The Disturbing Truth Behind WWE's Recent Controversial Decision

FTR Young Bucks
AEW

FTR debuted in May and immediately teased a dream match with the Young Bucks a near half-decade in the making. It is now September, and the match hasn't happened.

Gauging by AEW's booking patterns, it's only likely to happen at November's Full Gear pay-per-view at the earliest. The plot thread has not been abandoned; all the while, AEW has gradually cultivated interest in the match by introducing a tense subplot based on mutual respect. This manifested in a tremendous match, the best of the no-fans era, in which FTR and the Bucks teamed to take on the Lucha Bros, the Butcher & the Blade. Then, when it became clearer that FTR had mounted a mind games campaign to cut Kenny Omega and Hangman Page in half, and they were very much the heels in this deft, dovetailing saga, the first meeting was glimpsed in a gauntlet match. It never happened; Hangman Page, successfully manipulated, cost the Bucks the chance to finally wrestle FTR. The Best Friends won that round, FTR defeated them, and FTR Vs. Page and Omega was set for All Out.

To arrive at the dream match, and create an immense sense of anticipation around it that in theory results in a strong buy rate, AEW withheld, prolonged, and teased it for over a half calendar year. They are making you desperate to finally, finally see it. They have conspired to fictionalise the aching longing of the fantasy booking. This is tremendous build. Tremendous promotion.

Keith Lee Vs. Randy Orton isn't the same thing. It isn't the same cross-promotional dream match finally made real. It's nowhere near as mythical nor as natural a conflict, but the principle should still be applied; between August 25 and September 7, Keith Lee and Randy Orton shared a ring four times.

CONT'D...(3 of 6)

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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!