10 Wrestling Moments That Literally Made You Jump

9. Rick Knox Goes Apesh*t

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AEW

If you're wondering why the Young Bucks took to super-kicking officials in the build towards Full Gear, the answer might be located in the past.

It was a misguided attempt to harken back to the Bucks of old, the version of the act that people wanted to work the Revival all those years ago: the transgressive irritants that the hardcore set fell for in the first place. This didn't resonate because it was such a sudden pivot more emo than anything else. Tormenting officials was an old Bucks PWG trick, and it was once paid off with an absolute all-timer of a f*cking HELL splutter-pop.

At the apex of a f*cking deranged three-way ladder war opposite Future Shock and the Super Smash Bros. - think the worst thing Jim Cornette could ever imagine, and luxuriate in the energy - the Bucks super-kicked Grayson when he tried to spring onto a ladder from the top rope. Bang in the midst of an overdrive of commotion, Knox returned to the fray, having been forcibly removed from it by Matt and Nick, to crotch them on the top rope. The Smash Bros. motioned for a double team move. Knox cut them off at the pass, ran the ropes, and flattened the Bucks with a somersault plancha. The crowd lost their minds. It was a moment of delirious creativity.

On reflection, the Bucks Vs. FTR wasn't a ***** match because Alex Marvez didn't pay off the storyline by doing a topé suicida.

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!