It's Official: The Young Bucks Are Wrestling's Greatest Ever Tag Team

Young Bucks
AEW

The very second the twist arrived, they seemed to laugh at those who deemed them incapable of telling the story, and they laughed too at the excess they knew pissed people off to high heaven. The Superkick Party is hilarious on a meta level, but ask yourself this: who died and made Sweet Chin Music the absolute limit of striking accomplishment?

Shawn Michaels isn't Tong Po. Theoretically, a well-placed kick to the face could end a fight, but if he was so bothered about winning one, he wouldn't stare at his hands in remorse. The point is that wrestling has never looked real, and we only determine what is real through our formative understanding and the agenda driving that understanding. On one wavelength, the Superkick Party is excessive. On a different, better wavelength, you get more bang for your buck.

The Bucks earned the money they were so intelligent to sell because what an achievement it was: they became drawing cards beyond the WWE system that monopolised the game and eroded the value of their art form. Even in the obscure reaches of the Canadian indies, they worked pulsating, mind-blowing wars with Super Smash Bros. In one great match of a great series, the fury of the finish was arranged so fabulously that the audience shrieked, much less popped. This is what the Bucks were and are so tremendous at: constant escalation building from one jaw-dropping moment to a point at which that jaw is left on a hinge until the three count.

Matt Jackson distracted the ref. Uno threw him from harm's way and was met with a kick to the balls. Nick set up for More Bang For Your Buck, but Player Dos (Grayson) threw him to the apron. With Matt stranded, Uno surprised him with a crucifix in what was a great use of intelligent tag work these matches are rarely praised for. In an incredible spot, Dos then spiked Nick onto the apron with a tilt-a-whirl DDT. Uno smashed Matt in the balls in a classic turnabout-is-fair-play babyface spot these matches, again, are rarely praised for. The Super Smash Bros. hit the Fataility. In another heart-stopping moment, Nick pulled the ref out of the ring before he could complete the count. To restore the advantage, Dos flew out of the ring with a rocket-powered dive, only for Nick to duck behind the ref in another just awesome, breathless twist.

CONT'D...(3 of 6)

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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!