The Young Bucks recently opened up about the creative changes that shaped their third reign as AEW Tag Team Champions, culminating in their loss to Private Party. The title change occurred on the October 4th episode of Dynamite after the Bucks had successfully retained the titles against Private Party at Wrestle Dynasty.
Speaking on the Tunnel Talk podcast, Nick Jackson revealed that their creative plans shifted multiple times during their reign, including changes to which team they would eventually drop the belts to:
“This last run we just had, we were supposed to drop those titles months and months before we actually dropped them, but creative changed I would say 4-5 different times in the last like six months,” Nick said. “At one point, we were going to lose the belts to a certain team. And then a month later, it changed to another team.”
Nick also recalled a pivotal moment when Private Party expressed interest in a long-term program with the Bucks:
“I remember Private Party came up to us actually and they mentioned about wanting to do like a long-term program with us. And we were like, ‘Well, sorry man, Tony [Khan] just gave us the layout of what we’re doing, and that’s not in the cards.’”
However, everything changed after the Bucks faced Private Party at WrestleDream:
“And something changed, and we ended up wrestling them in a match [at WrestleDream]… but we tore the house down. As soon as we got backstage, we knew, ‘Oh alright.’ It’s in Tony’s eyes. He was like, ‘I think we have something, I think we have something.’ And Matt and I thought the same exact thing. We were like, ‘We’ve got to pivot. We’ve got to change our plans again.’”
The Young Bucks ultimately dropped the titles to Private Party and were satisfied with the outcome:
“We were happy though because we wanted to put those guys over. They deserved the spotlight. It’s been five years now, so they were ready for a big push. And I’m just glad Matt and I got to give them that last shove before we left.”
Fightful Select reports The Outrunners were actually considered for the spot to win the titles from The Bucks. Following their title loss, the Young Bucks have been absent from AEW television but are set to return to in-ring action at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5, where they will challenge for the vacant IWGP Tag Team titles.
Upon their AEW return, they are expected to feud with Jon Moxley’s Death Riders faction, setting the stage for an intense rivalry.
Forbidden Door is now underway, and fans in the arena started some (very audible on the PPV feed) dueling CM Punk chants.
The chants started during the Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada vs Hiroshi Tanahashi and Acclaimed tag team match, with a smatter of ‘CM Punk’ aimed at the Bucks specifically.
The chants would then get more and more audible before you could loudly hear on the PPV feed “F*ck CM Punk,” chants which seemed to stop dead the original chants for the Second City Saint, which were then followed up by “he got fired” from the crowd.
CM Punk chants at ANOTHER AEW PPV
The Bucks would probably have hoped that the Punk chants would’ve stopped by now, with the Brawl Out incident being a fairly distant memory for many.
Fans on X/Twitter reacted to the chants from some of the crowd and the overwhelming sentiment was…why? Why would you pay to go to an AEW PPV at this point in 2024 and still chant for CM Punk?
Punk of course still has a huge fanbase, and the shocking incidents that led to his departure will be discussed for years to come.
AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door Matches Tonight
There are a number of massive matches set to take place from the UBS Arena in the Long Island hamlet of Elmont, New York, and they are as follows:
AEW World Heavyweight Title Match: Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Will Ospreay
AEW Women’s World Championship Match: Toni Storm (c) vs. Mina Shirakawa
Winners Takes All Title For Title Match: AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone vs. NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer
Ladder Match for the Vacant TNT Championship: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Mark Briscoe vs. Jack Perry vs. Dante Martin vs. Lio Rush vs. El Phantasmo
IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito
Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament Quarterfinal: Bryan Danielson vs. Shingo Takagi
Trios Match: The Elite (Kazuchika Okada & The Young Bucks) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & The Acclaimed
Trios Match: Samoa Joe, Hook, and Katsuyori Shibata vs. Jeff Cobb, Chris Jericho and Big Bill
Zack Sabre Jr vs. Orange Cassidy
MJF vs. Hechicero
ZERO-HOUR PRE-SHOW
Kris Statlander & Momo Watanabe vs. Willow Nightingale & Tam Nakano
Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Quarterfinal: Saraya vs. Mariah May
Mistico & The Lucha Bros vs. Yota Tsuji, Titan & Hiromu Takahashi
Fatal 4-WayMatch: House of Black (Malakai Black & Brody King) vs. Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Gabe Kidd & Roderick Strong
We’ll be covering all of the events from tonight’s PPV event, so make sure that you keep checking back to SEScoops for the latest!
It’s time for the Daily Drop on Thursday, May 2. Last night saw AEW present a very interesting three-hour block of programming, and there is a lot to unpack.
Kenny Omega made his return to AEW television last night in Winnipeg, but things did not turn out too well for him. After receiving a rousing welcome in his home city, The Elite inserted themselves into the situation to make sure The Cleaner left on a stretcher. Then, the Young Bucks chased that stretcher down and tipped it over like the dastardly heels they are.
Now, let’s get into today’s edition of the Daily Drop!
AEW:
Nyla Fires Back: The Native Beast, Nyla Rose, released a t-shirt to fire back at The Oklahoma State Athletic Commission, who said she cannot wrestle cis gendered females as a transgender woman. That new merchandise will go to help Freedom Oklahoma, a 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy group.
Pressure on Swerve: The new AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland spoke on the pressure that is on him now. He also said that all of his endeavors outside pro wrestling helped prepare him to carry the heavy ball for Tony Khan.
The Bounty Hunter: Bryan Keith confirmed that he inked a multi-year deal with AEW. He will be around for years to come. Keith signed a deal with AEW in February 2024 after competing against Eddie Kingston on an episode of AEW Collision. Since then, he has faced wrestlers like Kyle O’Reilly, Malakai Black, Top Flight, and Private Party on AEW television.
Bryan Danielson Can’t Travel: Brie Garcia revealed on the Nikki and Brie Show that Danielson hurt his neck at AEW Dynasty. She made a point to say that it wasn’t too bad, and it is the kind of bump that comes with being in the ring. Despite Garcia trying to play it down on her podcast, it was announced on AEW Dynamite that Danielson didn’t make the Winnipeg Dynamite because he was not medically cleared to travel.
Taz Gets Bad News: Taz recently visited an orthopedic surgeon due to severe knee issues. After tests and X-rays, he learned that both his shoulders and knees need replacements. He has opted not to undergo surgery immediately and will instead continue with regenerative procedures to manage the pain.
