Chuck Taylor

[9.0] "If you ask me, Chuck Taylor is an American indie legend. He was one of the pillars building PWG and making indie wrestling a nation wide phenomenom. It is sad that he is not active anymore but maybe with his high skilled technical abilities, it was better to quit while you are ahead of the game. I recommend watching his matches from 2008-2009."

[6.0] "As a Best Friends, he would get like, an eight. I was never the biggest fan of both him and Trent separate, they are better together than anything else and their broke up during early 2024 just proove it. Good wrestling guy, he delivered a lot of funny stuff in PWG."

[10.0] "A lot of favorite wrestlers of mine from the 2010's have started to retire, and one I constantly miss is Chuck Taylor. Was he the best worker, have the best physique, promo skills, any of that? Not really no, but whenever I seen him on a card in a match I knew for atleast one part of whatever show it could have been - I was gonna have a good time. He shined bright at points of his career, but mostly played a supporting role. Now he works backstage at AEW after one injury too many finally took the Kentucky Gentleman out of the ring. His best work is likely his Parking Lot Brawls in AEW or his main event matches in PWG."

[2.0] "I hated The Best Friends before I stopped watching AEW. Chuck Taylor dragged Trent when they were a team. Taylor was never a good wrestler, and I'm learning that going back and watching CHIKARA. Chuck also got fat before he quit being an active wrestler, so his in ring career also had a lame ending. I see that Chuck is labeled as a comedy wrestler, though I can't remember anything funny he has done. The parody of the Okada camera zoom got old, and it didn't make sense to do in AEW. I guess screaming at children while wrestling indy show was kinda funny, though that didn't take any talent."

[7.0] "Imagine rating Matt Morgan an 8 and Chuck Taylor a 0. I realize his style isn't for everybody but he was a competent performer and very entertaining. In wrestling there's a place for all types of characters and personalities. The early AEW run with Best Friends had their best matches and really should have won the tag titles at least once. Even if it was a brief period of time."

[8.0] "Chuck is one of those guys that will probably never truly get the flowers they deserve. I think people who got into wrestling post-2012 would be shocked to know how important Chuck was to getting mainstream fans to check out Indy wrestling. Between making children cry, the invisible grenades, and the slow motion spot it felt like he was going viral every year. He was never an in-ring talent on par with some of his peers at the time like Danielson or Claudio, but he was so funny and so creative that for awhile he was the go-to "Hey I know you don't watch wrestling, but check this out." guy. Obviously as time passes he got a little eclipsed and when the indies/NJPW saw a western interest boom around 2016 he wasnt really brought up as much. I think if he had kept in better shape he would've had a little more success since he's perfectly capable of delivering classics in-ring and is genuinely fun and relatable on the mic. Perhaps if he had gotten a real run in New Japan alongside Trent then things would be different. As it stands though Chuck has a catalog of excellent matches in AEW, a series of still very funny and very unique highlights in Chikara, and for the rest of his life he can say that he got a five star match from Dave Meltzer before Bryan Danielson did."

[9.0] "Chuck's legacy as a trainer and innovator in wrestling will be felt for years. No move in the world looks cooler than the awful waffle. Sad that no one ever belted the best friends. I think it can't be overstated how much the Best Friends and Orange Cassidy got new people into wrestling. Some of the most fun death matches possible are in his catalog, including the 3 AEW parking lot flights, anarchy in the arena, and every time he pulled lego bricks out. I hope he can someday get back in the ring, but ending your career by breaking up with your tag team partner, getting to say 'shit' on tv and going out on a parking lot flight is a pretty good way to go. So few people get to properly retire rather than one day just have your last match where your career is ended, and so often they aren't around to hear how much they were appreciated. I hope Dustin knows how beloved he is. His 'put em in the dirt' promo for parking lot fight #2 against the BCC is my favorite promo of all time."

[6.0] "I've only seen some of his AEW matches, so maybe I need a bigger sample size, but from what I've seen he strikes me as a fairly mediocre wrestler and a bit lacking in the charisma department. I see him often described as a comedic wrestler, but I haven't found him particularly funny yet..."

[8.0] "I love Chuckie T, he's a charisma machine an a very funny individual. Loved him in PWG and in AEW sadly he feels more like a filler"

[2.0] "There's a few wrestlers I just do not see the appeal nor understand the hype around, and Chuck Taylor is one of those people. He just doesn't do it for me, he's not good in-ring and he's just not believable as a professional wrestler. Doesn't have a good look, you would think a random fan in the crowd just jumped into the ring whenever you see him, it's crazy how he has managed to make it to AEW and even NJPW of all places. People say he's good as a tag partner, whilst that's probably right, he's just nothing more than an absolute jobber. 2 is the absolute highest I could go because anything else would be a joke."

