"Dear AEW Fans" - Anthony Bowens to the Players Tribune

[Denny Zen is Cooking™]

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This is a really good, heartwarming read in advance of tonight's Grand Slam show. Say what you will about AEW's shortcomings, there's really no taking away the fact that its existence and success has allowed a lot of people to "make it" in wrestling that may not have otherwise. And that's awesome to me. 

[Jindrak Mark]

O.K. — in 1999 Billy Gunn is going to leave DX and change his name to “Mr. Ass” Billy Gunn, which will start as this ironic play on the name “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn but will eventually become a gimmick about his literal ass. Twenty years later, a nice but evil demon will call Billy’s two sons “The Ass Boys” and you’ll (you’re a professional wrestler now) start referring to Billy (he’s 59 now) as “Daddy Ass.” After that, the three Gunns will partner with The Acclaimed, a tag team you’re in with Max Caster, this amazing rapper. You and Max will have a signature handshake where you’ll scissor each other’s fingers, which is a nod both to the “A” in Acclaimed and to your own queerness. One night on live TV, you’ll turn to Billy and scream, “SCISSOR ME, DADDY ASS!!!!” People will love it and your life will never be the same.

It's when you see it written out like this that you truly realize how insane and glorious wrestling can be. Like imagine trying to explain this to a non-fan.

[Bo Rida]

Good read but damn I'd forgotten how much I hated them to start with. The hand kissing thing and Young Bucks incest promos, just completely crap. Glad they turned it around.

[This Player Hating Mothman]

These two unknowns who didn't know each other finding magic as a tag team, refining their act, and becoming a huge standout in a company that's dumb with tag team talent, is a more meaningful and interesting ascension than an already-buzzing indie star being predestined for the main event ever can be. The Acclaimed are AEW's top success story in my mind.

[Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story]

Sept 20, 2023 11:55:06 GMT -5 This Player Hating Mothman said:

These two unknowns who didn't know each other finding magic as a tag team, refining their act, and becoming a huge standout in a company that's dumb with tag team talent, is a more meaningful and interesting ascension than an already-buzzing indie star being predestined for the main event ever can be. The Acclaimed are AEW's top success story in my mind.

Yeah, they're the best homegrown act in company history. I feel like even guys and girls like MJF, Britt Baker and Kris Statlander had a bit of buzz before they made it to AEW but the Acclaimed basically came out of nowhere.

[Kalmia]

Every single one of these Player's Tribune articles from AEW wrestlers has been gold and this one is no different.

[jm]

Imagine how the history of AEW would have turned out if Max Caster wouldn't have come back after he did the rap that got him in trouble. It's amazing just how much The Acclaimed have factored in to the brief history of AEW thus far. They are the biggest homegrown act in company history. Full stop.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

I'll never forget how Bowens was able to get a 100 percent genuine and wholesome "HE'S GAY!" chant started by a large wrestling crowd

Which showed to me, how far this industry has come more than almost anything else...

[Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED!]

Sept 20, 2023 11:22:51 GMT -5 Bo Rida said:

Good read but damn I'd forgotten how much I hated them to start with. The hand kissing thing and Young Bucks incest promos, just completely crap. Glad they turned it around.

For real though. A combination of my general dislike of rap music and them constantly going for the lowest hanging fruit imaginable, sounding like edgy 12 year olds with a SoundCloud had them as one of the few acts that has ever had total “Go Away!” heat from me.

Then they had their angle with the Gunns, and turned face and showed just how clever they actually could be. It’s to the point that when I went to Collision last Saturday they were one of the acts I was hoping would make the card most. Just goes to show you can’t ever write an act off.

[The anti-ratings Luddite]

Sept 20, 2023 11:22:51 GMT -5 Bo Rida said:

Good read but damn I'd forgotten how much I hated them to start with. The hand kissing thing and Young Bucks incest promos, just completely crap. Glad they turned it around.

Listen, absolute props to AEW and TK or whoever let them refine their act and not give up on them, because I also thought they were lame as hell and had to come around to them.

[Cyno]

I always liked Bowens, but yeah, Caster was kinda lame at first. They've both really come a long way, though.