WWE Hall Of Famer Assesses Career Accomplishments Of AEW's Young Bucks

At this point, two-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T is essentially looked at as a lifer for the company, significant runs in WCW and TNA notwithstanding. As the owner of a promotion (Reality of Wrestling), an announcer, a podcaster, and an icon in the business, he maintains a constant eye on the general wrestling landscape, especially as a tag team legend from his time alongside his brother and partner Stevie Ray. So, it's no wonder that Booker has developed an affinity for Matt and Nick Jackson, The Young Bucks, despite no direct correlation or paths crossed. Appearing on D-Von Dudley's official YouTube channel, Booker praised The Bucks, leaning into their global presence and the fortune they've amassed despite never reaching the pinnacle of the pro wrestling world.

"I've been watching these guys come up for a long time and they definitely have separated themselves from the pack as far as tag teams go," Booker said. "I look at the business sometimes in dollars and cents and those guys have made the best out of their careers not being the biggest guys in a business that's always been a big man business." Citing their time in Japan and influence on Bullet Club, Booker also noted opportunism and perhaps a little luck in The Bucks' success. "I think the Young Bucks just happened to be in the right place at the right time to capitalize off of [their] style," he said. "The guys can really freakin' work and perform."

Pressed by Dudley to give The Bucks a letter grade in terms of their overall career work, Booker didn't hesitate to bestow just about the highest honors possible while figuratively wearing the professor's hat. "I gotta give them an A," he said, before adding a very cut-and-dry distinction. "I can't give them any less than an A because, check their bank account."

From Ring of Honor to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, TNA to AEW, and of course, across the independent wrestling landscape all over the world, few have made their presence felt in such a widespread manner more impressively than The Young Bucks have. With that in mind, Booker recognizes as much as not just a key to their continued success or a boon to their current standing in the wrestling world, but as a catalyst for the influence they had in creating the major promotion for which they still work today.

Leaning into their impact on AEW, which, through its ups and downs has undoubtedly has had a positive influence on the industry as a whole, Booker tipped his cap to Matt and Nick once more. "They parlayed their success all the way to the top," he said, "to where they got a guy like Tony Khan to create a company around them." And while there were others who were influential to AEW, both in its infancy and in its standing as a major alternative promotion to this day, for that alone, The Young Bucks' place in wrestling history is secured.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit D-Von Dudley's official YouTube channel and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.