10 Wrestling "Botches" That Were Totally Intentional
8. The Young Bucks Sell Ring Rust
In mainstream puro, a more sports-oriented scene than in the U.S., the returning wrestler tends not to win their first big match back. They aren't sharp. They are in recovery from a significant injury; they need to rehab their body and rediscover their form.
In AEW, the apparent goofy cartoon spot monkey league that's just like WWE, the Young Bucks applied a sporting concept in their first match at Double Or Nothing. Having taken a few months off from in-ring activity as they undertook their roles as Executive Vice Presidents, the Bucks spent the early phase of a classic match with stunning narrative depth botching all over the place.
They - by astute design - were not operating on the same wavelength.
They struggled to get into position to complete signature double team moves, which were easily countered by the Lucha Bros., who also capitalised on the ring rust by evading incoming attacks, forcing the Jacksons to inadvertently strike one another.
The Bucks eventually met in the middle to win the match, but AEW was always far more of a sports-centric promotion than the bad faith critics suggested.