Anthony Bowens Says His Criticism Was Directed at Fans “Who Think They Know Everything” and Not AEW

Anthony Bowens isn’t letting fans question his credibility without speaking up—and he’s now made it clear that his recent online comments weren’t directed at AEW, but rather at critics who doubt what he can do in the ring.

After initially responding to a fan on social media who called him underrated, Bowens pointed out that he’s never been given the chance to go 20–30 minutes in a singles match in AEW—the kind of high-pressure environment he believes proves a wrestler’s worth. That sparked debate about whether Bowens was voicing real frustration with his role in the company or simply staying in character. But on September 14, Bowens clarified his position with a follow-up post on X:

“No no, I’m calling out certain fans who think they know everything. Who say certain performers aren’t capable of something before seeing them in those do or die scenarios. And at AEW that scenario is usually a high profile singles match on a pay per view.”

The message made it clear—Bowens isn’t coming at AEW, but at fans who write off wrestlers without giving them a shot in the spotlight. His original post echoed the same energy, where he noted that he’s been overlooked because he hasn’t had the chance to show what he can do in a long-form singles match.

The timing of all this is interesting. Just one night earlier, Bowens had what looked like a reunion tease with Max Caster on AEW Collision. After a backstage fight, the two worked together to fend off Blake Christian and Lee Johnson. Jerry Lynn even stepped in and told them to get back on the same page. They stood together in the ring, but walked off separately—tension still lingering.

The Acclaimed could be on the verge of reuniting, or imploding. Either way, Bowens is making it known that he sees his worth—and he wants the world to stop making assumptions before he gets a real shot to show it.