Went to a highly acclaimed orthopedic surgeon yesterday to discuss my knee. It’s been brutal for a couple of years, he did testing & X-rays on me. So, both of my shoulders & knees need to be replaced. 4 joints. I am not doing this right now. I’m gonna keep trying regenerative…
WrestleMania London: Triple H did not throw any kind of wet blanket on the idea of London hosting the show of shows. At this point, The Game stated that all locations are on the table.
Mandy Rose Gets Lips Dissolved: The former NXT Women’s Champion logged onto Instagram to update her fans about a cosmetic procedure that she’s having reversed, her lip filler. In the post, she revealed, “We did some lip dissolving today! I’ve always been a little afraid to do this ngl but it was definitely needed and really wasn’t that bad! Swollen at first but a couple hours later the swelling went down, and honestly with the numbing cream I barely even felt it.”
Drew Brings Up AJ: In a very bold move, Drew McIntyre said that he would steal AJ Mendez from CM Punk if he wasn’t already married. This was a big shot, and it will only add to the rivalry that Punk and McIntyre are destined to have once the Second City Savior returns to the ring. He later tweeted and deleted a quote retweet of that video saying: “It’s a general statement, not specific. Even when comes [sic] to Punk there’s some lines you don’t cross.”
WWE Speed For Women: Triple H confirmed that WWE is looking heavily into featuring women in upcoming versions of WWE Speed. No word on whether they will introduce a WWE Speed Women’s Title as a part of this.
Tony Khan rode a wave of attention when he wore a neck brace during the NFL Draft. He had plenty of chances to plug Dynamite this week, as he promised that fans will find out what is next in the obvious power struggle going on within the company.
Tony Khan opened this week’s AEW Dynamite via satellite from Jacksonville, Florida. As he was explaining that he couldn’t be in Winnipeg due to The Elite’s actions last week, his feed got choppy and cut out. Matthew and Nicholas Jackson appeared in a production truck and made it clear they were in charge of the broadcast. They explained Khan can’t fire them due to a ‘founder’s clause’ in their AEW contracts. Since they’re the highest ranking officials at the show, they’re in charge and rolled a customized Dynamite opening video package featuring only The Elite.
Later in the show, Jack Perry explained his actions against Tony Khan last week. He said he did what was best for AEW in this “new era” as the Winnipeg arena filled with “CM Punk” chants.
"We are entering a new era under The Elite" – Jack Perry
Kenny Omega took the ring during the final segment of AEW Dynamite. After explaining his ordeal with diverticulitis, The Cleaner admitted that he couldn’t watch AEW television for the longest time. The former AEW World Champion stated that he’s not done wrestling, and he will do whatever it takes to return.
Then he brought up The Jackson Brothers, saying that they don’t call the shots by themselves in AEW, because the Best Bout Machine is still an EVP of the company. Kazuchika Okada made his way to the ring after that, as fans chanted “holy sh*t” before either of them said a word.
Okada said, “I’m sorry Kenny, I’m the best bout machine now” right before Jack Perry jumped Omega from behind.
Although Omega mounted a bit of a comeback, Perry whacked him in the gut with a steel chair, sending him down to the mat. The Young Bucks soon came down to nail him with an EVP Trigger. FTR ran down for the save, chasing The Elite off, but the damage was done. AEW signed off Dynamite this week with Omega laying in the middle of the ring. When Rampage started immediately afterward, they led Omega off on a stretcher. After the initial assault, The Elite stopped EMTs from loading Omega onto an ambulance. They then tipped over the stretcher while Kenny was strapped in, adding insult to injury.
Tony Khan says The Elite has ignited a “power struggle” in AEW and the company plans to have a new “highest-ranking official” onsite for Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite. The Elite shocked the pro wrestling world last Wednesday by attacking Tony Khan one night before his participation in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars owner generated a ton of media attention for the neck brace he wore at the Draft to sell the effects of the unconscionable attack he sustained.
During an interview with SEScoops correspondent Scott Fishman for TV Insider, Khan said how lucky he is to work with the NFL and appreciates all the concern about his condition. He said he won’t be present for Wednesday’s Dynamite from Winnipeg, but he’s worked remotely in the past throughout the pandemic. The big question is, who will be on top of the totem pole in his absense?
“We all have experience working outside the office. During the lockdown, we got used to meetings on Teams and Zoom. I’ll still be overseeing AEW and managing the show remotely.
As for who will be the highest-ranking official onsite, stay tuned Wednesday. It will certainly be addressed this week on TBS. This power struggle that is happening in AEW.”
As Kevin Nash spoke about on his podcast this week, Tony Khan fired CM Punk when he felt physically threatened. The Elite have taken things much farther than Punk did. What repercussions will they face, if any?
TK Welcomes Kenny Omega’s Return
Kenny Omega is advertised to make his AEW television return when they go to Winnipeg. As another EVP of the company, this could throw a wrench in the Young Bucks’ plans. After all, they did fire him from The Elite a few weeks ago. This will be a big moment for AEW, and Tony Khan is also very excited about that, as he continued plugging the upcoming episode of Dynamite on TBS.
Omega has been out of action due to a diverticulitis attack, one that reportedly required surgery. Although The Cleaner is far from his in-ring clearance, he won’t miss Dynamite in his home city. Khan says, “I can’t wait to have Kenny Omega back in AEW. It’s the perfect time for Kenny to return. I know Kenny Omega has been recovering at home since he was fired from The Elite by The Young Bucks last month. It’s the perfect time for Kenny Omega to return on May 1.”
AEW Dynamite Preview (5/1)
You can find the current lineup for the May 1 episode of AEW Dynamite below.
Chris Jericho vs. Shibata
Adam Copeland vs. TBA
Mariah May vs. Serena Deeb
Kenny Omega’s TV return
Due to a scheduling conflict with the NHL Playoffs, AEW Rampage will air at a different time this week. A three-hour event will air this week on Wednesday, May 1, with a live Rampage following Dynamite. Also, AEW Collision will not broadcast on May 4, due to this conflict with the NHL. AEW’s Saturday night show is set to return to its regular time slot on Saturday, May 11.
Last week’s 4/25 AEW Dynamite from Daily’s Place finished with a a controversial angle that fans are still talking about. Jack Perry made a surprise return and attacked AEW President Tony Khan. The Elite joined in, Perry is now part of the heel faction and there are immediate parallels with the early days of the nWo. After Shad Khan’s son took a microphone shot to the gut followed by a Tony Khan Driver, The Elite stood over their boss in victory. The Young Bucks’ new alliance with Kazuchika Okada and Jack Perry has nWo vibes and the memes have been plentiful on social media.
