It’s no secret. I enjoy the pro wrestling duo known as The Acclaimed. Max Caster and Anthony Bowens come to the ring with one of the coolest entrances – Caster throws diss tracks at the opponents, while Bowens hypes up the crowd with shouts of “The Acclaimed Have Arrived!”
Don’t believe me? Look at this.
$20 says that when they come to Albany, Max Caster’s got a few versus about Antonio Brown and the Albany Empire shit show. Just sayin’ is all.
Even the team’s hand-shake “scissor” action has become part of their crowd-pleasing routine, as Bowens and Caster give a “scissor” to their mentor, “Daddy Ass” (Billy Gunn). Fans show up at the arenas with cardboard scissor signs, they sing “Oh, Scissor Me Daddy” to the intro of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” and all in all – it’s a fun time for everyone.
Trust me. I still think this was the coolest moment from when the AEW wrestling company visited Albany. That’s right. Grown-ass Chuck knows how to throw down a double scissor.
So anyway …
On last Friday night’s episode of AEW’s program Rampage, The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn quickly dispatched with their opponents – probably took less than a minute combined – and after the match, as they were about to do another group “scissor” handshake (trust me, those scissors are over like Christmas presents), they get interrupted.
Of course, this is pro wrestling. There’s always someone interrupting.
In this case, it’s an interruption by Australian wrestler Harley Cameron, who is part of a faction on AEW known as QTV – a TMZ ripoff led by wrestler / trainer QT Marshall. And Harley … darling … I don’t think the cow wore the leather as tight as you’re wearing. Just sayin’ is all.
But watch this video clip … and near the end, when Harley tries to entice Bowens to work with her on a – er – um – project – Bowens eventually gives her a two-word response.
And the crowd reaction – was incredible.
Just watch.
Think about this for a second. You had a packed arena shouting “He’s GAY! He’s GAY!! He’s GAY!!!” and it was a GOOD thing. It was supportive, it was welcoming. And not for nothing, Anthony Bowens is already IN a committed relationship and doesn’t need attention from probably the SIXTH-best female Australian pro wrestler in America today. Yeah, Harley. Stand in line behind Toni Storm, Rhea Ripley, Cassie Lee, Jessica McKay, and some other person whose name currently escapes me. 😀
But here’s the thing. AEW has been totally open about welcoming ALL people. Their roster includes a trans woman, Nyla Rose, who had a run as AEW Women’s Champion. They have a gender-fluid wrestler in Sonny Kiss, who’s won some big matches during his time in AEW. Another non-binary wrestler on the roster, Abadon, has had their image included as one of the playable characters in AEW’s upcoming video game.
And it doesn’t matter what their sexual orientation is. It’s nothing to be ashamed of or feared or ridiculed or taunted. This is 2023. Nobody should have to hide their truth. And if you are open about sharing your truth, your voice shouldn’t be stifled or marginalized.
Even Anthony Bowens himself realizes the magnitude of what happened the other night.
And let’s also take into consideration who else was in that ring – Billy Gunn. 20 years ago, Gunn was part of a storyline in the WWE where he would be involved in a gay marriage angle with fellow wrestler Chuck Palumbo – a plotline that was about as vibrant as beige. And now, here’s Gunn, 20 years later, celebrating with Bowens and Caster in truly a remarkable moment.
I should note that AEW currently has an upcoming pay-per-view event tonight called Forbidden Door, so named because it’s one of the few times when competing pro wrestling companies work together on a supercard (in this case, AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling).
But I gotta tell you … the other night … Anthony Bowens kicked down another forbidden door.
And all was right with the world afterwards.
Chuck The Writer 
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