10 Awesome Modern Wrestlers Who Made Their Name In Japan
7. The Young Bucks
Though Matt and Nick Jackson mostly split their time equally between Ring Of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla and NJPW as they evolved from Generation Me to the Young Bucks, it was in the latter company - in the latter-day - that the act matured. The Ladder Wars were great, and they earned their ***** stripes in Reseda, but in New Japan, in 2018, they finally sold the naysayers on their selling ability. They always knew how to sell, but in fantastic, rich matches with Roppongi 3K and EVIL and SANADA, they pronounced it at precisely the right time.
Big plans were afoot. ALL IN was on the horizon.
It was time to broaden the act's niche, snarky appeal to capture the biggest audience possible. 'Change The Universe' is the trademark recently filed by AEW; to accomplish that, the Bucks had to change the minds of those who regurgitated the old spot monkey accusations. Matt Jackson did so by selling his legit injured back with an almost harrowing realism, working and subverting trademark Bucks spots around it to render it much less than a showcase.
Not to be outdone, Nick at Dominion devised an incredible spot in which he struck the ring post with his leg, creating incredible drama. The guy who could "only do Superkicks" intentionally deprived himself of his biggest popper in a new, disciplined approach to in-ring storytelling.