10 Wrestlers Who Changed The Business Forever

2. The Young Bucks

Cody Dynamite
AEW

The Young Bucks forever changed the perception of the Independent pro wrestler.

Through their real talent and fan defiance of the WWE machine, the 'Indy guy' was always perceived as cooler, more acclaimed than the capital 'S' WWE Superstar - but WWE was always the destination. The Indy guy risked irrelevance, burial and an abject humiliation in WWE. CM Punk toiled in OVW just to sniff the big time. Daniel Bryan jobbed to Darren Young in 1:51 because his Indy cachet was less than worthless. Samoa Joe was deemed too overweight to even embarrass. Nigel McGuinness tumbled into depression because his failed medical ruined the only dream a pro wrestler could realistically hold.

The Bucks changed this perception, and the very WWE pay scale, by monetising the scene with real, entrepreneurial skill.

As a very over act, the Bucks leaned into their perception as brats by throwing their money around. They were wrestling's nouveau riche, only with taste - their t-shirt designs in no small part made them that money - and by luxuriating in their new wealth, the attendant glamour framed them as big deals in a scene that suddenly felt less small. This bit was so consistent with the act that it never felt alienating, and their tireless, committed fan interaction never risked that bond, anyway.

The Bucks drew real money and marketed that drawing power, shifting the Indy scene away from unglamorous means to an end worth celebrating in itself.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!