Young Bucks talk Anarchy in the Arena, Tony Khan attack, custom Sneaker Belts

Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, the Young Bucks, will go down as one of the greatest tag teams in professional wrestling history, but their impact on the sport and beyond extends well outside the confines of the so-called squared circle.

The current AEW World Tag Team Champions are helping weave together the worlds of wrestling and sneakerhead culture — two worlds that have more in common than might initially meet the eye.

For the Young Bucks, wrestling is more than a sport; it’s a vibrant, living art form, and their sneakers are the brushstrokes that complete the masterpiece. Or maybe they just like to show off their cool kicks.

The Young Bucks recently released their limited-edition Sneaker Belt, a footwear accessory featuring custom embossed black leather, adjustable straps, and premium raised brass, in the spirit of AEW’s signature championship belts.

FanSided's Justin Fried had the opportunity to catch up with the AEW EVPs to discuss everything from their love of sneakers to the infamous Darby Allin thumbtack spot from this year's Anarchy in the Arena match.

The Young Bucks on Sneaker Belts and their introduction to sneaker culture

Justin Fried: "How did you guys come up with the idea for Sneaker Belts?"

Nicholas Jackson: "What better way to improve your shoe game? By putting a championship belt wrapped around your ankle. Let’s just face it, not everyone is championship material, but this new invention makes everyone capable."

Justin Fried: "How did your love and appreciation for sneakers first start? What initially drew you both to this hobby/lifestyle?"

Nicholas Jackson: " It first started as a young kid. I was always drawn to Jordan’s shoes when he would fly through the sky for a slam dunk. The Jordan 11’s always looked so cool and shiny and I was obsessed with them but couldn’t ever afford them. So once I had a little bit of money, I bought every possible variation of the 11!"

Matthew Jackson: "Like everyone else my age, I was a massive NBA kid in the '90s. Our family couldn’t afford the new expensive trendy sneakers, so most of the time, I had to wear the coolest sneakers I could find at Payless. Either that, or hope to find a pair of NIKE, Reebok, ADIDAS, or FILA at a discount department store like Ross. When I became a bit older and had a job in 2003, I saved up for a pair of Reebok Omni 2 Pumps — a dream sneaker of mine that was going through a retro phase in pop culture. I wore those things everywhere until they fell apart, on dates with my now wife Dana and even in the ring in my backyard! I think the thing that attracted me the most to sneakers as a young kid was that it was the easiest way to emulate the heroes you watched on television. It was like having the ability to buy your favorite superhero's costume. Maybe some of their superpowers would come along with them? Wearing Michael Jordan’s sneakers made me believe I’d one day be able to fly. Or, pumping up the same Reebok sneaker Dee Brown did made me believe I could slam dunk. When I was fortunate enough to come into money in my adult life, I basically went and bought all of the sneakers I always wanted when I was a child but couldn’t afford. I’m still a kid at heart."

The Young Bucks on sneakerhead culture infultrating wrestling

Justin Fried: "In your own words, what is it that makes sneakerhead culture so special? Basically, explain the appeal of it to someone who isn’t necessarily interested in this lifestyle."

Nicholas Jackson: " I think it’s a fun hobby. I see it as the same as someone who loves to collect memorabilia or things like that. You get a high when you score a shoe that was missing from your collection and the hunt for certain shoes is so much fun especially if you find one in the wild."

Matthew Jackson: "A comfortable, stylish sneaker complements any outfit. Whether it’s just everyday wear, gym clothes, or even a suit, your overall look’s exclamation point is whatever is on your feet. And a great sneaker is timeless. You could let them sit in a box for 10 years, blow the dust off, and wear them to work, and nobody will bat an eyelash. If you get any attention, it’ll probably be positive. Now, imagine doing that with most other things. My almost teenage daughter will make fun of me for wearing ankle socks, (I guess that’s not cool anymore?) but she will compliment the ‘08 Dunks I have on while wearing those same-aged socks. Now, for people like us who collect sneakers, I’d compare it to collecting anything else: comic books, toys, albums, watches, etc. Many of us live by completionism — not even necessarily loving everything we own, just wanting the complete set. I will say, every sneaker I own, I love, and I wear. They’re all coming out of the box, no matter the price or rarity. The way the sneaker makes me feel when I wear them is the most important part. Maybe some kids will watch us pump up our new sneakers in the ring before a superkick, and it’ll make them believe they can be like us one day."

