Best Friends (professional wrestling)

Best Friends
Clockwise: Beretta, Taylor, Cassidy, Statlander, and Yuta
Stable
Name(s)Best Friends
Former
member(s)		Chuck Taylor
Trent Beretta
Orange Cassidy
Kris Statlander
Wheeler Yuta
DebutAugust 30, 2013
DisbandedMay 29, 2024

Best Friends were a professional wrestling tag team and stable that are best known for their time in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) from 2019 until 2024.

The members of the team were Chuck Taylor, Trent Beretta, Orange Cassidy, Kris Statlander, and Wheeler Yuta. They were sometimes managed by Danhausen. The members of the team were legitimate best friends.[1] While teaming, Taylor was the more comedic member of the team with Beretta acting as the more serious partner.

The team has also competed in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), Ring of Honor (ROH), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), and multiple independent promotions.

Career

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All Elite Wrestling

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On February 7, 2019, the Young Bucks introduced Beretta and Taylor as the newest members of the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) roster at press conference.[2] The two made their AEW in-ring debut at Double or Nothing, defeating the team of Angélico and Jack Evans.[3]

At All Out, Orange Cassidy joined the team after saving the team from a beatdown by The Dark Order.[4] On the October 30 episode of Dynamite, the three made their trios debut defeating Alex Reynolds, John Silver, and Q. T. Marshall.[5]

On the Double or Nothing pre-show, Best Friends defeated Private Party (Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen) to become the number one contenders for the AEW World Tag Team Championship.[6] On Night 1 of Fyter Fest, Best Friends challenged Kenny Omega and Adam Page for the AEW World Tag Team Championship but lost.[7]

The trio began to feud with the Inner Circle after Santana and Ortiz destroyed Taylor's mom Sue's van. On the September 16 episode of Dynamite, they defeated Santana and Ortiz in a Parking Lot Brawl.[8]

In 2021, the trio began a feud with Kip Sabian, Penelope Ford, and Miro. During the feud, Beretta ended up tearing his pectoral muscle and was out of action for months.[9] On the March 31 episode of Dynamite, Beretta returned to help Taylor and Cassidy defeat Miro and Sabian. During the match, Kris Statlander joined the team and helped take out Penelope Ford.[10]

Beretta again had to leave the group for a while because he needed to get spinal fusion surgery. While he was away, Wheeler Yuta joined the team.[11] The team joined the New Japan Pro-Wrestling stable CHAOS after being invited by Rocky Romero.[12] On the December 8 episode on Dynamite, Beretta returned from injury and helped save the team from a beatdown by The Elite.[13] At Beach Break, Cassidy defeated Adam Cole in an Unsanctioned Lights Out match. During the match, Danhausen made his AEW debut and helped distract Cole.[14] He then began to manage the team.

Beretta was not happy with the addition of Yuta to the team. On the April 8 episode of Rampage, Yuta lost a competitive match against Jon Moxley. After the match, Yuta left Best Friends to join William Regal and the Blackpool Combat Club.[15]

Statlander had to miss many months of action after she suffered a completely torn ACL and lateral meniscus in her right leg.[16]

On the October 12 episode of Dynamite, Cassidy defeated Pac to win the AEW All-Atlantic Championship. It was also Cassidy's first championship in AEW.[17]

On the April 3, 2024 episode of Dynamite, Best Friends faced the Young Bucks in a semi-final match of the AEW World Tag Team Championship tournament but lost. Best Friends went for their three-post hug after the match but Baretta ran and hit Cassidy with a knee, turning heel and leaving the group.[18]

At Double or Nothing, Cassidy defeated Beretta. Statlander also left the group after turning heel after attacking Willow Nightingale and joining Stokely Hathaway.[19]

The group was broken up shortly afterwards.

