WWE's Latest Brilliant Move, an AEW OG Has Slowly Caught Fire, More Quick Takes

WWE's international expansion of pay-per-views under Triple H has been a major boost to the product and has made each one more must-see than the last.

The significance of world-renowned recording artist Bad Bunny hosting Backlash in Puerto Rico on May 6 can't be overstated. It comes at a perfect time with the months following WrestleMania often being the most inconsequential, so this should be the show that snaps the streak.

Elsewhere in WWE, the announcement of Rey Mysterio's inclusion among the 2023 Hall of Fame inductees on Friday's SmackDown has raised eyebrows.

Ric Flair was the only other star to have been enshrined in the hallowed halls while still active on the roster, and he had his (first) retirement match the next night. That has led fans to question whether The Master of the 619's decorated career could be coming to an end sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, in the wake of a critically acclaimed Revolution pay-per-view, Orange Cassidy has amazingly emerged as All Elite Wrestling's hottest star. This is in spite of him holding the company's least necessary title in the All-Atlantic Championship and not being involved in a significant storyline in many months.

Freshly Squeezed has always been a popular performer, but the hot streak he finds himself on at the moment has put him in a league of his own. His recurring role on AEW TV has had a lot to do with that and should serve as an example as to how effective consistent booking can be.

This installment of Quick Takes will discuss Cassidy's stock surging, rumors of a Mysterio retirement, the crowning of a new AEW TNT champion, and more.

Bad Bunny a Big Get for WWE as Host of Backlash in Puerto Rico

For the first time in nearly two decades, WWE will be taking a PPV to Puerto Rico this May for the 2023 installment of Backlash, hosted by award-winning WrestleMania alum Bad Bunny.

This continues the company's trend of holding events internationally. From Clash at the Castle in Cardiff, Wales to Elimination Chamber in Montréal, every one has delivered, and Backlash should be no exception.

Bad Bunny has become even more of a household name since his last on-screen appearance for WWE at the Royal Rumble in 2022, and his presence alone will make Backlash extra special.

Getting him in the ring for another bout would take the event to another level and give it a marquee match as its main event, specifically if it sees him team up with Rey Mysterio against The Judgment Day's Dominik Mysterio and Puerto Rico's own Damian Priest.

King and Queen of the Ring in Saudi Arabia will follow soon after along with Money in the Bank in London, so WWE has set the stage for what should be an exceptionally exciting post-WrestleMania season.

No Rush for Rey Mysterio Retirement Despite Hall of Fame Induction

Rey Mysterio is undoubtedly deserving of being honored at the WWE Hall of Fame this year, but the timing of the induction raises questions regarding whether his swan song is on the horizon.

After all, WrestleMania 39 will mark one of the most important matches in his career when he goes one-on-one with Dominik Mysterio. The two have had a heated feud dating back to September, with the story being built around Rey refusing to fight his son.

The 48-year-old has talked extensively in recent years about wanting to doing everything in his power to elevate Dominik before he calls it a career. Putting him over on The Grandest Stage of Them All would be the ultimate endorsement.

However, Rey has so much more left to offer in the ring beyond this program and there are plenty of opponents left for him to work with. Other than the announcement of the induction, there has been no indication he plans on hanging up his boots any time soon.

Putting him in the Hall of Fame while WrestleMania weekend emanates from his home state of California is a logical choice, but it'll likely have no bearing on his immediate in-ring future.

AEW TNT Championship Picture Takes One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

The game of hot potato AEW has played with the TNT Championship since Full Gear in November has made each title change progressively less interesting.

Powerhouse Hobbs becoming champ on Wednesday's Dynamite was long overdue, though it was only three days earlier that Wardlow won it back from Samoa Joe. It appeared Wardaddy was on the verge of being built back up coming out of Revolution only for his reign to be cut short.

Samoa Joe and Darby Allin successfully restored prestige to the title with their stellar series of matches earlier this year, but the follow-up has left a lot to be desired.

Hobbs' booking going forward will be what determines whether his reign is remembered or not, and he deserves the chance to really rise to the occasion on his own merit.

Furthermore, Hobbs needing assistance from QT Marshall to beat Wardlow does him no favors. The idea was to protect Wardlow in defeat, but it instead made for a flat finish to the show.

Hobbs has proved in the past he is more than capable of cutting his own promos. Marshall plays his role well but hasn't been relevant in ages, so Hobbs barely benefits from being paired up with him.

Johnny Gargano Must Be Reestablished as Serious Singles Star

Johnny Gargano came back to WWE to some fanfare last August only to quickly fade into the background of the Raw roster due to a lack of direction.

His feud with Austin Theory got him off to a solid start, but his involvement in the Dexter Lumis-The Miz storyline seemed to kill anything he had going for himself along with an injury suffered late last year.

The 35-year-old returned to the ring at the Royal Rumble, but other than a good showing in the United States Championship Elimination Chamber match, he has yet to find his footing.

For a star as talented as he is between the ropes, Gargano's main roster run so far can't be considered anything but a disappointment. That isn't to say he can't bounce back, but the next few months must be spent reestablishing him as a serious singles star, starting with his latest stint on NXT.

It shouldn't be an extended stay seeing as how Gargano previously competed on the brand for over six years, but rekindling his rivalry with Grayson Waller provides him with a great opportunity to show what made him one of the world's premier performers at one point.

AEW Has Finally Found a Formula That Works for Orange Cassidy

Orange Cassidy has been pretty polarizing from the moment he stepped foot in AEW, and that will never change. His unorthodox character won't be for everyone, but it is important to recognize just how over with the audience he is these days.

His reign as AEW All-Atlantic (soon-to-be International) champion has yielded some excellent matches over the last several months. His long list of challengers has included everyone from Jay Lethal and Katsuyori Shibata to Wheeler Yuta and Rush.

Previously, he would wrestle for championships and never win when it mattered most. His popularity didn't falter, but it did affect the audience's ability to take him seriously in high-profile situations.

That has changed completely since the start of his reign as All-Atlantic champion. He's consistently wrestling in the opener of Dynamite, and by excelling against a wide variety of opponents, he's become the best version of himself we've seen.

That doesn't necessarily mean he should be setting his sights on the AEW World Championship next, but the company has finally found the right role for him at a time when its commitment to its homegrown stars has never been clearer.

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Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.