The Young Bucks just took another loss on AEW television, but that defeat may actually be setting Matt and Nick Jackson up for something much bigger. One theory coming out of Dynamite is that the Bucks could be headed straight back to the AEW Tag Team Titles — but for now, that remains speculation based on how the story is being booked.
Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight defeated The Young Bucks in a tables match on Dynamite, with Fletcher putting Nick Jackson through a table to finish the match. Almost immediately afterward, AEW promoted the upcoming ladder match featuring The Bucks, FTR and AEW Tag Team Champions Adam Copeland and Christian Cage.
That timing raised an obvious question. Why have The Young Bucks lose right before putting them into a championship match against two other teams?
During the September 10 edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez asked Dave Meltzer that exact question. Meltzer made it clear he was giving his own read on the booking, saying his presumption is that AEW intends to put the titles on the Bucks.
“Because my presumption is because they’re going to win the championships. Now if they don’t — if they don’t, it doesn’t make sense. They’re going to win the championships and now they’ve got challengers to face.”
Alvarez then questioned whether Fletcher and Knight should simply be added to the ladder match after beating one of the teams already challenging for the titles. Meltzer acknowledged that AEW could go in that direction, but said he personally wouldn’t expand the match because he believes the three-team setup makes more sense.
“They could be added to the ladder match, too.”
Meltzer then explained why he believes the Bucks winning the belts could connect several recent results. Matt and Nick have already lost to FTR and Copeland and Christian this year, and they can now add Fletcher and Knight to that list. His theory is that those defeats could become ready-made championship programs if AEW puts the belts on The Young Bucks.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t do it, though. I don’t think that — I think that it dilutes the match. I think the three ways were the way to go. And then, you know, the Bucks should win because it makes sense because the Bucks lost to FTR and the Bucks lost to Christian and, you know, to Christian and Copeland already this year.”
When Alvarez pointed out that the Bucks have now also lost to Fletcher and Knight, Meltzer said that would give AEW another major title program if his prediction comes true.
“Yeah, but they’re setting up — if they’re champions, they got three big matches.”
None of that means a Young Bucks title victory is locked in. Meltzer was laying out his interpretation of AEW’s booking and even said the recent losses would make far less sense to him if Matt and Nick don’t walk away with the championships.
Still, AEW has quietly loaded the Bucks up with teams who can immediately come knocking if they leave the ladder match with gold. FTR, Copeland and Christian, and now Fletcher and Knight all have recent history with them, so a Bucks victory could open the door to months of title programs without AEW having to start from scratch.
Do you think AEW is setting up The Young Bucks to win the Tag Team Titles, or are their recent losses pointing somewhere else? Let us know what you think in the comments.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
