9 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (June 15)
2. The Young Bucks Do What The Young Bucks Do: Wrestle Classics Every Time
The Young Bucks Vs. Jurassic Express was a phenomenal match and a structural masterclass intelligent across multiple levels: one of the smartest "spot-fests" you will ever see.
For five breathless minutes, this was a sprint and plunder match hybrid. The pace was so breakneck and the destructive action was so hot that the dark grey cloud hanging over this match melted instantly. The arrangement of the set pieces was so seamless too. Nothing imminent was too obvious. There was no f*cking about: this was perfectly calibrated to lose fans in the insane thrill of it all with outrageous bumps and signature Bucks twists, like that incredible Nick Jackson hurricanrana reversal.
Each team climbed or attempted to climb throughout too. This wasn't a loosely arranged series of crazed stunts. The narrative thread, the very purpose of the match, was consistent. The pace slowed after the commercial break, which allowed the emotional core to resonate.
The selling and the struggle of the slow, gutsy climb was dialled up in the mix as Matt, who knows exactly how to sell it, clutched at his neck. He echoed the occasions on which he has suffered shoot stingers to register the cumulative effects of the match. Luchasaurus took an incredible bump to arrive at the finish, and it didn't feel too contrived because the Bucks had teased using the table tower on more than one occasion.
The fans weren't distracted by the obvious landing zone because the match was so electrifying throughout. Killer main event. Really, someone ought to coin a new term as an alternative to "spot-fest".
People will confuse that for this, and it's bullsh*t.
Interesting trivia note: Matt Jackson has lost his footwear in every AEW World Tag Team title switch he's been a part of. Fought through ankle injury against FTR, received his comeuppance for using a thumbtack sneaker against the Lucha Bros, then lost a shoe during a climb against Jurassic Express. This is such a cool detail, and one to look forward to in big title matches to come.