[3.0] "Perfectly okaytag guy. Bad look that undermines how big he is. Not particularly coordinated, but makes up for it by being where he should be when he should be.. Probably would have been a huge babyface if he'd shown up in like early 70s Gulas, but he didn't. Probably would be the GOAT referee."

[10.0] "Chuck Taylor might be one of the most underrated wrestlers of the 21st century. I spent so much of my life watching just WWE and TNA, only really keeping up with indies or foreign stuff on YouTube, and, let me tell you, those Chikara days of Chuck Taylor were some of the best of any wrestler. He could move, he could make you laugh, he just had everything. I wish he were getting utilized more at his current promotion. He deserves to be talking more, just being his goofy self."

[5.0] "There is a charm to Chuck Taylor, and I have enjoyed many of his comedy spots. But it feels like he's drifted to midcard oblivion since going to AEW, is not as physically fit, phones it in most of the time, and focuses more on comedy than performance. Has a partner that out classes him, and without the tag team, he would be pretty forgettable to be honest."

[5.0] "Did some good work in the past, has had some fun tag teams and matches, but these days not so much. As an in ring worker, Chuck is starting to look pretty washed. He does the bare minimum, looks out of shape, and Trent and Orange carry the actual in ring work of their matches."

[9.0] "A great comedic wrestler capable of pulling out true bangers when the occasion calls for it. I think people sleep on him because he's a bit silly, but he's actually one of the greats."

[4.0] "A passable worker but not a good look and doesn't connect all that well outside of his niche fans. Has shown in the past that he can have a good match but it's been a long time since I have seen one."

[9.0] "Love this guy, has classic tag and trio matches with the Best Friends all the time. Very fun comedic character as well."

[8.0] "Love Chuck Taylor so much. Fun moveset, comedy chops for days, charisma out the wazoo, and seems like a stand up dude. Personal favorite of mine but I can also see that he may not be for everyone."

[9.0] "Chuck is a comedy wrestling who is very talented in the ring. Great on the mic. Has been part of some amazing AEW matches but has been a little overshadowed by his Best Friends stable mates."

[2.0] "Chuck Taylor CAN wrestle, and he has shown us in the past that there is talent in there. Though his stint in AEW has done nothing for him. He went from being a promising/impressive wrestler to a comedy wrestler with go-away heat."

[5.0] "There's definitely a charm to Taylor and he's got a reasonable showcase against a wide assortment of opponents, but my only issue is that Trent Beretta does everything he can miles better. I'm not the biggest fan of Chikara "comedy" (if you can even call it that) but he was definitely one of those guys that I just kinda groaned most of the time he was trying to do stuff or trying to reinvent the wheel. Now I feel like he's just kinda given up: he doesn't try to do anything new or even attempt to experiment with his character, he's just Chuck Taylor.....and that's it. No idea how this guy has stayed on for so long while doing so little. I feel like he's mostly there because Bucks vouch for the guy but he really doesn't add anything and he's far from his at least more varied indie days. Other than that he's a completely bang average indie wrestler that not even PAC could get to something remarkable, and that's REALLY saying something there. Extremely mediocre."

[5.0] "Chuck Taylor is the worst wrestler and the least charismatic wrestler of the best freinds faction. He is an OK wrestler."

[6.0] "In the past, Chuck is one of the best comedy wrestlers, which did not stop him from showing great wrestling. In recent years, none of this is any more - he is just a plump, faded version of himself, who does not show anything that he could do before, neither in the ring nor in terms of comedy. Now he at best just alright tag team wrestler."

[2.0] "The guy who gave a 0 pretty much nailed it right on the head, this guy does indeed have an atrocious look (seriously, it's bad), he's not funny, mic skills nonexistant, no charisma, and can't wrestle to save his life. The only reason he has any points at all is because he's actually decent at selling and making his opponents look good. In other words, he's a good jobber, but any higher than that and it becomes a complete joke. Dude, you're not in Chikara anymore, you're in the second biggest pro wrestling company in the world and arguably the best American promotion, AEW, start acting like it, or leave and stop wasting everyone's time."

