A week ago Joey Ryan, former TNA wrestler and co-founder of Pro Wrestling Guerrilla tweeted that someone he knew turned down the WWE in September and what a weird state of the industry we’re in now.
What a weird state the industry is in right now when my friends are turning down WWE offers to stay independent.
— Joey Ryan (@JoeyRyanOnline) December 10, 2014
It sent the Internet speculating as to whom did it, with reporters from The Wrestling Observer coming out it was none other than Nick and Matt Jackson of the Young Bucks. Both Young Bucks tweeted about their happiness to stay in Japan and the independent circuit instead of going to the WWE.
@TheDudeSisco That’s not all the truth. We have jobs with NJPW and we make good money. We’re on the road 200+ days a year.
— The Young Bucks (@NickJacksonYB) December 18, 2014
“@adamSFCparnell: young bucks remind me of the hardy boyz & they will realise they cannot build a legacy on an Indy circuit” Already have.
— The Young Bucks (@MattJackson13) December 18, 2014
For some like Joey Ryan this is a sign of the times. After the recent influx of independent (Not WWE or TNA) talent to the WWE, from Kevin Owens to Finn Balor and Hideo Itami, it felt like the door was finally open for the WWE to embrace and accept the best in independent wrestling and professional wrestling outside of the WWE Universe. Kevin Owens, along with Sami Zayn made their names loudest in Ring of Honor and PWG. Itami, as KENTA, was the face of Pro Wrestling NOAH when he signed. Finn Balor was quite comfortable in New Japan Pro Wrestling as leader of the Bullet Club when he made the jump. The Bucks are currently members of Bullet Club and have made appearances in every major independent promotion in North America (they also had a stint in TNA as GenerationME).
But looking at the tweets from the Young Bucks, it doesn’t really seem like they wanted to sign with the WWE. At 28 and 25 the Bucks are still young and prominent in the industry, but they also have families to raise. The independent wrestling lifestyle lends best to someone raising a young child, something Kevin Owens has brought up himself. Owens didn’t want to come in until his son was older. I’m sure the door is still open for the Bucks, but I also feel their priorities and place is a bit different than a guy like Owens or Balor.
The Young Bucks currently have 100% control over their image and wrestling style. Going to the WWE would risk the chance of the company breaking the two up, much like how WWE signed Cesaro and Kassius Ohno but never considered reforming the Kings of Wrestling. It could also mean new names and new gear, with a WWE road agent either in NXT or eventually the main roster telling them they had to change up their tag style. The Bucks wrestle a frantic, high impact style which includes a cornucopia of Superkicks that feel like a guy spamming the A+B super hard attack in WWF No Mercy because it works great. Going to the WWE would mean far less control over their tag team maneuvers and likely being told they have to limit the amount of kicks they do (you could bet a road agent would tell them that doing the kicks would water down the legacy of Shawn Michaels or something of the sort). There’s of course more to the Bucks than just Superkicks and Meltzer Drivers, but you know that’s the first changes that would come.
By jumping to the WWE, the Young Bucks wouldn’t just be giving up control over who they are. They would also be giving up their current financial situation and schedule. The Bucks currently work everywhere and have a strong position in New Japan Pro Wrestling. The Bucks are pretty much the face of the Junior tag division in NJPW, and with New Japan doing a pay per view in January that can be accessed easily in North America with Jim Ross and Matt Striker doing commentary, they are going to have more exposure than ever. The Bucks have said that they currently make good money and it’s been speculated that signing with the WWE means less money initially. While the Bucks do work a rigorous schedule, they never have to miss anything they don’t want to at home.
One has to think, what are the chances that the Young Bucks really break out in WWE? We’re talking stay together in NXT, very little change to their name and character and allow them to come up to the WWE roster and start making “Superstar” money? Some might point to teams like the Hardy Boyz and Dudley Boys but both of those teams came up during the golden Attitude era when the WWF had no problem promoting tag teams as a prominent part of the show. Today the WWE tag division is a sad facsimile of its past and hasn’t been treated as important since the Smackdown Six days of 2003. Over a decade of mediocrity. While I’m sure the Young Bucks would love the challenge of proving everyone wrong and pushing the tag division back to former glory, I think they also see the unlikelihood, especially after everything they dealt with in TNA. Some of the same people who doubted them there are in good with the WWE today. They wouldn’t be going in with any stroke.
But looking at the uphill climb and turning away from it isn’t a sign of weakness, failure or any form of giving up. The Young Bucks are instead making a commitment to the people who watch them and love everything they are. The Bucks are making it clear that one is able to make a life and career outside of the WWE, and that professional wrestling exists outside of their universe. The industry needs more wrestlers whose careers are not defined by a distant dream of the WWE and more defined by performing to the best of their ability in front of a live crowd, regardless of the banner over their heads. The Young Bucks are great in New Japan, great in ROH, great in PWG and great when they appear front and centre on a local wrestling poster. Going to the WWE would be just to prove what we already know.
It really feels like we’re apart of an underground hardcore band and have the best hardcore fans. Thx for helping us make a living! #Blessed
— The Young Bucks (@NickJacksonYB) December 16, 2014
The Young Bucks didn’t turn down the WWE. The Young Bucks re-signed with professional wrestling.
photo credit: Anton Jackson via photopin cc
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