50 Worst Wrestling Moments Of The 2020s (So Far)

27. The Blackpool Combat Club (General)

The ‘BCC’ started out promisingly.

In early 2022, Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley set about redefining AEW in their own, hard-nosed image. Wheeler YUTA earned his way in via blood sacrifice in what was arguably the match of the year against Mox on Rampage.

This premise could have developed into something narratively rich and effective. As an example, what if the faction riffed on the early ‘90s AJPW Jumbo Tsuruta run, and raged against a new generation of technical standouts? Or, what if, inspired by Cobra Kai, the BCC split into two warring dojos? Teases, defections, reunions, etc.

Could have been cool.

Instead, the BCC acted hard and moody for over two years in poser tweener roles that squandered the appeal of two incredible, rare babyfaces. Danielson’s in-ring AEW career was seminal. Storyline-wise, it was all too often lacking, playing on vague concepts more so than emotive personal issues.

After an underwhelming 2023 feud with the Elite - in which Danielson basically played CM Punk by questioning the Elite’s “amateur” approach to wrestling - the folly of the BCC revealed itself. Ahead of the first All In: London, the BCC played heel, brutally taking Fénix out of the Stadium Stampede match. At the exact time, alienating the audience, Danielson played face in a feud with Ricky Starks. Most of the time, in random matches, the BCC just lived out their shoot-style tape-trader fantasies and were dead hard.

A confusing, wasteful, self-indulgent mess of a stable. The matches were often great, but you get them every week for free anyway.