On this week’s Kliq This podcast, Nash and co-host Sean Oliver reviewed AEW Dynasty and AEW Dynamite, including the controversial angle that led Tony Khan to wear a neck brace for the 2024 NFL Draft. While giving Khan grief for selling a padded microphone shot, Nash compared the segment to WCW’s infamous Finger Poke of Doom (Wikipedia) angle. During a match against Hollywood Hogan on WCW Nitro (January 4, 1999), Nash laid down for Hogan, handing over the WCW title in what’s seen as a low-point for the declining company.
Dynamite viewership was under 700,000, down from the previous week and the lowest since October 2023. Nash fired, back, “Thank God, because they missed the finger poke of doom at the end of this motherf****r.
Neck Brace
Tony Khan went on to sell that attack during both nights of the NFL Draft by wearing a neck brace. He appeared on the NFL Network, where he compared WWE to Harvey Weinstein. Nash didn’t love everything he saw on AEW television this week, but he credited Khan for selling the injury and keeping kayfabe alive with the neck brace.
“The neck brace. The neck brace the following day at the Jaguars. I got to give a little respect to this because I don’t think the NFL or anyone that watches the NFL and not wrestling is going to give a sh*t, but the attempt to do some crossover, respecting the product where he wore the neck brace the next day, it’s a commitment.”
Tony Khan discusses taking the TK Driver from the Bucks and compares WWE to Harvey Weinstein pic.twitter.com/borodQ1GiF
Nash took issue with the fact that CM Punk got fired for roughing up his boss, so how is he going to handle The Elite?
“I just don’t see what it does unless Tony comes back and fires the Executive Vice Presidents for attacking him. He fired.. he got rid of Punk. You can’t have a storyline that shows, a couple weeks earlier, they showed the Punk/Perry altercation, which was nothing.”
Tony Khan and AEW are influenced by pro wrestling history. This new incarnation of The Elite (just one week in) is already drawing comparisons to the nWo, so it was an attention-grabbing segment. Hopefully The Elite sparks a similar level of excitement as Hollywood Hogan, Scott Hall and podcast host Kevin Nash did in 1996.
Jack Perry has not been seen on AEW television since All In, where he faced Hook in a Zero Hour match for the FTW Title. Not two weeks after AEW finally aired Perry’s fight footage with CM Punk backstage from All In, he made a shocking return during Dynasty.
Perry made his return during the Saint Louis pay-per-view to help the Young Bucks beat FTW for the AEW Tag Team Titles. The former Jungle Boy’s presence was felt near the end of their ladder match.
During the closing moments of the match, Jack Perry attempted to interfere by pushing Dax off the ladder but was halted by security. Thanks to this distraction, Nick managed to climb the ladder, grab the championship titles, and secure a win for The Young Bucks.
At the AEW Dynasty pay-per-view in the Chaifetz Arena in St Louis, The Young Bucks competed against FTR in a ladder match for the vacant AEW Tag Team Championships. Those titles haven’t had owners since Sting and Darby Allin relinquished them following The Icon’s retirement.
As the match continued, Matt Jackson pushed Cash Wheeler from the top of a ladder using Dax Harwood as support. Nick then hit a 450 splash from the top rope to the floor, sending Cash through a table. Dax applied a piledriver to Matt on a ladder, and Nick followed with a springboard into a sunset flip powerbomb.
Unexpectedly, Jack Perry, disguised in a Sting mask, tried to interfere by pushing Dax off the ladder but was stopped by security. Despite this, Nick was able to climb the ladder and retrieve the championship titles, securing victory for The Young Bucks in this challenging ladder match.
The Young Bucks spoke highly of Perry, referring to him as a Scapegoat, before they aired the CM Punk fight footage. Now, Perry is back in the AEW fold, and all signs point to a continued alliance with the heel EVP team, who are now the first three-time AEW Tag Team Champions in company history.
We’ll see if it helped Dynamite draw a big audience, but it was a questionable ratings stunt at best. CM Punk and many more reacted to AEW showing the Brawl In clip, and we’ve compiled the best ones here.
The general consensus is… “Did we really need to see that?”
– WWE RAW Viewership: The April 8 episode of RAW had 2.362 million viewers, the most since February 17, 2020. The show drew a 0.83 rating, its best since September 30, 2019.
– Black Belt Baszler: Shayna Baszler has received her black belt from Tampa Florida Judo. The school sent out a social media blast to let everyone know about this big achievement.
– Will Ospreay’s Takes Shot: Ospreay fired back at Triple H’s comments about not wanting to grind. This was in response to a question that Pat McAfee asked Paul Levesque about wrestlers who pick AEW over WWE. Ospreay’s insult also came directly after AEW aired the CM Punk and Jack Perry Fight.
– Breaking Down Footage: The video of Punk and Perry’s Brawl In fiasco has been broken down many times by fans. You can find a clip of the video below, overlaid with Punk’s explanation of how the event went down.
AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
CM Punk and Jack Perry were involved in a physical altercation backstage at AEW All In: London 2023 from Wembley Stadium (August 27, 2023).
This was Punk’s final date with the company before a messy breakup.
Punk told his side of the story last week on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour. He and AEW have been taking digs at one another ever since, and now AEW is teasing:
“The Young Bucks Present Backstage Footage From ALL IN LONDON & Will Discuss For The First Time”
Tony Khan and the Young Bucks say they’ll deliver tonight on Dynamite
AEW delivered on their promise to air the footage of CM Punk and Jack Perry’s All In brawl.
WrestleMania XL is history, and wrestling fans are already getting another big topic to talk about: the release of the AEW All In Footage of CM Punk’s backstage brawl with Jack Perry that led to his abrupt departure from the company. Now, that footage has been released.
The Young Bucks introduced the footage on AEW Dynamite. They also took several underhanded digs at Punk, including saying that they don’t want to spread rumors. Nicholas and Matthew Jackson centered the entire promo around hyping their match against FTR at Dynasty on April 21, and how Punk is a friend of Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler.
Matthew & Nicholas Jackson breakdown their history with FTR.
Why AEW and the Young Bucks Are Releasing The “Backstage Footage”
Punk’s April 1 appearance on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani got intense. He commented on his physical altercation with Jack Perry backstage right before his final AEW match against Samoa Joe inside a packed Wembley Stadium. Punk, now a top-paid WWE Superstar, buried AEW and its management.
A perceived tipping point was Perry’s intent to use glass in a spot on AEW Collision, but Punk stopped him. At All In, Punk didn’t have the same influence, and Jungle Boy Jack taunted the Chicago legend live on camera.
Shortly thereafter, Khan gave his side of the story to a live AEW audience. “I’ve been going to wrestling shows for over thirty year, I’ve been producing them on this network for nearly four years. Never in all that time have I ever felt, until Sunday, that my security, my safety, my life was in danger.”
