Since wrestling for NJPW in 2018, Matt Jackson has been selling a back injury in nearly all of his matches.
The pain shown on his face during matches is excruciating, with many wondering how long the Young Bucks have left as a team with his back in such a state.
Every time he hits his trademark Northern Lights Suplex, Matt Jackson grabs his back, a relic of an injury long ago that still riddles him to this day.
In most matches, the opposition targets his back to try and take him down. Jackson’s offense consists of many moves that require a strong back, so nullifying that removes his threat.
There are times when the fans are incredibly concerned about his back injury – audibly gasping as he painfully grabs for his back, almost retching from the pain.
But was if I told you Matt Jackson’s back injury was fake?
Matt Jackson’s Back Injury
Matt Jackson’s back injury is all a work, and he never actually suffered a serious back injury.
The former AEW Tag Team Champion has feigned a back injury for nearly a decade, although the exact date he began to fake the injury is hard to pinpoint.
One of the earliest examples noted of Matt Jackson working a back injury was during his time in NJPW. He wrestled alongside his brother (Nick Jackson) and Kenny Omega in “Bullet Club”, the precursor to The Elite.
One of the first time that fans remember it happening was at Wrestle Kingdom 12, when the Young Bucks took on Roppongi 3K for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships.
He sold his back extremely well during this match, so much many fans thought that he was injured for real.
However, he later admitted that he sold the back injury so intensely as a response to people criticizing the Young Bucks selling.
Matt Jackson has suffered injuries in his career, outsize of his worked back injury.
He suffered a torn bicep earlier this year, which threatened to derail the feud between the Blackpool Combat Club and the Elite.
Luckily, he managed to wrestle with a cast on, which kept the feud alive and allowed him to compete in the Blood & Guts match.
What did you think about Matt Jackson’s back injury? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Hamish is a writer and podcaster and wrestling fan who is a key part of the Atletifo team.
After playing countless hours of WrestleMania X8 on the Gamecube, he discovered Rey Mysterio getting his head crushed by The Great Khali, and thus a love for professional wrestling was born.
He is also a Media Graduate, as well as writing for multiple sites about Premier League football and the culture of Wales – his home country.
