Young Bucks Killing the Business from Backyards to the Big Leagues

Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson — 2020

The electric and daring independent wrestling tag team share their inspiring story of how two undersized, ambitious athletes from Southern California became the idols of millions of popular sports fans, coveted among the ranks of AEW’s elite wrestling lineup. Featuring over 60 photographs and alternating between each brother’s perspective, this entertaining memoir is a complete portrait of what it means to grow into—and give back to—wrestling, the sport and profession they embody and love. Famous for their highflying moves, Superkicks, and viral videos, Matt and Nick Jackson are two of the hottest and most talented competitors in professional wrestling today. Known as the Young Bucks, this pair of ambitious brothers are an inspiration to both fans and aspiring wrestlers worldwide due to their message of resilience and determination. That they are also faithful family men devoted to their loved ones gives them additional appeal. Young Bucks begins in Southern California, where two young boys grew up dreaming of success and fame. Matt and Nick look back on the sacrifices they made to achieve their ambitions, from taking odd jobs to pay for their own wrestling ring to hosting backyard events with friends. They share their joy at being recruited into the independent California wrestling circuit and the work it took to finally make it professionally, and speak frankly about what it means to have the support of millions of fans cheering their talents in arenas nationwide. The Young Bucks talk endearingly about their sport, their faith, and their families, sharing personal reflections and behind-the-scenes anecdotes while paying tribute to the wrestling acts and inspirations that came before them. They also elaborate on this historical time in the evolution of wrestling, as the sport and its culture dramatically change day by day. Told with the brothers’ signature wit and charm, Young Bucks is warm, heartfelt story of hope, perseverance, and undying ambition.

Reviews

Micchi von Cross@micchisaurus

Dec 6, 2021

Being born the same year as Matt Jackson, and a pro wrestling fan for as long as I can remember, the early chapters of this book brought back my own nostalgia and memories. There were also moments that took my breath away with sadness - the Jacksons' early love of Hulk Hogan (a love that was almost universally shared by fans of our age), combined with the modern knowledge of who Hogan truly is and the harm he has caused, was particularly poignant. I also appreciate the way both Matt and Nick have treated others throughout their lives, never ostracizing marginalized people, always being warm and compassionate even when their egos maybe needed a little knocking down. There is a thread that runs through that I'm not sure either of them recognize or consciously cultivate - when they cause harm or offense, they don't just apologize. They work to set it right. They learn from it. Not out of obligation or fear of burning a bridge, but because they believe it is the right thing to do. That's rare enough to see in people who are actively trying to unlearn problematic behavior, but they just...do it because it's the right thing to do, and that's incredibly rare. To be clear, neither Matt nor Nick are authors. But they are both storytellers, and their personalities shine brightly in their reflections, their memories, their story. This book's charm isn't in its strength as a memoir - this book reads more like a transcription of oral history. It reads like the stories they'll tell their children, stories they share with new talent, stories they tell friends at TGI Friday's. The hardback is also absolutely beautiful. I was gifted a signed copy, and it will be one of my most treasured books for years to come. The dust jacket is beautifully put together, and captures both the outrageous characters of Matt and Nick Jackson, and the quiet reflections of Matt and Nick Massie. And the illustrations inside the covers, and that are used as chapter headers, are a perfect touch. I knew going into this book that I would enjoy it. I didn't realize quite how much it would impact me, though, and I am grateful for that.