CM Punk Discusses Tony Khan
Punk placed onto AEW’s President for not diffusing his volatile situation with Perry before it ignited. He watched backstage as Perry taunted him in front of the world during the Zero Hour kickoff show.
After urging his boss to handle the situation, Punk says that Khan replied, “What do you want me to do?” The Second City Savior warned he’d be pushed to take action the company wouldn’t approve of.
“Man, that’s a loaded question because I don’t want this to be…I don’t like the drama, but the truth is the truth, he is not a boss, he’s a nice guy and I think ultimately that is a detriment to the company, but it’s not my company.”
AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland started off the first Dynamite after Punk’s interview by indirectly addressing the controversy. The ‘Rated R Superstar’ said, “There’s been a lot of negative BS that’s spewed this week, right? There has … SCREW THAT! I wanna talk about positives!”
AEW Delivered The Controversial Footage
CM Punk
Wrestling fans naturally wondered if this was legit or a bait and switch situation. Tony Khan made it clear that they will air the ‘real’ footage. Speaking to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, the AEW President clarified:
“This decision is based on putting on the best show for AEW, as well as driving interest for Dynamite and our Dynasty pay-per-view on April 21.”
Punk continues to prove that he is a lightening rod for controversy. He’s long gone from All Elite Wrestling, but he will probably help Dynamite draw viewers on Wednesday night. Love him or hate him, people just can’t stop talking about CM Punk.
Cody Rhodes loved his time in AEW and views his old boss a little differently than CM Punk.
Ariel Helwani played host to CM Punk earlier in the week where Punk mentioned to him that he thinks Tony Khan is a nice guy, but not a boss. Rhodes happened to be Helwani’s guest on Wednesday’s edition of the MMA Hour and asked ‘The American Nightmare’ if he felt the same way.
“That’s his assessment. It is not my assessment. It is always important for me to remind people that I am so proud of what me Matt, Nick, Kenny, Tony, Bernie [Cahill], Brandi, and Dana, and Chris [Harrington], and I name all these people, because I was in those meetings. As much as the Internet will try to spin a narrative one way, if one of those people had not been at that start-up level, the company would not have happened. And I am so proud of what was created. I am so insanely proud of what it does for the industry overall.”
Rhodes says he has an unbelievable love for so many people there. Rhodes reiterated that it was a start-up company and he wishes AEW nothing but the best as it goes forward.
Cody Rhodes Believes The Tension In AEW Was A Misunderstanding
Helwani then followed up by asking if Cody Rhodes can envision Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks getting abrasive with an outsider and established star like CM Punk.
“I just think what happened there was a ton of misunderstanding, a ton of miscommunication, you will see on indies and wrestlers that aren’t properly trained and I’m not talking about bullying etiquette or anything like that, but you do need to have a little ‘old school’ in you to know the collaborativeness of what this is, and I just think they were ships in the night. I know I was Switzerland the last time you asked me, I love Matt, Nick and Kenny and I love CM Punk. I don’t know how, but I do. I’m just happy for everyone involved.”
Several times since leaving AEW, Rhodes has tipped the cap to his former AEW EVPs and they’ve done the same in exchange.
AEW and WWE were both interested in Kazuchika Okada’s services, but it was Tony Khan who pulled down the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Now Okada is a heel in AEW alongside the Young Bucks, and they are off to the races.
Although AEW didn’t really hype Okada’s impending debut, they had time to do so. For whatever reason, they declined to tease this huge moment in company history, so fans didn’t know that this week’s episode, a week before Big Business, would be anything special.
Tony Khan’s Plan for Okada
Kazuchika Okada shocked the pro wrestling world when he finally debuted for AEW during the March 6th episode in Atlanta. This was a huge surprise, but it was also something they had in the pipeline for a while.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer remarked that Tony Khan had this plan in place for Okada months ago. It was still a secret, but the plan was certainly in place.
“The Young Bucks’ segment with Okada, that has been known for — not by me — but it has been known by the Young Bucks and Okada and Tony Khan for literally months. It was Tony Khan’s idea to do this a long time ago, like it was the show after Revolution.”
It was noted that they could have announced that the Young Bucks had a big surprise weeks ago. For some reason, they didn’t announce that the Bucks had any kind of surprise until the day of the show. That is when Okada rumors started really churning, but this was the plan for a long time.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and everything else going on in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for more details as additional updates are made available.
AEW Revolution went off the air, with Sting and Darby Allin celebrating as champions. That was quite a moment, but there is more in store. The sad part is that Sting’s legendary career is certainly over at this point.
Sting has officially retired from wrestling, wrapping up his career as a tag team champion. You can click here for highlights from the big match.
A new report from Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select shed new light on what is next. Of course, the company needs to deal with their tag team title situation, but this is all a part of the plan.
Currently, the plan is to resolve the tag team title situation promptly. However, Darby Allin isn’t anticipated to retain the titles with a new partner. AEW sources indicated to the outlet that the decision for the Young Bucks to emerge without securing victory was made weeks ago, but they were intended to remain closely involved in the tag team title scene.
All Elite Wrestling and Tony Khan were insistent on Sting concluding his career on a high note, holding a championship. The management at AEW has consistently emphasized the importance of appropriately honoring Sting.
AEW Revolution Main Event
Although it was teased that Sting’s last match wouldn’t main event Revolution, the idea of Sting headlining and main eventing the show had been in the works virtually since the moment of his retirement announcement. He also reportedly played a significant role in selecting the Young Bucks as his final opponents, as previously reported. The event’s location was also changed from the originally planned Midwest location to better accommodate Sting’s retirement, although efforts are underway to rectify this for Midwest fans.
During the recent event, there were several individuals vying to obtain one of the bats hanging backstage as a memento. Additionally, some talent was getting items signed by Sting at last week’s show.
THANK YOU STING! – From the entire wrestling world.
Notably, Lex Luger, Ricky Steamboat, Scotty Riggs, and several others were present backstage to support Sting and were not kept out of view before the AEW Revolution show.
Following Sting’s indication to his sons, they walked alongside the ramp to the backstage area. They returned after the show for Sting’s off-air speech. Tony Khan was brought out and thanked by Sting, with the entire roster joining on the ramp to bid farewell to Sting. Darby jokingly mentioned that he had to leave for the hospital.
As of right now, there have been no announcements regarding additional dates for Sting. It appears that he is now officially retired, but you also can never say never in pro wrestling.
AEW is preparing for Sting’s final match, marking the end of his iconic career. The Stinger has done a lot in his career, and now we know who he will wrestle at the big AEW pay-per-view.
