Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight came within striking distance of the AEW World Tag Team Championships at WrestleDream, but The Young Bucks ultimately left with the titles still in their possession. In the aftermath, Fletcher had a blunt, joking assessment of why the challenge fell short: he blamed Knight.
Speaking during a late-night poolside segment filmed after the event, Fletcher reflected on the match with Matt and Nick Jackson, describing the title bout as a success in one sense while clearly lamenting the final result. The Australian star said the contest was enjoyable, but he also maintained that he and Knight should have ended the night as champions.
“The match with the Young Bucks went very well, it was a very fun time,” Fletcher said. “We did not win the championships because Kevin Knight is a stupid doo doo head.”
The remarks were delivered in an exhausted, comedic tone after a physically demanding evening. Fletcher also noted that he had been superkicked repeatedly during the match, embracing the punishing style that has long been central to Young Bucks bouts. “I got super kicked at least ten times in the face, because I love this,” Fletcher added.
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While Fletcher’s wording was intentionally playful, the match itself did offer a clear point of tension between the challengers. Fletcher and Knight had the momentum at a crucial moment, only for Knight to tag himself into the contest. Fletcher appeared confused by the decision, and the challengers were unable to recover their advantage. The sequence ended with Knight taking a double superkick from The Young Bucks before being hit with the BTE Trigger for the deciding pinfall.
A Costly Breakdown In A Championship Match
Tag title matches often hinge on timing, communication and knowing when to make the tag. Fletcher and Knight’s WrestleDream challenge highlighted all three factors. The pair had shown they could match the champions athletically and keep pace with the quick transitions that define a Young Bucks match. However, the tag that Knight made without Fletcher’s apparent expectation changed the rhythm of the bout.
Fletcher’s visible reaction made the moment stand out. Rather than presenting a completely unified front, the challengers briefly seemed to be operating with different ideas about how to close out the match. Against champions as experienced and opportunistic as Matt and Nick Jackson, even a momentary lapse can be decisive. The Bucks capitalized, isolated Knight, and landed their trademark finishing combination to retain their championships.
That does not necessarily mean Fletcher and Knight are headed for an immediate split. Fletcher has not shown sustained hostility toward Knight since WrestleDream, despite the joking complaint. His comments instead fit the tone of a wrestler decompressing after a frustrating loss, mixing irritation, exhaustion and humor after a major pay-per-view match.
Still, the finish gives their partnership an issue that could linger beneath the surface. Fletcher was adamant that he should have been holding tag team gold, and Knight was the wrestler who absorbed the decisive fall. For any new team, losing a championship opportunity because of a breakdown in coordination can either become a learning experience or expose deeper differences.
An Uneasy Partnership That Found Its Footing
Fletcher and Knight have not always been naturally aligned. During the summer, the two were at odds before Don Callis brought them together as a team. Their eventual common ground created an intriguing pairing: Fletcher’s intensity and sharp edge combined with Knight’s speed, athleticism and high-energy style.
That history matters when examining Fletcher’s WrestleDream comments. Their partnership was forged after conflict rather than built from years of seamless familiarity. As a result, moments such as the unanticipated tag are likely to receive more attention than they would for an established tandem. The wrestlers had already needed to move past prior issues before joining forces, and their title loss provides another test of whether that alignment can remain stable.
At the same time, Fletcher’s public response did not cross into an outright condemnation of Knight or a declaration that the partnership is finished. He called Knight a “doo doo head,” said he had “some very choice words” for him, and then moved on to the physical toll of the match. The overall presentation left room for the exchange to be viewed as a frustrated teammate’s jab rather than a formal challenge or betrayal.
The distinction is important. In AEW, the loss itself is a confirmed setback, but the future of the team remains uncertain rather than settled. Fletcher and Knight could address their communication issues and pursue another shot at the champions. They could also find that their earlier disagreements have not disappeared as completely as they seemed. Nothing from Fletcher’s comments confirms either path.
Fletcher’s Focus Shifts To Will Ospreay
Whatever happens next with Knight, Fletcher has an even larger singles opportunity ahead. He is set to challenge Will Ospreay for the AEW Men’s World Championship at Full Gear. That looming match gives Fletcher little time to dwell on the WrestleDream defeat, even if the tag title loss remains frustrating.
A championship challenge against Ospreay is especially notable given Fletcher’s determination to frame WrestleDream as an opportunity that slipped away rather than a performance that failed. He was not disappointed with the quality of the Young Bucks match. He was disappointed that, after surviving the superkicks and keeping the champions under pressure, he did not leave with a title.
That mindset could carry directly into Full Gear. Fletcher has made clear that he believes he belongs in championship conversations, whether in the tag division or as a singles wrestler. The WrestleDream loss denied him one route to gold, but the match with Ospreay offers another, with an even more prominent prize at stake.
It also creates an interesting balancing act for Fletcher and Knight. If their partnership continues, Knight may have to decide how he fits alongside a teammate focused on an AEW World Championship challenge. If the WrestleDream finish continues to bother Fletcher, any attempt at repairing the team dynamic could become more difficult while his attention is split between the tag division and one of AEW’s biggest singles matches.
The Young Bucks Escape With The Titles
For The Young Bucks, the result at WrestleDream reinforced why they remain difficult champions to overcome. Fletcher and Knight brought a credible threat and had moments where the match appeared to be moving in their favor. Yet Matt and Nick Jackson were able to take advantage once the challengers lost their synchronization.
The double superkick and BTE Trigger finish was decisive, giving the champions a clean conclusion to a match that had become increasingly chaotic. The Bucks did not need to survive a disputed ruling or an outside interruption. They recognized an opening, struck with their most recognizable offense, and pinned Knight.
For Fletcher, however, the ending will likely remain defined by the tag that changed everything. His playful blame of Knight may be the immediate headline, but it also reflects how narrowly the match turned. A team that had the champions in danger suddenly found itself on the wrong end of the BTE Trigger, with Fletcher watching as the opportunity disappeared.
Fletcher’s next major task is Ospreay at Full Gear, while Knight will have to process being the man pinned in the tag title match. Whether the two wrestlers come together with a stronger understanding or allow WrestleDream’s miscommunication to become a lasting problem remains unresolved. What is clear is that Fletcher does not view the loss as a sign that he is out of the championship picture. He views it as a title that got away—and one he believes he and Knight should have won.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.