[9.0] "Solid fan of Chuckie T! Great comic wrestler with good in ring abilities, and he's always a joy to watch in interviews (especially with Best Friends). I loved his time on the Indies (the Gentleman's Club is hilarious) and he's been fun in AEW so far. Also has a really cute affection for his dog - Walter - that really adds to his likeability. :)"

[5.0] "He's alright in Best Friends, chiefly because Trent is carrying most of the in-ring load. But as a solo act he's barely adequate on a good day and unless you happen to like his comedy act he can become very tiresome very quickly."

[7.0] "For the longest time during the 2000s and 2010s, Chuck Taylor, the Kentucky Gentleman, was the poster boy for indy wrestling for me, along with Colt Cabana. While he hasn't really stuck out to me in AEW so far, the very fact that he's even on a major wrestling show every week makes me happy."

[8.0] "I do like me some Chuckie T. He's really interesting to watch in the ring, a very good worker. His Best Friends gimmick is excellent, and I think they're one of the consistently best tag teams in AEW. Chuck seems like he'd be able to pull of a good comedy gimmick, so much so that he actually has trouble convincing me he's angry or intense. Wrestling just seems fun to Chuck, and I have fun watching him."

[0.0] "Chuck Taylor is what would happen if you took everything I hate about pro wrestling and put them all inside a body. He is the archetype of wrestler I dislike the most. He has an atrocious look, he is a terrible promo, he can't work a character for shit and even amongst Indie Darlings he might be one of the absolute worst from an in-ring standpoint. But unfortunately the negatives don't stop there with Chuck. His ironic approach on wrestling devalues everything he touches. He has to do some dumb horseshit attempt of humor in everything he does, like the FTR Weenies or the fucking hand grenade, or the hugs etc. Even his Dustin run in Evolve, where he was supposedly a more serious version o him, sucked."

[4.0] "I've been very disappointed with him in AEW. I thought he would take the opportunity that has finally come his way to show some personality and charisma that made him a fan favourite in PWG and the indies, but he comes across as being uncomfortable on national TV, and simply OC's sidekick. Definitely the Marty Jannetty in his tag team with Trent, but without the work rate."

[8.0] "Seriously really underrated. Been a fan of Chuckie T for years when I watched CHIKARA back then and when I saw the clip of his deadliest move THE GRENADE! I personally think he can do more than just comedy wrestling (PWG Championship Run For Example) but I think that's his forte."

[6.0] "Best Friends can be good but Chuck on his own is Forgettable. He sometimes comes across as unenthusiastic."

[9.0] "Awesome wrestler, personality, and commentator. Underrated in ring imo. Great technical wrestler and can go with the hardcore style. People who just think of him as a comedy guy are seriously missing out. One of the all time best pops when he won the PWG title. Also, my wife has him on her cheat list."

[6.0] "Chuck Taylor is a very charismatic wrestler with his charming smile and his sense of humor. However that does not translate into his wrestling ability. I can't think of a single match where I was "wowed" by him."

[9.0] "Quite possibly one of my top three all time. The Awful Waffle is one of the best finishes i? ve ever seen, and he truly knows how to make a crowd laugh"

[5.0] "Not really a fan of his ring work(his run in Evolve was pretty bad when he tried to do focus on that), but is one of the most hilarious people in wrestling. I remember listening to him call a New Japan Cup match with Kevin Kelly and while the match wasn't good I stuck around just to hear what he had to say because he was entertaining me so much. There's a spot on the card for people like this, even if it's not as a heavily pushed wrestler"

[7.0] "Chuck is the more interesting part of Best Friends for me, because of his untapped potential for both really charismatic promos and really good matches. He has an enormous repertoire, that he rarely taps into, which undersells him as a wrestler to many of his peers, but maybe he is just happy in his role right now. For a serious run as anything else than a comedy tag team wrestler, he might need to go with a different look anyway, which may not be what Chuckie T wants to do in his career. So it's fine, Chuck is fine."

[8.0] "Chuckie T is quite underrated, I think largely because he leans into comedy quite a bit. That leads to people overlooking just how good he is at wrestling. Because he's quite good indeed."

[10.0] "The Kentucky Gentleman has class, ring skills, and overall is just a very funny and likable dude. Sure he's an asshole in real life, but he is a fantastic wrestler."