Sunday, March 3#AEWRevolution LIVE on PPV! Greensboro, NC#AEW World Tag Team Titles Sting & Darby Allin (c) vs Matthew & Nicholas Jackson @youngbucks
Sting & Darby Allin will defend the AEW World tag team titles against The Young Bucks at AEW Revolution on March 3, 2024, at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.
This event will mark AEW’s inaugural Pay-Per-View in North Carolina. It was revealed a while ago that Sting will wrestle for the last time at the event.
Sting and Darby Allin won the AEW Tag Team Titles from Big Bill and Ricky Starks, giving them their first title run in AEW. They will now defend those titles at AEW Revolution, and they have a big match planned.
Nick and Matt Jackson turned heel in a big way, making themselves known to Sting and Darby Allin. This week on AEW Dynamite, they made their upcoming match official.
The Young Bucks confirmed during AEW Dynamite that they will wrestle Sting and Darby Allin at AEW Revolution. That match will be for the AEW Tag Team Titles. The Jackson Brothers seemed very confident about their chances.
What’s Next
Sting impressed many people with performances in AEW. Few saw a flying Stinger in his later years, but he certainly gave his all for Tony Khan’s company. Now, he is set for this one final match, and odds are he will make it an iconic performance.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this story, and everything else involving AEW Revolution, as more information is made available.
The Young Bucks are now a heel team in AEW, and they made that statement very clear. Now, Nick and Matt Jackson have new music, but they’re not the only people who looked toward the same inspiration.
The Young Bucks’ New Song
Roman Reigns’ theme song is known throughout the WWE Universe, as he makes his way to the ring with strength and authority. It appears that the Young Bucks wanted to borrow some of that magic.
The Jackson Brothers debuted a new piece of music for their entrance this week on Rampage, departing from their usual Superkick Party song. It appears that the pair drew inspiration from the same song that is responsible for Roman Reigns’ entrance.
Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that the Young Bucks looked toward Succession’s intro theme for their new music. That is a very popular source of inspiration as well.
There was a lot of speculation on Twitter that Young Bucks’ theme was inspired by Succession’s theme song, which is accurate. Roman Reigns’ theme is also inspired by the show.
What’s Next
Roman Reigns is on his way to WrestleMania 40. At this time, his only opponent is Cody Rhodes. Only time will tell what WWE does to deal with the fact that The Rock is around now.
The Young Bucks are a top heel team in AEW, and they may just face Sting and Darby Allin. That match may go down at AEW Revolution on March 3rd, which will be the Icon’s final match.
The Young Bucks recently explained their actions on this week’s AEW Dynamite as they brutally attacked Sting and Darby Allin.
On last night’s edition of AEW Dynamite, Sting and Darby Allin defeated Ricky Starks and Big Bill to capture the AEW World Tag Team Championship. This marks ‘The Icon’s first title run in the promotion.
The show also received an overrun for the match, which saw thrilling spots, including Sting and Allin hitting Big Bill with multiple Stinger Splashes in the corner. Allin also hit a Coffin Drop on Big Bill to the outside.
In the final moments, Sting executed a Scorpion Death Drop on Starks and captured the tag-team titles.
However, their celebration didn’t last long as the Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) brutally attacked the new champions.
Young Bucks explain their actions
In a digital exclusive, The Young Bucks commented on their decision to attack the new champs. Apparently, Matthew felt guilty. However, Nicholas noted that they did what they had to do.
Matthew Jackson: What a bummer, man, that Sting and Darby forced our hand and made us do that. That was terrible, I feel awful. Sting’s a freaking legend, and Darby’s a sweet dude.
Nicholas Jackson: He’s an icon. But you know what, as EVPs, we have to do the tough things. We have to make the tough decisions. It’s just business, and we had to do it. There’s no one else in this company that would do what we just did.
“MJ: We gotta protect what’s ours, guys. I hope you understand.
NJ: This is our baby.
MJ: Sting, I hope you feel better.
NJ: This isn’t Sting’s baby.
MJ: Darby, I hope you feel better.
NJ: He’s just happy making a payday. We had to deal with business, and business was that. We had to take care of business.
MJ: We messed up our suits, too. What the hell, guys?
NJ: How the hell are we gonna get this blood out of our $5,000 suits?
MJ: Just really disappointed in you, guys. I called you a role model employee, Sting. Maybe I was wrong. This is what it took to get your guys’ attention? I just wanted a conversation. I just wanted to talk like men. Look at us, we’re covered in your freaking DNA now.
Wednesday was a big night for AEW. They celebrated five years as a company at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida. Daily’s Place was AEW’s home during the pandemic era of wrestling.
Dynamite was filled with AEW Originals. The show kicked off with a former member of The Elite, Hangman Adam Page. What’s a homecoming show without an actual homecoming?
In the main event, Sting and Darby Allin defeated Powerhouse Hobbs and Konosuke Takeshita. Following their win, Tony Schiavone asked Sting who his final match would be against. Before he could answer, the familiar sound of the Young Bucks music hit.
Sporting mustaches and long jackets, the Bucks made stood on the stage and stared down “The Icon” and Allin. Allin seemed to welcome the challenge, motioning them to come down to the ring.
Are the Young Bucks calling their shot against Sting and Darby Allin?
Since Full Gear, Brandon Cutler has been posting on social media on behalf of the Jacksons. Immediately following Dynamite, he posted that the return of the Young Bucks has increased backstage morale tremendously.
Sting’s Final Match
Nothing has been signed as of press time, but the events that transpired on Dynamite indicate that Sting’s final match will be a tag contest, teaming with Darby Allin against The Young Bucks.
Whoever is standing across the ring from him that evening, it’s going to be a memorial occasion. AEW Revolution will takes place from the historic Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina on Saturday, March 3, 2024.
Brodie Lee Honored
The AEW Dynamite Homecoming was also a celebration of the late, great Mr. Brodie Lee. Lee’s time in AEW was brief, but made a lasting impression. Many fans associate the venue with Lee. All of his AEW matches took place there, save for the tapings at the Nightmare Factory early on during the pandemic.
To honor Lee’s memory, his two handpicked wrestlers, Preston Vance (“10”) and Anna Jay (“99”) each competed in an 8-person match. They picked up the wins for their respective teams.
Vance wore the ring jacket that Lee gifted him along with an armband with his mentor’s name. Jay wore a Lee shirt. Adam Copeland was part of the team that faced Vance’s. He donned a Jon Huber Toronto Maple Leafs themed shirt and hat.
