Josh Barnett On Heat With The Young Bucks: They Wanted To Be Cool Heels, Not Actual Heels

The Young Bucks made plenty of enemies during their time in NJPW as dastardly members of The Bullet Club. 

Matt & Nick Jackson would constantly use underhand tactics to win matches as the top heel tag team and part of the top heel group in the promotion. Josh Barnett, who worked as a commentator for NJPW, would mention their tactics or style and the Bucks weren’t happy with his comments, believing he was “burying them.” 

The Bucks would take shots at Barnett’s commentary on Twitter, while Barnett would defend his commentary. 

Speaking to Sean Waltman on Pro Wrestling 4 Life, Barnett commented on his Twitter beef with The Young Bucks. 

“I don’t know what their deal is. I don’t know who riled them up into thinking me and [Jim Ross] were burying them all the time because we weren’t. They need to understand that, the problem was they wanted to be cool. They were heels and cheat constantly, so we’re going to say that you are despicable and horrible. We didn’t say that they sucked, we just said they are bad guys and that was their job, to be bad guys. No one wants to be an actual heel anymore. Everyone wants to be the cool anti-hero and sell their merch. If you’re a heel, be a heel and don’t worry if the fans like you. If you want to run around and tell people to ‘suck it,’ people should want to see you get your teeth kicked in. Somebody riled up the Bucks, I don’t know how, they would get in Twitter fights constantly anyway. I never had a discussion with them. I would constantly cover for them. They would do this crazy stuff that gets a two-count. I didn’t want people to think it was weak or a hope spot or just them getting their shit in. I don’t want to belittle what they’re doing. If they hit it perfectly, then the match is over, but (I would say) they were tired or sweaty or only got a piece of it,” said Barnett.

The Bucks have leaned into being heels much more in AEW, caring less about being “cool” and actively working to upset and anger fans. 

Barnett has moved on from NJPW commentary and, when it comes to wrestling, focuses on organizing Bloodsport under the GCW banner. 

Matt & Nick successfully defend their AEW Tag Team Championships against Eddie Kingston & Penta El Zero M at AEW Dynamite Road Rager. If you missed anything from the show, check out Fightful’s full report by clicking here. 

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