[9.0] "Longtime hero of independent wrestling. One of the most entertaining going anywhere. Funny as hell on Twitter too. Chuck Taylor broke into indie wrestling in the mid 2000s and after some initial singles success in IWA, CZW, Chikara DGUSA and EVOLVE began to stagnate as a singles wrestler but would continue to rack up titles and tournament wins in the tag division with Johnny Gargano and TRENT? . He began to have something of a resurgence in 2016, winning the EVOLVE Tag Team titles with Drew Galloway and making his Impact TV and PPV debut in a very brief run there. Things continued to pick up in 2017 with his winning the PWG World Championship and debuting for both ROH and NJPW in the popular Best Friends tag team. So far Taylor acquitted himself well in NJPW's World Tag League and Best Friends have been in title contention for much of their ROH run. Beginning 2018 with his second PWG World Championship victory with further ROH title opportunities scheduled for him, this could be the year of his career."

[9.0] "A very good wrestler and he plays comedy role greatly as well. Moreover, he is also a fantastic babyface and great tag team work with beretta. His in ring work is always a joy to watch to me since i first watched him. A 9 and the Kentucky gentlemen freaking rules."

[10.0] "Chuckie T has always had an underrated air about him, even among some of his fans. He's incredibly charismatic with very good comedic timing, yes, but he's a lot more versatile than that. He can play just about any role you give him, and if you give him a push he WILL deliver. From a comedic opening tag to a workrate-heavy midcard match to an epic main event underdog performance, he can do it all. On top of that, he's proved that he can work heel just as easily as a lovable face throughout the years, from back in the day in Chikara to his run as DUSTIN in EVOLVE. 2017 has been a great year for him, with the great Best Friends vs LDRS storyline in PWG, a great debut thus far in ROH, and winning the PWG World Championship being the main highlights thus far. An independent stalwart and an overall amazing talent and person. Thank you Big Dust."

[9.0] "Chuckie T is one heck of a funny wrestler. His comedic timing is great and his antics in the ring is extremely funny. But what impressed me the most about The Kentucky Gentleman is his abilities to play so many types of character. In Chikara, he either plays a zany lunatic weirdo redneck or a stereotypical European wrestler. And he plays both characters great. In Evolve, he plays a bitter, jealous, unforgiving bad guy who hates everything about Evolve and their partners (WWE). That character was also played well, and his persona really garnered him some heat. Overall, he's an incredible wrestler with a nice grasp on psychology. I don't really see him being accepted in the WWE, TNA, ROH or NJPW crowd, but who knows? Maybe he'll surprise me. After all, he's very talented at what he does."

[7.0] "Not a huge fan of comedy wrestlers, but I'll always have a soft spot for Chuck Taylor. Undeniably charismatic and a pretty decent wrestler."

[9.0] "The flag bearer of independent wrestling scene. He can sometimes be a comedy wrestler, but he can turn himself into a serious one, too, if needed. He has strong presence that is equipped with his abilities in the ring."

[8.0] "Definitely one of the best indie guys out there. Chuck Taylor entertains in every fashion. He's great on commentary, in the ring, and cutting a promo. Though, he does seem to have a hard time cutting a promo in front of a live crowd and whenever he tries to do serious heel work, it just falls flat. Maybe that can just be chalked up to him being a comedic wrestler for so long and can be ironed out. Can make you laugh and then impress you with a nice series of moves in seconds. It'd be a shame if he never got a run in the E, even as a midcard act."

[8.0] "Chuckie T is the truth. He's just so funny; whether he is talking with Excalibur on commentary or working fun comedy matches against anyone, really. He knows how to get his stuff done in the ring too, he is capable of having awesome matches. The Kentucky Gentleman rules."

[8.0] "Chuck Taylor is imo one of the most underrated wrestlers today. He's proved this by having matches with several different wrestlers all with different styles. I think people think of him as a guy who's strong suit is comedy wrestling(it might), but he's a lot more well rounded than some would think."

[10.0] "Where to begin with Chuck Taylor? He can do, and practically has done, anything & everything in the ring. He can do comedy and be one of the very best at that, he can work seriously as a pure wrestler and be one of the best at that, he's an unsung hero of the independent circuit, and the wrestling business today. I'm very happy to see that his career might finally be taking an upward curve with his recent TNA booking and EVOLVE Tag Team title victory with Drew Galloway. His work in PWG throughout the past 2-3 years, this year especially with his always-great openers at their events; nothing short of stellar. He deserves a lot more credit than he's gotten, but I think that this might finally be his breakthrough."

[9.0] "Very good worker in the ring, good mic skills and an awesome Charisma, this guy needs to capture the pwg world title and then I will give him a 10."