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ↑ "Orange Cassidy Says The Best Friends Are Legitimately Best Friends". 411Mania. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Kenny Omega joins AEW and lots of other announcements". POSTWrestling. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  3. ↑ "AEW Double Or Nothing results: Powell's live review of Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho, The Young Bucks vs. Pentagon Jr. and Fenix for the AAA Tag Titles, Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes, Britt Baker vs. Nyla Rose vs. Kylie Rae". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  4. ↑ "AEW All Out results: Powell's live review of Chris Jericho vs. Hangman Page to become the first AEW Champion, Pentagon Jr. and Fenix vs. The Young Bucks in a ladder match for the AAA Tag Titles, Cody vs. Shawn Spears, Kenny Omega vs. Pac". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  5. ↑ "10/30/2019 AEW Dynamite Results: The First Ever AEW World Tag Team Champions Are Crowned". Fightful. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  6. ↑ "AEW Double Or Nothing results: Powell's live review of Cody vs. Lance Archer to become the first TNT Champion (Mike Tyson presents the belt), Jon Moxley vs. Brodie Lee for the AEW Championship, The Elite vs. The Inner Circle in a Stadium Stampede match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  7. ↑ "7/1 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Fyter Fest night one with Cody vs. Jake Hager for the TNT Championship, Kenny Omega and Hangman Page vs. Best Friends for the AEW Tag Titles, Hikaru Shida vs. Penelope Ford for the AEW Women's Championship, Private Party vs. Santana and Ortiz". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  8. ↑ "AEW Dynamite 9/16/20 Results: NWA World Women's Title Match, A Parking Lot Brawl & More!". Fightful. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Note On Pec Injury to Trent That Will Keep Him Out For Months". 411Mania. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  10. ↑ "AEW Dynamite 3/31/21 Results: Christian Cage vs. Kazarian, Plus Omega, Moxley, and more in action". Fightful. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Trent Beretta Reveals Original Plans For Wheeler Yuta And Best Friends". Fightful. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  12. ↑ "AEW Dynamite live results: Omega-Hangman contract signing". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  13. ↑ "AEW Dynamite Results For 12/8/21 The Young Bucks vs. Orange Cassidy and Rocky Romero and much more". Fightful. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  14. ↑ "1/26 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of the Beach Break themed episode with Cody Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara in a ladder match for the TNT Title, Adam Cole vs. Orange Cassidy in a Lights Out match, Chris Jericho, Santana, and Ortiz vs. Daniel Garcia and 2point0, Red Velvet vs. Leyla Hirsch". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  15. ↑ "AEW Rampage Results (4/8/22): Jon Moxley & Bryan Danielson In-Action + More!". Fightful. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Kris Statlander Confirms Extent Of Knee Injury, Set To Undergo Surgery". Fightful. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  17. ↑ "AEW Dynamite Results (10/12/22): ROH World Title Match, All-Atlantic Title Match, Jon Moxley Speaks". Fightful. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  18. ↑ "AEW Dynamite Results (4/3): Amin's alt-perspective report on Joe-Swerve contract signing, Ospreay vs. Powerhouse, Trent turns on Cassidy, Billy Gunn destroys Jay White". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  19. ↑ "AEW Double Or Nothing results: Powell's live review of Swerve Strickland vs. Christian Cage for the AEW World Championship, Willow Nightingale vs. Mercedes Mone for the TBS Title, Anarchy in the Arena". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  20. ↑ "AEW All-Atlantic Championship History". All Elite Wrestling. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  21. ↑ "AEW TBS Championship History". All Elite Wrestling. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  22. ↑ "AEW Dynamite (3/1) Results: Face Of The Revolution Ladder Match, Two Title Matches, MJF, And More". Fightful. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  23. ↑ "AEW Dynamite Awards Results: Winners, Reaction and Highlights". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Show results - 1/31 PWG DDT4 tournament: One-night tournament features Cole, Steen, Elgin, Trent, more, plus Chris Hero in #1 contender match (w/Roe's in-person tweets)". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  25. ↑ "2020 Achievement Awards". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Kappa Publishing Group. April 2021.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "10月7日（現地時間）フロリダ州ジャクソンビル・デイリーズプレイス駐車場 ▼アイアンマンヘビーメタル級＆パキスタンREW両選手権試合 ＜二冠王者＞●ディーン・マレンコ vs オレンジ・キャシディー○＜挑戦者＞ 17時7分 体固め ※キャシディーが第1493代アイアンマン＆REW新王者となる。 #ddtpro". DDT Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  27. ↑ "March 1, 2021, Wrestling Observer Newsletter 2020 awards issue, Elimination Chamber". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  28. ↑ "4/1 ROH Supercard of Honor results: Powell's live review of Bandido vs. Jonathan Gresham for the undisputed ROH Championship, The Briscoes vs. FTR for the ROH Tag Titles, Rhett Titus vs. Minoru Suzuki for the ROH TV Title, Josh Woods vs. Wheeler Yuta for the ROH Pure Rules Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 2, 2025.