Matt Jackson: All In will ‘probably be my biggest wrestling legacy’
The Young Bucks are proud of how far All In has come since they and Cody Rhodes promoted the first event in 2018.
For the first time since that inaugural show, All In returns stateside this Saturday. What started as a self-promoted event by The Elite has now become AEW’s biggest annual pay-per-view, twice being held at Wembley Stadium in London and now taking place at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
All In has already solidified its place among the most historically important shows in wrestling history — and The Young Bucks know it will always be a key part of their legacy.
“From running that first event several years ago in Chicago, when getting 10,000 people into an arena sounded impossible, to seeing it grow into an annual stadium show, where this year we’ll have 20,000-plus fans in attendance, it really does blow my mind,” Matt Jackson told Uncrowned.
“I’m humbled to have had the pleasure to take part in this movement from the very beginning. To be able to say not only was I there, but I helped it all happen, that’ll probably be my biggest wrestling legacy. I get to perform on the show I helped create, in the company I am a founding father of, a company that has succeeded so much more than even I could have ever imagined, company that forever will be called Elite, long after I’m gone.”
Saturday’s event will see Matt and his brother Nick Jackson take on Swerve Strickland & Will Ospreay in a tag team match. If The Young Bucks win, neither Strickland nor Ospreay can challenge for the AEW World Championship for the next year. But if Strickland & Ospreay win, The Young Bucks lose their on-screen titles as executive vice presidents.
The Young Bucks told Uncrowned that they have enjoyed working their EVP titles into their TV personas, with Nick saying that “people actually think we’re bad human beings because we play these characters pretty dang good.” Matt feels they still have a lot left to explore if they win on Saturday.
“It really has been incredibly fun leaning in on all the things people accuse us of being. I remember back in the beginning, arguing with someone that going public about having a major job title in the company is probably a bad idea if we want to be cheered ever again as wrestlers,” Matt said.
“So using it in this way all these years later has definitely made the most sense. It’s for sure helped us garner more heat, and given us a new tool to work with the last couple of years on screen. I think there’s so much left to explore too, shall we have that opportunity to do so.”
All In’s pre-show will begin at 1 p.m. Eastern on Saturday with the main card then starting at 3 p.m. AEW World Champion Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Page, AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm vs. Mercedes Mone, and International Champion Kenny Omega vs. Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada are the three top matches set for the show.