Here’s Some Wrestlers Hitting Some Other Wrestlers With A NES

In the high‑stakes world of cage wrestling, every competitor faces a single, unforgiving rule: you can only bring one backpack into the ring. The question then becomes—what do you stash inside that limited space? Some wrestlers opt for practical gear, others for quirky props, and a few even bring nostalgic consoles.

At last night’s All Elite Wrestling pay‑per‑view, Forbidden Door, a 12‑man steel‑cage showdown erupted between two rosters of six, each formed by a patchwork of smaller factions thrown together in a last‑minute alliance. The lineup on one side featured Kyle Fletcher, Kazuchika Okada, and Kevin Knight, while the other side was anchored by Kyle O’Reilly, Mark Briscoe, and the ever‑relaxed Orange Cassidy.

Orange Cassidy, a fan favorite, is notorious for lugging a Jansport backpack that doubles as a mobile trophy case. For this bout, he convinced his teammates to fill their own backpacks with tactical goodies. Willow, a close ally, stuffed a Ziploc bag of orange slices into the case as a quick snack, Briscoe loaded thumb tacks for a surprise edge, and O’Reilly even brought a fully functional Nintendo Entertainment System, complete with controllers and a game.

The spectacle unfolded as O’Reilly, eyes gleaming with delight, handed a controller to Briscoe before using a second one to deliver a crushing blow to Okada. Meanwhile, Briscoe seized the opportunity to target Knight in the back corner, turning the unconventional gear into a strategic advantage.

During the broadcast, commentator Tony Schiavone mused that the console might fetch a hefty price—though its condition was far from pristine—while Don Callis, the heel voice, calmly labeled O’Reilly a nerd.

Briscoe and O’Reilly regrouped at the center of the ring, offering Fletcher a fleeting window to land a series of kicks before the momentum shifted.

They then connected a controller cable between themselves, using it to yank Fletcher straight onto the NES that lay on the floor—prompting Don Callis to berate the console as a “piece of garbage.” O’Reilly produced a cartridge, its contents unclear but labeled simply “AEW,” and inserted it. He first blew on the cartridge, a gesture that suggests a conversation about caring for retro tech is overdue. After a brief, respectful pause, he struck Fletcher’s head with the cartridge, a moment that was as shocking as it was theatrical.

While an NES in the ring is an unconventional sight, it hardly surprises me. Many wrestlers are avid gamers, and it’s plausible that the console was a playful idea from one of the participants. O’Reilly and Briscoe exuded genuine delight at this nostalgic assault, though a GameCube might have inflicted even greater damage on Fletcher. I was drawn to AEW initially by the striking video‑game themed signage that graces their shows—a tradition that remains vibrant, as evidenced at yesterday’s pay‑per‑view.

Social media user maffew, currently enjoying Ultimate Muscle, commented on the scene, underscoring the enduring fusion of gaming culture within AEW events.