Nicholas Jackson Bio
Nicholas Lee Massie, widely known by his ring name Nick Jackson, is an American professional wrestler born on July 28, 1989, in Montebello, California. He is best known as one half of the tag team The Young Bucks, performing alongside his brother Matt Jackson. Together, the brothers have built a reputation as one of the most influential tag teams of their generation, recognized for their high-flying style and innovative approach to professional wrestling.
As members of The Young Bucks, Nicholas Lee Massie and his brother have performed across the globe, including stints in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The duo has held multiple championships and remains a central figure in the modern professional wrestling landscape.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas Lee Massie was born on July 28, 1989, in Montebello, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. He grew up as one of four children in a close-knit family headed by parents Matthew Massie Sr. and Joyce Massie. The Massie family later relocated to Rancho Cucamonga, where they lived for nearly eighteen years before moving to Hesperia, California, in 2003.
Alongside his brothers Matt and Malachi, Nicholas Lee Massie developed an early fascination with professional wrestling. In 2001, the Massie family installed a wrestling ring in their backyard, where the brothers taught themselves the craft by imitating what they saw on television. The family, including his father Matthew Massie Sr. and his mother Joyce Massie, fostered an environment that supported the brothers’ growing interest in the sport.
By 2004, the family had become deeply involved in the wrestling world, and Nicholas Lee Massie began pursuing professional opportunities alongside his older brother. Standing at 178 centimeters and weighing 95 kilograms, he developed the athletic profile that would later define his in-ring presence.
Path to Professional Wrestling
Nicholas Lee Massie’s formal entry into professional wrestling began in the mid-2000s, following his brother Matt’s training at the Revolution Pro Wrestling School, also known as Rudos Dojo, located in La Mirada and City of Industry, California. Matt trained under instructors including Ron Rivera, Disco Machine, Scorpio Sky, and Super Dragon, and later passed along what he learned to Nicholas Lee Massie and their friend Dustin Cutler.
The brothers’ first professional match took place on August 8, 2004, at a joint event held by Alternative Wrestling Show, C4, and Revolution Pro. Following that appearance, Nicholas Lee Massie and Matt began wrestling regularly on the Southern California independent circuit. In October 2004, Matt founded their own promotion called High Risk Wrestling (HRW), with Nicholas Lee Massie and Malachi eventually joining the ownership group. The company ran shows twice a month and served as a training ground for the developing talent.
In February 2005, the brothers were given the tag team name The Young Bucks, with Nicholas Lee Massie initially wrestling as Slick Nick. The surname Jackson was later added by a promoter, and the name has remained ever since. Through their work with HRW and other independent promotions, the brothers built a strong regional following that would eventually open doors to national and international opportunities.
Nicholas Jackson Career
Early Career (2004–2008)
During the early years of his career, Nicholas Lee Massie honed his skills on the independent circuit alongside his brother Matt. The Young Bucks competed in Southern California-based promotions and gained valuable experience working in front of cameras for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) beginning in 2006. Their first televised matches aired on November 7, 2006, on Maverick Television.
As they developed their craft, the brothers also made brief appearances in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Matt appeared on SmackDown in 2008 as a jobber, losing to Chuck Palumbo and later to Big Show. The Young Bucks also portrayed Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a comedic segment on ECW in October 2008, where they were laid out by John Morrison and The Miz. These appearances helped raise the brothers’ profile within the industry.
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla and Independent Circuit Breakthrough (2007–2013)
Nicholas Lee Massie and Matt became prominent figures in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), one of the most respected independent promotions in the United States. The Young Bucks captured the PWG World Tag Team Championship four times and became the only team to win PWG’s annual Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament on three occasions, in 2009, 2011, and 2013.
During this period, the brothers also expanded their international resume. They made their debut for Dragon Gate in Japan on May 14, 2008, at Korakuen Hall, and went on to complete multiple tours with the promotion. They also competed in Chikara, where they won the Chikara Campeonatos de Parejas in June 2012 after defeating F.I.S.T. in a Two Out of Three Falls match. Their reign lasted 253 days and included three successful title defenses.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Ring of Honor Era (2013–2018)
The Young Bucks became members of the popular Bullet Club faction in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where they won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship seven times. They also captured the IWGP Tag Team Championship twice, establishing themselves as one of the most successful tag teams in NJPW history.
In Ring of Honor (ROH), Nicholas Lee Massie and Matt won the ROH World Tag Team Championship three times, with their first reign beginning on March 8, 2014, after defeating reDRagon. They also held the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship on three occasions, partnering with various allies including Adam Page and Cody Rhodes. After a faction civil war in 2018, the brothers, along with Kenny Omega, Adam Page, Marty Scurll, and Cody Rhodes, were kicked out of Bullet Club and formed the faction known as The Elite.
All Elite Wrestling Era (2019–Present)
On January 1, 2019, The Young Bucks helped officially launch All Elite Wrestling (AEW), with Nicholas Lee Massie and Matt serving as executive vice presidents and co-founders of the company. The duo signed five-year contracts with AEW in January 2019, working alongside Tony Khan, who was announced as the company’s president.
