When former New Japan Pro Wrestling commentator and MMA fighter Josh Barnett spoke to Sean Waltman on Pro Wrestling 4 Life, he discussed a number of topics.
These would include the perceived heat between himself and AEW tag team The Young Bucks.
Barnett and Jim Ross were previously the US commentators for New Japan, and reportedly The Bucks felt that Barnett and even Ross were too critical of them on air.
“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” Josh Barnett began.
“They need to understand that, the problem was they wanted to be cool” Barnett continued. “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.”
Josh Barnett on The Young Bucks
“No one wants to be an actual heel anymore” Barnett claimed, lamenting the pro wrestling industry in general.
“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.”
“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 sh*t 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” Josh Barnett concluded.Â