Best Friends
Chuck Taylor, Trent Beretta, and Orange Cassidy.
Best Friends were an American professional wrestling stable in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), originally formed as a tag team by Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta. First teaming on August 31, 2013, at Pro Wrestling Guerilla (PWG), they did not win their debut match, as The Young Bucks won that three-way tag team match. In AEW starting in 2019, they regularly appeared alongside Orange Cassidy. The group expanded in 2021 to include Kris Statlander and Wheeler Yuta, though Yuta departed in 2022. Serving as the AEW branch of the NJPW faction Chaos, the original duo was often viewed as a comedy team where Beretta played the straight man to Taylor's eccentricity.
- Debut Era
- 2013
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The group's history began in PWG on August 31, 2013, where they lost a three-way tag team match to The Young Bucks. They did not win the 2014 Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament; that honor went to The Young Bucks. In ROH, they faced The Young Bucks and Adam Page on May 14, 2017, but Rocky Romero was not involved in that match. Their NJPW run included participation in the 2017 World Tag League as part of Chaos, where they earned points in the tournament. Tension rose when Chuckie attacked opponents with steel chairs, a storyline that concluded prior to their AEW signing in May 2019.
In Their Own Story
At an AEW rally on February 7, 2019, Best Friends joined the promotion but lost to The Dark Order at All Out. Orange Cassidy saved them from a post-match attack, aligning with the duo. On October 30, 2019, they made their trios debut against Alex Reynolds, John Silver, and Q.T. Marshall. By June 10, 2020, after a beatdown by The Inner Circle involving Chris Jericho hitting Cassidy with a bag of blood oranges, the group sought revenge. On June 17, Guevara tripped over cameraman Orange Cassidy's hand, allowing Trent to win. They lost their tag title shot at Fyter Fest night 1. Later, Chuck was forced to serve Miro as Charles Taylor after losing a match on January 13, 2021, until Cassidy crashed Sabian and Ford's wedding at Beach Break. In May 2021, Wheeler Yuta joined the group secretly while Trent recovered from spinal fusion surgery. By December 17, CHAOS (Chuck, Trent, Orange, and Rocky) defeated Bobby Fish and the Superkliq in an 8-man tag match.
Reader's Guide
To understand Best Friends' narrative arc, track their evolution from a PWG comedy act to AEW's Chaos branch. Key turning points include Cassidy joining in late 2019, the addition of Statlander and Yuta in 2021, and the internal friction leading to Yuta's departure. On March 30 and April 8, 2022, Yuta lost to the Blackpool Combat Club (BCC), culminating in him accepting a handshake from William Regal and painting 'BCC' on his chest with blood, signifying his exit. The group also saw Rocky Romero rejoin them on May 24, 2021, after saving him from a beatdown. Danhausen emerged as a regular ally assisting Cassidy against Adam Cole at Beach Break. Fans should note the specific dates of Yuta's departure matches and the role of external allies like Danhausen in their feuds with The Elite.
Did You Know?
- Chuck Taylor was forced to wear a tuxedo after losing a match to Miro on January 13, 2021.
- Wheeler Yuta officially left Best Friends in April 2022 to join the Blackpool Combat Club.
- The group's AEW debut was on May 25, 2019.
- Kris Statlander was introduced as a new friend on March 31, 2021, taking out Penelope Ford to help secure a victory for Chuck and Orange.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who comprises the Best Friends faction?
The group was founded by tag team partners Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta, who later allied with Orange Cassidy in AEW. Their roster expanded to include Kris Statlander and Wheeler Yuta before Yuta eventually left the stable.
When did Best Friends first start wrestling together?
They made their debut match on August 31, 2013, at a Pro Wrestling Guerrilla event where they faced The Young Bucks. This partnership began in the independent circuit before moving to All Elite Wrestling in 2019.
What was Best Friends's connection to NJPW?
During their run, the stable served as the AEW branch of the New Japan Pro-Wrestling faction known as Chaos. This alliance highlighted their international presence while maintaining a distinct American identity within the promotion.
How was Best Friends characterized in the ring?
The original duo was frequently viewed as a comedy team that blended humor with genuine athletic competition. Their style often involved high-energy tag matches and playful interactions with their allies like Orange Cassidy.
Did Best Friends break up or change members over time?
Wheeler Yuta departed the group in 2022, marking a shift in the faction's lineup during that period. Despite these changes, Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta continued to perform together as their core tag team unit.
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