Dana Massie, who is also the wife of AEW EVP Matt Jackson, played a key part in overseeing merchandise, managing The Young Bucks’ empire before AEW. She made a transition to AEW, and had a big hand in the company’s early stages, as she was there from the very beginning. She is moving on, and Matt Jackson has confirmed it.
Matt Jackson Speaks On His Wife, Dana Massie, Leaving AEW
Matt Jackson posted to his Instagram stories to address his wife’s AEW departure. He included a photo of Dana Massie backstage at an AEW event, with a sleeping child on her shoulder, while doing her duties as Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer and mother at the same time.
In the caption with the post, Matt Jackson also expressed his gratitude for Dana Massie’s contributions. He then thanked her for being a huge part of AEW’s early foundation, while acknowledging the challenges of her sometimes thankless job.
“End of an era. You were in the first conversations, when this was all only an idea. One of the main builders of our empire. Always positive in at times was a thankless job. Glad you got to do it all, and leave on your terms, by your own choice. It’s been fun working with you. See you at dinner.”
From Matt Jackson's Instagram…
Please – Send LOTS of Love to Matt & Dana Massie (Jackson) this Christmas…
— Matthew Jackson: Out of Context (Fan Account) (@MattJacksonOOC) December 24, 2023
AEW saw some significant departures in 2023, with Dana Massie being the latest to disclose their exit. Her role as Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer was very important to AEW since the beginning. She will be missed on the road, but Matt Jackson will still see his wife at home.
Dana Massie left AEW on her own terms, and it doesn’t appear that there is any ill-will there. Whoever gets Dana Massie’s responsibilities next will have big shoes to fill.
AEW Had Some Key Departures in 2023
With Dana Massie’s departure from AEW, and the upcoming exit of Vice President of Live Events and Touring Rafael Morffi, AEW faces changes in key positions. QT Marshall is already gone from the company, and he held a role as Tony Khan’s right-hand man for a time as well.
AEW is gearing up for 2024, along with the rest of us. Everything changes, but it seems that Tony Khan’s company is seeing a few big departures to close out the year.
AEW’s Recent Departures
Rafael Morffi, AEW’s Vice President of Live Events/Touring, is believed to be wrapping things up with the company. Reports broke today that he will be leaving after Worlds End for a job with the Barclays Center. Now, we have another departure to report.
Sean Ross Sapp took to X, where he broke some more AEW news. Matt Jackson’s wife, Dana Massie, who has been with the company since they opened their doors, will be leaving her position over the company’s advertising division.
Fightful Select and @TheRajGiri have learned that as things stand, Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer Dana Massie is set to finish up with AEW.
She’s been there since the start of AEW. She’s the wife of Matt Jackson of the Young Bucks.
Fightful Select and @TheRajGiri have learned that as things stand, Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer Dana Massie is set to finish up with AEW.
She's been there since the start of AEW. She's the wife of Matt Jackson of the Young Bucks. pic.twitter.com/E7QA4FztJT
This is a bit of a surprise, because Dana Massie had a big hand in many AEW promotional and merchandise efforts. She was given that spot in AEW after spearheading The Young Bucks’ merchandise empire, one that saw them arrive in Hot Topic as indie stars.
QT Marshall also left the company, which will be official in 2024, but he is no longer attending AEW events. Marshall, on top of being an in-ring competitor, was AEW President Tony Khan’s right-hand man for a time.
AEW is making some changes internally, with Kevin Sullivan’s sudden release, and now QT Marshall, Dana Massie and Rafael Morffi leaving the company. There may be a lot more to unpack when the dust settles on this story.
CM Punk and The Elite had it out backstage at AEW All Out last year, but nobody’s allowed to talk about it. The lengths of that non-disclosure agreement stretch pretty far, ensuring that nobody involved in that altercation can divulge anything.
What Happened During Brawl Out
CM Punk went off during the press conference after All Out 2022. He was bloody, hungry, cursing, injured, AEW World Champion and irritated. All of those things culminated in a rant against Colt Cabana and the Young Bucks. When Punk was finished at the media scrum, Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks went to visit Punk’s locker room with AEW’s legal rep to discuss this situation.
CM Punk allegedly threw the first punch, but details are sketchy from that point on. We know that Matt Jackson had a chair thrown at him, and CM Punk’s dog, Larry, may have lost a tooth. In the end, it was incredibly violent, messy, and blew up in no time.
Ace Steel was also involved in the Brawl Out ordeal, and he was fired from AEW due to his involvement. He was accused of biting Kenny Omega during the brawl. Despite being rehired and working remotely after CM Punk’s return, he was let go again shortly after Punk’s firing from AEW.
During an appearance on Wrestling With Rip Rogers, Stephen P. New discussed Brawl Out and the associated NDAs. In response to a question about the lifetime nature of NDAs, the attorney straightforwardly affirmed that they indeed last for life.
Stephen P New simply stated, “yes” when asked if there are lifetime NDAs in place, meaning that nobody can ever speak about that night.
CM Punk did make a crack about how it’s 2023, so you can’t just go around hitting people backstage. That was likely a reference to how he punched Jungle Boy, and not The Elite. That was Brawl In, not Brawl Out.
Legally, The Second City Savior must stay away from any talk about his brawl with The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega in Chicago. Hopefully, they can keep it that way to avoid another legal situation.
The Young Bucks have fond memories of the early years of All Elite Wrestling.
Nick and Matt Jackson have been with AEW from the very beginning. They were instrumental in making the dream of AEW a reality. Through some exciting highs and heartbreaking lows, the brothers from Rancho Cucamonga have unquestionably left their mark on the wrestling industry.
Since AEW launched in May 2019, there are some matches that stand out above the rest. One of the most memorable AEW matches occurred at Revolution 2020, when the Young Bucks challenged Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page for the AEW World tag team championships.
On Tuesday, the Bucks commented on the match, calling it their “vision of what wrestling can be.” They also reminisced about the early days of AEW.
Our vision of what wrestling can be. Will always look back fondly at the early years. Happy 3 year anniversary. https://t.co/M7vV2WmHCH
In the end, Hangman Page and Omega were victorious. The match was an instant classic and may be the best tag team match in AEW history. For what it’s worth, this match is the highest rated tag team match ever by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
On his podcast, Jim Ross said, “That was one of the best tag team matches that I’ve ever seen. Certainly I don’t know if I’ve ever called a better executed one.”
The Bucks are two-time AEW World tag team champions. Along with Kenny Omega, they are the reigning World Trios Champions.
The Elite will defend the trios championships against the House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews) at AEW Revolution 2023.
