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SoCal Wrestlers, The Young Bucks, go All In with Independent Event

By Ed Stein

MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 27: Fighters perform acrobatic moves on the ring as spectators cheer during The Triple W's 'Venon' show at Tabacalera on February 27, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. Lovers of the american style wrestling founded the White Wolf Wrestling (Triple W) association to practice their sport and to organise regular shows to entertain the members of the public in Madrid. The Triple W fighters make acrobatic moves as they follow a script during the shows. Each fighter represents a character, and trains and takes part in the shows just as a passion. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 27: Fighters perform acrobatic moves on the ring as spectators cheer during The Triple W's 'Venon' show at Tabacalera on February 27, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. Lovers of the american style wrestling founded the White Wolf Wrestling (Triple W) association to practice their sport and to organise regular shows to entertain the members of the public in Madrid. The Triple W fighters make acrobatic moves as they follow a script during the shows. Each fighter represents a character, and trains and takes part in the shows just as a passion. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images) /
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Sunday, Ranch Cucamonga natives Matt and Nick Jackson (aka the Young Bucks) were part of a historic press conference. The announcement of their upcoming independent show “All-In” was a smashing hit, selling out 10,000 seats in a half-hour.

The wrestling industry in this country, for all its evolution the past thirty years, still operates as a big cartel. The Young Bucks and Cody (Rhodes) are about to change the status quo.

Big Announcement

The Bullet Club is most well-known wrestling faction outside of the WWE. They have become more than a faction, they are a global brand. That brand is about to be put to the test. Sunday’s press conference for All In represents a shift in the professional wrestling industry.

All In will happen on September 1 at the 10,000-seat Sears Center in Hoffman Estates, IL. No corporate sponsorships, no deep pocket investors, no problem. SoCal wrestlers Matt and Nick Jackson, aka the Young Bucks, are set to co-promote with Cody Rhodes one of largest independent wrestling shows in recent memory. Performing at a show is one thing, putting your own assets on the line is completely different.

Shaking up Business as Usual

We reached out to Joe Soriano from our “cousins” at Daily DDT for his reactions

“Dave Meltzer bet the Young Bucks and Cody that no promotion outside of WWE could sell out a stadium of 10,000 in the United States. The bet should have been whether or not they could sell out a show within an hour. Wrestling fans have wondered if WWE’s ostensible monopoly on the sport in the country meant that there wasn’t enough opportunity available for other promotions to grab their slice of the pie.

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Cody and Nick and Matt Jackson didn’t even have the resources that an actual wrestling promotion, perhaps even one backed by someone with real money in the future. Instead, they made All In a successful phenomenon on the strength of their own talent, guile, and work ethic as tireless promoters.

Essentially, they’ve shown that the idea pro wrestling isn’t “big enough” or that the WWE is “too big” to compete against is completely bogus. They’ve thrown down the gauntlet and have challenged promotions like ROH, Impact, and others to get their act together.

Because the success of All In not only shows just how huge the Bullet Club is. I mean, we already knew that. No, it shows that it’s time for wrestling companies in the United States to get off of their asses and push the envelope. The talent is there. The interest is there. But is there enough ambition? That’s what we’re about to find out after All In, and it feels like we’re in uncharted territory, thanks to the maverick-like qualities of the Bullet Club and their “real” leader, Cody Rhodes.”

Potential Matches

NWA president (and Smashing Pumpkins frontman) Billy Corgan announced that the NWA World Champion will defend the title against Cody. Currently, the champion is Nick Aldis (FKA Magnus in TNA), however much can change in four months. The money match is Cody vs Kenny Omega, but there are other wrestlers that make sense. Among them are Austin Aries, Jay Lethal, Zach Sabre Jr. or even Chris Jericho (if he gets Vince McMahon’s blessing).

There are also plenty of options for the Young Bucks as well. They could take one fellow Bullet Club member Omega and his “Golden Lovers” tag team partner Kota Ibushi. A matchup with Lucha Libre stars (and brothers) Pentagon Jr. and Rey Fenix could be an aerial assault of epic proportions. Finally, tensions within the Bullet Club are running very high right now. The Young Bucks against stablemates Guerillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) isn’t out of the question either.

The press conference hinted at a match between Flip Gordon and Marty Scurll.

Wrestlers confirmed on the card include current IWGP heavyweight champion Kazuchika Okada, Hangman Page, Rey Mysterio, Tessa Blanchard and actor/stuntman/wrestler Steven Amell among others.

In conjunction with the event, CM Punk will be doing an autograph signing at Pro Wrestling Tees in Chicago. Also, a wrestling fan convention will happen in the days leading up to the show, featuring the likes of Jeff Jarrett, Eric Bischoff, and Bruce Pritchard.

The Wrap

Next: Know Your Rival; L.A. Sports Edition

The Young Bucks said at the press conference that they have been breaking barriers on the business side of wrestling since they started. All In is another opportunity for them to show the world what they can do

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