In the wrestling world, emotions run high and deep, allies are created, enemies are revealed, and friendships can unravel with the intensity of a championship match. Such is the captivating story of Trent Beretta and Orange Cassidy, once brothers-in-arms who now find themselves on the opposite end of a bitter feud, riddled with deep-seated resentment and destroyed loyalties.
A Tale of Friendship and Betrayal:
The journey began with the Best Friends—Trent and Chuck Taylor—forging a bond that went beyond the squared circle, from their days in the Pro Wrestling Guerilla (PWG) to Ring of Honor to their triumphant arrival in AEW. Their friendship was unbreakable until the arrival of Orange Cassidy, which added a sloth-like dynamic. Initially embraced as the nonchalant third wheel of the group, Orange’s charm and unorthodox style quickly captivated the fans, overshadowing the Best Friends’ collective ambitions.
The Catalyst: Tension and Tragedy:
Cracks in the once-solid foundation of the friends appeared when Chuck suffered a devastating ankle injury in October 2023, unaware of its severity until it threatened his wrestling career. After years of pursuing single and tag-team gold, Trent and Orange had a moment to win the “big one” by seeking the newly vacated AEW tag team championship belts, once held by Darby Allin and his mentor, the legendary Sting. However, Trent, who hadn’t held any gold during his time with AEW, winning this tournament and tag team championship belts with his “best friend” Orange meant the world to him. So it’s understandable why he took the defeat to The Young Bucks as hard as he did. Trent’s frustration boiled over at that point, years of coming up short in both pursuits of singles and tag team gold, while Orange was a two-time International champion. Losing yet again was more than he could handle. After brutally attacking Orange, multiple times, he confronted his friend, Chuck, explaining his actions against Orange while pouring out years of pent-up grievances:
“I’m sorry that we spent five years hugging this narcissistic prick,” Trent seethed with hurt in his eyes, facing Chuck. “You remember, we brought him in here, he was supposed to be our mascot? And somehow he made us his lackeys. We fought for him. We protected him. We did everything for him. And he gave us nothing. Orange Cassidy does not care about you. Orange Cassidy is not your friend. Chuck, I care about you. I’m your friend. I love you. So please, do the right thing and give the people what they want.”
Chuck’s biggest decision:
Chuck, best friends to Trent, Orange, and Kris Statlander, who joined in 2021, had to make a decision—a big one. A choice that was going to destroy the dynamics of their friendship forever. And he knew he had to be the one that made that final call, and he wasn’t in much of a rush to do it. For weeks, Chuck lingered around not giving any headways of whose side he was going to choose. However, when the opportunity to confront Trent arose, his decision to side with Orange plunged a knife through Trent’s heart. The betrayal was intense, leading to a violent parking lot brawl between the now former best friends that left Chuck permanently out of the picture and the Best Friends irreparably divided. As Trent stood proudly in his newfound power, Orange found himself alone, abandoned by those he once called family.
Kris breaks up with Orange Cassidy:
The rift in the group extended beyond Trent and Cassidy. Kris, echoed similar sentiments of Trent, regarding Orange’s perceived lack of reciprocation in their friendship—feelings that shook Orange down to his core. In a surprising turn of events, Kris took Trent’s side instead of reconciling her two friends. She punched Orange in the face in the middle of the ring, leaving the fans wanting to know why she chose Trent over Orange and why she turned her back on him:
“Why? You want to know why? 2021. My first major injury. I came back in the Arcade Anarchy match for Orange. [After] my second major injury, a month after my surgery, I flew internationally to be there for Orange when he won his first-ever title here at AEW. When he lost that title, I made sure I was there to carry his bloody and sweaty body up that ramp, with his chest and his head held high because I was so proud of the work that he did, and I wanted him to be proud of it too. But when I lost my title, when I went on a streak of losing matches when everyone was turning on me, where were you, Orange? All I ever wanted, Orange, was to be your best friend. But you, you were never mine.”
Was Orange this self-centered guy who allowed people to perceive him as someone who breezed through life without breaking a sweat when in reality, he cared a lot more about his personal achievements than he wanted to admit?
The Lonely Road Ahead:
Now that Orange has found himself walking through the treacherous streets of AEW alone, he has aligned with many familiar faces, HOOK, Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, and recently Tomohiro Ishii. Yet he is still isolated—with Chuck sidelined by a potentially career-ending injury, and two of his former friends attacking him at every whim, Orange must fend for himself in a cold world where alliances shift like sand. However, the newfound aggression in his demeanor speaks of a wrestler pushed to his limit—who went to search for redemption among the wreckage of broken friendships.
Personal Perspectives and Conclusion:
Taking this whole feud and everything that has played out into consideration, a question comes to mind: were Trent’s accusations against Orange justified, or did Orange just play the game better? Perhaps both narratives hold a certain level of truth. While Trent’s pain is real and tangible, Orange’s journey hints at deeper complexities and untapped potential. And is this new aggression a direct response to years of criticisms and being looked at as a “comedic wrestler” or is this just a new layer of an enigmatic athlete we get to bear witness to?
Reflecting on this rivalry, I find myself torn between both men. Trent’s accusations against Orange strike a chord, resonating with anyone who has felt sidelined or undervalued—his raw emotion paints a picture of a man pushed over the edge by unfulfilled dreams. On the other hand, Orange’s transformation is proof of the resilience of a man in the face of adversity—challenging our perception of him, while adding depth and layers to his character.
As their feud unfolds, I am excited to see how both men evolve and whether they will walk away with peace of mind or if further disruption awaits them.