The Young Bucks quickly became central figures in AEW, winning the AEW World Tag Team Championship for the first time on November 7, 2020, at Full Gear, defeating FTR. They went on to become record three-time AEW World Tag Team Champions, with their third reign beginning at Dynasty after defeating FTR in a ladder match. In addition to their tag team success, the brothers, alongside Kenny Omega, became the inaugural AEW World Trios Champions at All Out in 2022.
On May 11, 2024, at Resurgence, The Young Bucks made their return to NJPW for the first time since 2019, attacking Eddie Kingston. They later won the IWGP Tag Team Championship for the second time at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5, 2025, before losing the titles to Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi at The New Beginning in Osaka on February 11.
Style and Strengths
Nicholas Lee Massie is recognized for his high-flying, fast-paced wrestling style, which combines aerial maneuvers with innovative double-team offense. The Young Bucks are known for their signature move, the Meltzer Driver, named after wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer. Their creative approach to tag team wrestling has influenced an entire generation of performers and helped redefine the modern tag team format.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Nicholas Lee Massie’s career came in 2018, when The Young Bucks, alongside Cody Rhodes, helped organize the All In event, which sold out in just 30 minutes and became the first independent wrestling show to draw ten thousand fans in the United States. The success of All In directly led to the creation of AEW. The brothers have also been recognized with multiple Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards, including Tag Team of the Year and Best Wrestling Maneuver for the Meltzer Driver.
Nicholas Jackson Career Wins
Throughout his career, Nicholas Lee Massie has accumulated an impressive collection of championships as one half of The Young Bucks. His success spans multiple promotions, including Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and All Elite Wrestling, making him one of the most decorated tag team wrestlers of his era.
Major Championship Highlights
The Young Bucks have won the PWG World Tag Team Championship four times and remain the only team to win PWG’s Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament on three occasions. In NJPW, they captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship seven times and the IWGP Tag Team Championship twice. They also held the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship three times.
In Ring of Honor, the brothers won the ROH World Tag Team Championship three times and the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship three times. In AEW, they are record three-time AEW World Tag Team Champions and were the inaugural AEW World Trios Champions. The Young Bucks have also held the AAA World Tag Team Championship once, capturing the titles in Mexico in 2019.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to their major championship reigns, The Young Bucks have won the Chikara Campeonatos de Parejas and have been successful in tournaments across multiple promotions. They have also been recognized by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter as Tag Team of the Year and have earned the award for Best Wrestling Maneuver. The brothers released their autobiography, Killing the Business: From Backyards to the Big Leagues, on November 17, 2020, documenting their journey in professional wrestling.
Nicholas Jackson Family
Family Background and Wrestling Lineage
Nicholas Lee Massie was born into a family that played a central role in his wrestling career. His parents, Matthew Massie Sr. and Joyce Massie, supported the brothers’ passion for professional wrestling from an early age, even installing a wrestling ring in the family backyard in 2001. The Massie family later moved to Hesperia, California, where they have continued to reside.
Nicholas Lee Massie is one of four children, and wrestling runs deep in the family. His older brother, Matthew Ronjon Massie, performs as Matt Jackson, and their younger brother wrestled under the ring name Malachi Jackson before retiring in 2010. The Massie brothers are both practicing Christians and have often spoken about the role of faith in their lives and careers.
Personal Life
Nicholas Lee Massie currently resides in Hesperia, California, with his family. He and his brother Matt co-produced the popular YouTube series Being The Elite, which has amassed over 500,000 subscribers and offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of independent wrestlers. The series has become a cultural touchstone in the wrestling community.
The Young Bucks are also well known for their admiration of wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, whom they affectionately call Uncle Dave. The brothers named their signature move, the Meltzer Driver, after him and have dedicated numerous wins to him throughout their career. In 2014, they set a goal of winning every Wrestling Observer Newsletter award and successfully took home Tag Team of the Year and Best Wrestling Maneuver.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with a major milestone for Nicholas Lee Massie and his brother Matt, as The Young Bucks returned to Japan on January 5, 2025, for Wrestle Dynasty. At the event, they defeated United Empire and Los Ingobernables de Japon in a multi-team match to capture the IWGP Tag Team Championship for the second time, signaling a strong comeback to the NJPW tag team division.
Their reign, however, was short-lived, as they lost the IWGP Tag Team Championship to Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi on February 11 at The New Beginning in Osaka, ending their title run at 37 days. Despite the loss, the appearance reinforced The Young Bucks’ continued presence on the international stage and their ability to compete at the highest levels of professional wrestling.
Looking ahead, Nicholas Lee Massie and The Young Bucks are expected to continue balancing their roles in AEW with appearances in NJPW. As executive vice presidents of AEW, the brothers remain influential figures behind the scenes, and their in-ring performances in 2025 will likely play a key role in shaping the tag team division across multiple promotions.
