15 Greatest Match Finishes In Modern Wrestling History

11. FTR Vs. The Young Bucks - AEW Full Gear 2020

FTR Young Bucks
AEW

A great finish leaves something behind to justify a return match. This was a sensational finish. 

1,000 scattered fans filed into Daily's Place under pandemic conditions to watch the first FTR Vs. Young Bucks match. They did in fact "rejoice", as Cash Wheeler promised they would - so much so that, when the action was at its hottest, you wouldn't have known you were locked-down if you closed your eyes. 

The story here wasn't just a love letter to tag team wrestling; the story here was that FTR knew they couldn't get it done even after brutally going after Matt Jackson's ankle. They lost their heads and betrayed their philosophy. As the match progressed, FTR chronologically raced through moves from tag team history. At first, they drew from the 1980s, as if to show the Bucks that they didn't need fancy modern stuff to get it done. And then they did need fancy modern stuff. 

Increasingly desperate, FTR reluctantly borrowed from #DIY, using Meet In The Middle to score a tremendous near-fall. It didn't matter how fast Cash Wheeler sprinted into his awesome attacks on Nick Jackson: the Bucks would not be denied in their last chance to win the gold. 

By the finish, FTR's philosophy had deserted them entirely. Wheeler, after telling Matt to go f*ck himself, attempted to put him away with a springboard 450. This was an awesome out-of-character moment from the "no flips" guy. Cash was quickly super-kicked into defeat.

Better yet, this was a decisive but open finish because FTR lost the match as much as the Bucks won it. Together, FTR and the Bucks told the tale of which school of thought would win out.

But the question, of which team was better in their own right, was left dangling.

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!