Justin Fried: "Can you think of any notable similarities between the worlds of wrestling and sneakers? What kind of crossover appeal is there between these two worlds?"

Nicholas Jackson: "I think there’s always been a tight connection between the wrestling world and the sneaker community. Many wrestlers are known sneakerheads. I remember John Cena wearing Reebok pumps, which is so cool to think about it now since we have our very own pump. Shane McMahon always had great shoes on TV. I remember Bret [Hart]'s boots almost resembled Jordan 11 Concords, so they have always been around."

Matthew Jackson: "Things like pro wrestling, comic books, and sneakers are all very similar. It’s a niche, passionate audience, obsessed with a very specific thing, so naturally there’s going to be some crossover appeal. I’ve walked around many comic book conventions, and have been stopped so many times by people who are either fans of our work or fans of what I’m wearing on my feet. Any time I’m at Disneyland, several people yell out, 'Nice sneakers!' as they pass by. We’re all nerds for something. Most sneakers aren’t as expensive or unattainable as a sports car. An average person can save up and eventually get a pair of their favorite shoes, without going into years of debt. Maybe that’s why the culture has blown up so much. It’s for everyone."

The Young Bucks on hitting Tony Khan with the 'TK Driver'

Justin Fried: "A couple of months ago on Dynamite, you two were involved in an angle that saw you piledrive Tony Khan. Tony was, of course, later seen wearing a neck brace during the NFL Draft. What was that whole experience like for you guys? How did Tony feel about the idea?"

Nicholas Jackson: "Matthew and I have been planning on giving Tony a Tony Khan Driver ever since we changed the name of the move. I don’t think he had any clue what to expect because to my knowledge he’s never been piledriven in a ring."

Matthew Jackson: "It felt big and different. It was certainly a disruption to the normal AEW Dynamite programming. I’m always interested in experimenting with unexpected, forbidden ideas. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and do what feels safe. It’s fun to explore and be dangerous at this point in my career. Sometimes things land, and sometimes they do not. But I want to look back at our career when it’s all over and remember the moments. That particular moment is a night I’ll never forget."

The Young Bucks on the infamous Darby Allin spot in the 2024 Anarchy in the Arena match

Justin Fried: "I wanted to ask about the now-infamous Anarchy in the Arena match at Double of Nothing this year. During that match, you two hit an upside-down Darby Allin with a pair of thumbtack-laced superkicks. It was genuinely one of the most insane wrestling spots I can ever remember. Whose idea was that? Is that something Darby pitched? And also, is that something you can even prepare for ahead of time?"

Nicholas Jackson: "Matthew came up with the double superkick while Darby was hanging upside down. It was one of the stiffest kicks we’ve ever thrown. He had a broken piece of thumbtack stuck in his mouth when we saw him in the doctor’s office."

Matthew Jackson: "I asked myself, 'What short video clip highlighting our new sneaker will be the most impressive?' I know if I was scrolling through Instagram, and I happened to see a reel of a man hung upside down by his ankles in the middle of a wrestling ring and then kicked in the face with a sneaker that has thumbtacks superglued to the bottoms of them, I’d probably share that video with my favorite group chat. The next day, our Reebok Pumps went on sale and we sold almost every pair in that first 24 hours. Maybe it worked?"

The Young Bucks on their AEW dream match

Justin Fried: " If you could have a dream match against any AEW tag team, who would it be?"

Nicholas Jackson: "I think it’s got to be Christian Cage and Adam Copeland. They aren’t a team right now, but if they ever did get back together that would be the dream match for Matthew and me for sure. It’s a match I never thought was even possible."

Matthew Jackson: "Copeland and Christian. Or a rematch against Hangman [Adam Page] and Kenny [Omega]."