The current biggest names in independent pro wrestling, without a shadow of a doubt, are Matt and Nick Jackson - the Young Bucks. Their run as Generation Me in TNA wasnt the best experience for them, and like many people coming out of a toxic working environment, they had to figure out whether they were even going to carry on working in the industry. Clearly they stuck with it - more than that though, they actually upped their game. The crapulence of their TNA experience became a stepping stone instead of a millstone. Their approach punk rock through and through, the boys did the math and figured out that they could make far more running their own schedule on the US independents and in Japan than in NXT: with the focused way they run their enterprise, the money was simply better than WWEs developmental deal could provide. Theyre both married with kids, after all upping sticks and moving to Florida to work for peanuts in the hope of getting promoted to the WWE main roster simply wasnt that appealing an option, no matter how cool it would have been to call themselves WWE superstars eventually. Despite this perspective, the Young Bucks have been heavily courted by WWE for NXT. Upon their decision not to sign in 2014, WWE actually took a potshot at them on Smackdown, with Mark Henry telling Roman Reigns, you young bucks, you think you know it all, you did it all - you ain't been nowhere. WWE also applied to trademark the too-sweet hand gesture used by the Bullet Club stable, which the Jacksons are a part of in Japan. The gesture is used in homage to the nWo, and of course WWE own the nWo trademarks, but the subtext was clear: turning down NXT was embarrassing for the WWE, and they didnt appreciate being shown up. That's still the case now - only a week or so ago, WWE security were confiscating Young Bucks signs at the Hell In A Cell event. How often does that happen: WWE getting surly with independent wrestlers for choosing not to sign with them? Thats when you know youre getting somewhere. This year, the Bucks were once again in the position of considering whether to sign a contract with one of the larger companies. True to form, they teased a big announcement that made the uninitiated think they were going to NXT and then wrongfooted the noobs and signed with Ring Of Honor for a year instead. ROH, you see, would allow the Jacksons to continue to work for New Japan and Pro Wrestling Guerilla, and retain the Young Bucks/Jacksons branding that theyd spent considerable personal capital building up.
Every show we're at, we're campaigning for ourselves. We might as well be shaking hands, kissing babies and giving people Young Bucks stickers and buttons. We're like that small punk-rock band that's going town-to-town. I think people like that. - Matt Jackson, Rolling Stone interview 19th May 2015
Having learned from freelance heroes like Colt Cabana how to market themselves, Nick and Matt Massie have carved out their niche. Increasingly, more and more creative, individualistic pro wrestlers are following their path, taking on careers away from the big leagues, recognising that being on television as a WWE superstar isnt the be-all and end-all if you want to retain control of your image and your career. On 12th September, Matt Jackson tweeted: Were not even wrestlers. Were a punk rock band. Aint that the truth.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
