassidy broke up a top-rope suplex by crushing Ospreay’s head directly into the ring post camera, then earned several incredibly close near falls with a diving DDT and flip stunner. The superb camera position enabled us to witness Ospreay’s head crash and destroy the camera, which was a pleasant surprise for those watching at home. Cassidy landed a Beach Break for a 2.9-count near-fall, then avoided the initial Hidden Blade and nailed a rana reversal out of the Storm Breaker for another 2.9-count near-fall before being crushed with the Hidden Blade and a Storm Breaker for the victory.
They then had a happy moment when Katsuyori Shibata appeared in the ring to save Cassidy and Roppongi Vice from a post-match United Empire beating. Shibata had been essentially retired since sustaining a subdural hematoma during a bout. He’s had a few exhibitions afterward, but I believe this was more of a chance to perform in front of a crowd than a preview of a future battle. Cassidy had been absent for a long owing to injury and had been spinning his wheels even before the injury. This was the type of performance that put the whole locker room on notice; With so many wrestlers out due to injury, there are chances to be had, and Cassidy was out to show he is unstoppable. Ospreay is already a major celebrity in Japan, and he demonstrated his abilities to a new American audience.
It’s unknown where the connection between New Japan Pro Wrestling and AEW will go from here, but this event set up more business between Cassidy and Ospreay. Whether that occurs in New Japan or AEW, I’m anxious to see it return. Nothing beats a work of art surprising you as a fan, and this was a terrific match on a beautiful program out of nowhere. It’s an absolute delight.
Read More – First Ring of Honor Merchandise Under Tony Khan Released
