Retirement has become a major topic in wrestling lately, with stars like Hiroshi Tanahashi from New Japan Pro Wrestling, WWE’s AJ Styles, and John Cena announcing their retirements. Even younger wrestlers are thinking about their long-term plans. On a recent episode of “Being the Elite,” AEW’s Matt and Nick Jackson, known as The Young Bucks, responded to fan questions about their prospects beyond wrestling and whether they intend to remain involved in the industry.
Matt was clear: “No way,” when asked if he planned to stay in wrestling post-retirement. Nick shared a slightly different view, saying, “I say this now, but I always imagined running a small independent promotion. I don’t have one yet, but maybe I’ll do some special events occasionally.” Matt later reconsidered, explaining that while his initial feeling was negative, his outlook might change over time: “If you asked me in a few weeks, I’d say, ‘Maybe.’ In a few months? ‘Yeah, sure.'”
The Young Bucks have been wrestling for 22 years, with experience in promotions like Chikara, TNA, Dragon Gate, Ring of Honor, and brief WWE runs. They also collaborated with Cody Rhodes to organize the first All In event in 2018, which ultimately helped launch AEW. Aside from wrestling, they served as executive vice presidents of AEW. Recently, at All In Texas 2025, they lost a match to Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay and, as part of the storyline, their EVP roles were taken away.
If quoting this article, please credit “Being the Elite” and mention Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Fan Take: This insight into The Young Bucks’ future is huge for AEW followers, as it hints at potential shifts in the company’s leadership and creative direction down the line. Their openness about exploring roles outside the ring leaves the door open for fresh faces to rise in AEW, which could invigorate the sport and keep the product exciting.
