The Young Bucks—Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, known to their fans as the flippy, superkicky tag team champions of AEW—finally reappeared on the August 14 edition of “AEW Dynamite.” But before they could even finish their title defense against The Acclaimed, the match ended in a disqualification, leaving everyone scratching their heads. So, where in the world had these two been hiding?
According to the ever-watchful Dave Meltzer, the Bucks had actually decided to trade in their wrestling boots for flip-flops, taking a well-deserved family vacation after the grueling Blood & Guts match on July 24. Now, here’s the kicker—Meltzer spilled in his latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the plan was for the Bucks to use this downtime to sell the brutal injuries they supposedly sustained. But, in true AEW fashion, this angle was as undercooked as a rare steak. No big drama, no tearful exits—just the Bucks vanishing like Houdini without the handcuffs. And then, poof, they reappeared without so much as a bandage or a back brace to show for it.
Adding to the mystery, Kazuchika Okada, the AEW Continental Champion, also decided to take an impromptu break from the two “Dynamites” following Blood and Guts. Of course, he came back just in time to lock horns with Claudio Castagnoli ahead of their upcoming clash in Cardiff, Wales. Apparently, this whole “sell your injuries” thing was more of a suggestion than a rule.
But wait, there’s more! Rumor has it The Young Bucks have some sort of secret agreement in their contract that lets them pick and choose when to grace us with their presence. Meltzer pointed out that while they’ve been pretty consistent since January, they’ll be popping in and out of “Dynamite” like your unreliable internet connection. Don’t worry though—they’ve got enough dates left on their calendar to keep things interesting through the end of the year.
And for those of you who can’t get enough of the Bucks, rest assured—they’re locked in for AEW All In next Saturday at Wembley Stadium. There, they’ll defend their tag titles against either FTR or The Acclaimed, unless, of course, they decide to take another spontaneous vacation. But hey, who could blame them? The wrestling life is tough, and sometimes you just need a little R&R before jumping back into the ring.