
Young Bucks Killing the Business from Backyards to the Big Leagues
Reviews

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.