AEW All-Atlantic Championship Match: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Jay Lethal
Jeff Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt, and Satnam Singh were barred from ringside, but at the beginning of the match they entered through the crowd to sit front row. The members of The Best Friends and Danhausen joined them in the audience. Lethal hit Cassidy with a Lethal Injection but the champion managed to roll out of the ring. After the Best Friends had enough of Jarret & Co, they poured popcorn on Sonjay Dutt. Jarrett tried to interfere in the match by handing his guitar to Lethal, but Danhausen intercepted it. This distraction leads to Lethal getting back in the ring and getting hit with the Orange Punch for the pin.
Winner: Orange Cassidy by pinfall.
Jay Lethal wore a Briscoe armband during the match to honor Jay Briscoe.
Dutt wants to fight Orange Cassidy after the match Lethal and Jarrett hold him back
We get a video package for KUSHIDA vs. Darby Allin for the TNT Championship.
Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin)
Top Flight hit Matt Jackson with a combination nosedive powerbomb, but Nick broke the pin up at 2. The Young Bucks hit Darius Martin with The Briscoes’ Doomsday Device, but Dante breaks it up. Darius dodged the BTE Trigger by The Young Bucks. He then rolled up Matt to get the shocking win.
Winner: Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin) by pinfall.
The Gunns come out to cut a promo during the time slot where The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn were advertised. The Acclaimed come out and Austin Gunn has production cut the music. Max Caster tells production to mute Austin’s mic and restart their music. He then proceeds to do his freestyle.
Billy Gunn separated The Gunns and The Acclaimed after things got physical. He shamed both teams and then announced that they will all be attending family therapy next week.
Hangman says to Renee that he wants to mend some fences but won’t get too specific. He also seemed to have something he wanted to say to Jon Moxley after checking on his health, but he once again held his tongue.
Chris Jericho joined the commentary team for this match. Starks walked the ropes in Hager’s hat for a fun spot. After avoiding a lot of distraction and interference from the JAS, Ricky hit Hager with a Spear. In a relatively short match, Ricky Starks gets the win over Hager.
Winner: Ricky Starks by pinfall.
Starks rushed through the crowd to avoid the Jericho Appreciation Society.
Jericho challenges Action Andretti and Ricky Starks to a tag team match with Sammy.
Daniel Garcia will be facing Action Andretti on Rampage. If he wins, he will replace Sammy Guevara next week on Dynamite.
Bryan Danielson vs. Bandido
They start off with a handshake. Bandido was able to hold Danielson up in a stalling suplex for at least 30 seconds. He fought hard to get out of the Lebell Lock by getting his foot on the rope. Bandido hit Danielson with a 21-plex, but he kicked out at 2. After a great exchange, Danielson landed a Busaiku Knee for the win.
Winner: Bryan Danielson by pinfall.
Bryan and Bandido both wore armbands to honor Jay.
Saraya cut a promo with Hikaru Shida and Toni Storm. Toni decided to stand with Saraya against the homegrown women’s wrestlers. Saraya is very upset with Shida for throwing her kendo stick in the ring last week.
It was announced that Brian Cage will be Bryan Danielson’s opponent next week. MJF then offered Cage an undisclosed amount of money to break Danielson’s arm. He then slapped Cage to motivate MJF to feel hate.
Toni Storm vs. Willow Nightingale
Saraya joined Toni Storm at ringside. Willow and Toni shook hands. Shida disregarded what Saraya told her and came to the ringside area. Willow hits the Cannonball, but Toni kicks out. Saraya gets involved and distracts Willow and Toni gets the roll up for the win.
Winner: Toni Storm by pinfall.
After the match, Toni and Saraya get in the ring and beat down Willow turning heel in the process. Shida gets in the ring and Ruby Soho runs down to help out Willow.
TNT Championship Match: Darby Allin (c) vs. KUSHIDA
KUSHIDA is joined by two members of the New Japan Dojo; DKC and Kevin Knight. Darby Allin is joined by Sting. The Coffin Drop was countered early on. Throughout the match, KUSHIDA attempts to pick Allin limb from limb. KUSHIDA locked in the Hoverboard lock and the members of the NJPW Dojo tried to get Sting to throw in the towel. Darby maneuvered KUSHIDA into a very technical pin to get the three.
It appears that All Elite Wrestling’s (AEW) Young Bucks were actually offered to be part of Wrestle Kingdom 17 recently.
Sports Illustrated caught up with The Young Bucks this week ahead of yesterday’s episode of AEW Dynamite. The duo, alongside Kenny Omega, ended up re-capturing the AEW World Trios Titles on the program.
During their conversation, the topic of Kenny Omega’s return to New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) at Wrestle Kingdom 17 was mentioned.
The duo revealed that they were actually offered to work the show in Omega’s corner for his match with Will Ospreay for the IWGP United States Championship.
“We were actually asked to wrestle and be in Kenny’s corner,” Nick said. “But Matt and I had vacation plans that week. Maybe next year. Who knows?”
(AEW)
Matt added, “We got a fantastic offer. Personally, the timing and the situation didn’t fit for us. I’m sure one day you’ll see us back in a NJPW ring.”
Omega went on to win the match, capturing the IWGP US Title for the second time. He now reigns as the title holder for NJPW, as well as one-third of the Trios Champions in AEW.
The Elite captured the Trios Titles after winning a lengthy Best Of Seven series against Death Triangle.
The roller coaster year that AEW had in 2022 has come to a close.
Riding high from their 2021 ending, AEW went into 2022 with tons of momentum. Hangman Page was crowned the AEW World Champion, CM Punk returned to pro wrestling, and Bryan Danielson was delivering high quality pro wrestling matches on a weekly basis.
2022 gave AEW multiple new world champions, backstage controversy, and a fresh slate to close the year out. 2023 promises to bring more exciting storylines and matches that the promotion has hung its hat on since their inception in 2019.
Here are five of the most anticipated matches for AEW in 2023.
Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Page
Hangman Page is looking for revenge against Jon Moxley (AEW)
The parallels between Jon Moxley and Hangman Page are aplenty.
Both are former AEW World Champions, tough as nails, recently sober (in kayfabe for Hangman), and fathers to toddlers. On top of this, they were also across the ring from each other on the third-ever AEW Dynamite episode — a tag match where Kenny Omega and Page defeated PAC and Moxley.
Fast forward to 2021 as Hangman Page returned from paternity leave to win the Casino Ladder Match on October 6th for a shot at the AEW World Title. He battled with Jon Moxley on top of the ladder, ultimately knocking him off to secure the casino chip and title match.
October 18th, 2022. Jon Moxley knocked Hangman Page out with a lariat, giving him a concussion in the process, and retained his AEW World Championship in brutal fashion. Page has been seeking revenge ever since.
