Orange Cassidy has made a career out of doing things in the wrestling ring that most people wouldn’t even attempt — including fighting opponents with his hands stuffed inside his pockets. But it turns out there’s actually a reason behind one of AEW’s most recognizable wrestling moves, and it’s not just about getting a reaction from the crowd.
During a recent interview on Going Ringside, Cassidy was asked about his unusual wrestling style and how he manages to keep his balance while performing moves without using his hands. Host Scott Johnson wanted to know whether keeping his hands in his pockets creates legitimate difficulties during matches. Cassidy admitted that it’s nowhere near as easy as he makes it look. In fact, he challenged people to try doing everyday activities with their hands stuck in their pockets to understand how difficult it can be.
“Oh, yeah, for sure. I mean, think about like try doing stuff with your hands in your pockets. It’s not, it’s not easy.”
But Cassidy wasn’t finished explaining himself. He revealed that the whole thing is actually part of his strategy inside the ring. By keeping his hands in his pockets, he wants opponents to believe they’ve got an easy opportunity to take advantage of him. That’s when he catches them off guard.
“Uh, that’s why I don’t keep them in the entire time. I just do, I just, I just use the, I put my hands in my pockets to kind of disarm the person I’m fighting so that they think they can get the advantage of me. But then, uh, it’s when I take them out of my pockets and I punch them in the face.”
So there you have it. What looks like Cassidy being too lazy to fight is actually his way of getting opponents to lower their guard before he starts throwing punches. It’s a signature part of Cassidy’s character that has followed him throughout his AEW career. Whether he’s standing across from someone twice his size or going toe-to-toe with another top star, the hands-in-pockets routine has become one of the things that separates him from everyone else on the roster.
And while plenty of wrestlers have questioned his unusual approach over the years, Cassidy clearly sees it as more than just a comedy routine. In his mind, there’s a tactical advantage to making someone think he isn’t taking the fight seriously.
Do you think Orange Cassidy’s hands-in-pockets wrestling style is a clever way to throw off opponents, or do you think it’s something that only works because of his unique character? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