Grudges make tremendous bouts. This one is sure to be physical and likely with a lot at stake in the AEW main event picture moving forward.
Jade Cargill vs. Jamie Hayter
Picture a battle of the 2 most imposing women on the AEW roster, Jade Cargill being one of them.
The irresistible force meets the immovable object.
A Jade Cargill vs. Jamie Hayter match isn’t on the horizon for the early portion of 2023, but can you imagine if these two squared off? The athleticism and physicality in this bout would be tough to match on the women’s side of AEW.
Jade Cargill is currently the AEW TBS Champion and undefeated in the promotion. Jamie Hayter is the AEW Women’s Champion and on the biggest run of her career. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that these two women meet up in 2023.
It also would likely be for one of the championships that these women hold present day. The larger question would be: Which of these women will lose first this year? Both look to be poised for long title runs, and Jade Cargill has held the TBS title for nearly a calendar year already.
One way or another, look for the two most dominant women of last year to continue on their paths in 2023. Let’s speak this mammoth dream match into fruition as we look forward to the continued growth of Jade Cargill and Jamie Hayter this year.
MJF vs. Eddie Kingston
MJF has plenty of men breathing down his neck for his AEW world championship.
MJF is the current AEW World Champion. Can you picture a feud with fellow New Yorker Eddie Kingston?
Long Island vs. Yonkers. A cake eating, trust funded character vs. a man from the inner city with the street savvy to match. The contrast in how each man portrays themselves would build immense anticipation.
Then we move on to their exploits on the microphone. The promos alone between MJF and Eddie Kingston would make this a feud of the year candidate without physically interacting. Two of the very best talkers in pro wrestling, on top of their ability to make you feel something every time they talk or wrestle. Their styles and mouths sell themselves.
To go a step further, let’s book MJF vs. Eddie Kingston in September at the AEW Grand Slam show — which will resonate from Flushing Meadows, New York. Could you imagine the crowd responses and magic that would take place at that event?
Kenny Omega vs. Bryan Danielson
Kenny Omega vs Bryan Danielson 2 in 2023?
Speaking of AEW Grand Slam, Kenny Omega and Bryan Danielson wrestled to a 30-minute draw in September of 2021 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The bout was lauded as a match of the year contender. Since then, fans have been salivating over the thought of their eventual rematch.
Omega would take nine months off to heal from injury after losing his AEW World Title in November of 2021. When he returned in August, his focus moved towards the AEW Trios Titles with his Elite running mates, The Young Bucks.
Danielson would eventually wrestle for the AEW World Championship twice in two months, includingwrestling to a 60-minute draw with Hangman Page. He would lose the return title bout on Dynamite in January 2022.
This is a rematch that doesn’t need a championship at stake for it to be another match of the year quality affair. The larger question is: Could they one-up what the two of them put together in their first AEW encounter?
The Elite vs. CM Punk and FTR
There is business to be made in a trio’s bout for the ages
This is the biggest boom or bust match on this list. A lot of it hinges on CM Punk rebuilding trust with AEW management and most importantly, the locker room.
Yet the opportunity presents itself for AEW to do the biggest piece of business in company history if Punk returns. The storyline sells itself. The Young Bucks and FTR are the two most decorated tag teams outside of the WWE promotion in the world today.
Both teams have each won a match against the other. You proceed to add Kenny Omega and CM Punk to this equation, two of the biggest presences in pro wrestling worldwide, fresh off a backstage encounter marred with controversy.
It was rumored over the summer that CM Punk and FTR were going to team up quite a bit, all while Punk was AEW World Champion. A match with The Elite at some point in time would’ve brought the house down — now you add personal stakes to it.
Only the parties involved in “The Brawl Out at All Out” know what really happened. If those damages can be repaired (with a lot of money on the line, they should be), the fans are in for one of the largest showdowns in professional wrestling this century.
Six men with chips on their shoulders to tear the house down and prove superiority in AEW would be at stake. If this is not the most anticipated match in AEW for 2023, it will only be due to the lack of cooperation on behalf of both parties’ sides to set it up.
The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega returned to AEW television at AEW Full Gear last Saturday, where they challenged Death Triangle (PAC, Penta El Zero Miedo, & Rey Fenix) for the AEW Trios Championships, but came up short.
The Elite had been suspended due to their involvement in the backstage brawl with CM Punk and Ace Steel at All Out in September. They were also stripped for the AEW Trios Championships, which they won at AEW All Out.
During today’s Being The Elite, the Young Bucks discussed their return to the company. They confirmed reports that they’ve been backstage at recent Dynamite events but haven’t wrestled until now. Nick said until they wrestled again, it felt like something was missing.
The Pressure
Nick Jackson admitted that he had anxiety thinking about it and didn’t know if he could still perform at a high level. Matt Jackson stated he was weakening up in cold sweats ahead of their return.
“People don’t understand because we haven’t been able to talk about it. This has been…two of the hardest months of my life. I know for you [Nick] too. Here we are, we got through it, you just never know what’s going to happen until you do it. To hear the support and hear and see how happy a lot of people were to see us, that meant the world to us and Kenny. It felt good. We’re going through the healing process right now. Last night [Full Gear] was a big step to get there. I feel good. We got to come out to a song we grew up listening to with our Dad. A song we almost didn’t get. We didn’t get it until the 11th hour. That was stressful. Getting that, it was the night before, we finally knew. Collectively, it was a crazy time. Now that it’s the end, I can almost sight relief at this point.”
The Elite made their entrance to “Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas. The Elite and Death Triangle will take part in a Best of Seven series, with match two taking place on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.
The Young Bucks (Nick and Matt Jackson) have abandoned their trademark application for the name, The Wayward Sons.
The Bucks applied for the name on November 3. The ‘Goods and Services’ usage description at the United States Patent and Trademark Office included “entertainment services in the nature of wrestling contests” along with a slew of merchandise offerings, such as shirts, hats, bandanas and more.
Less than two weeks later, their application was rescinded on November 14. No specific reason has been for the abandonment, but it’s likely they received word the application would not be approved due to conflicts with existing trademarks.
The Young Bucks Returning
The top tag team has been away from All Elite Wrestling since the events that transpired after September’s AEW All Out pay-per-view.
The Elite have been backstage at recent AEW Dynamite events, with the belief that they will be returning to television shortly.
In recent weeks, vignettes promoting the “deletion” of the Bucks and Omega have begun airing on AEW television. The Bucks and Omega have been added back to television commercials for Dynamite and Rampage, another indication that they are returning soon.
