All Elite Wrestling has done a great job building stars since the company’s inception in 2019. Individuals like Toni Storm, MJF, Darby Allin, and Kris Statlander are among the names of those who could be considered “home grown” stars. A new one had the opportunity to break through, but it seems like AEW put a bit of ice on that development. Well, it is time to strap the rocket to Anthony Bowens’s back and let him shine.
AEW has always had something special in Anthony Bowens. There’s a reason he was called the “5 Tool Player.” Bowens can do it all. He’s a great in-ring performer, can cut promos, and his character resonates with fans in a special way that allows him to stand out among his peers.
Think back to AEW Wrestle Dynasty 2025. Max Caster had an open challenge during Zero Hour. Bowens answered the call. His arrival, featuring new intro music and ring gear, sent fans into a supportive tizzy. He defeated Caster in 40 seconds and would go on a winning streak of sorts. He’d defeat the likes of Lee Johnson and Blake Christian, but that’s all the momentum he’d find.
When Bowens would start to face the upper echelon of the AEW men’s roster, the losses started piling up. Defeats to Ricochet, Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita, and Kyle Fletcher showed that he wasn’t seen as being on the same level. That makes sense when looking at who those performers are. However, to remove him completely from television for a month before putting him back into an angle with Caster shows a lack of true direction.
There was an opportunity to book Bowens well, while building him within the mid-card. This is why titles like the TNT Championship or the Ring of Honor World Championship exist. Those belts are perfect for someone at Bowens’ level, while he is built into a more credible name to face off against those who’ve already defeated him. Bowens isn’t an enhancement talent for the stars, not when the AEW fanbase has deemed him a star in his own right.
If AEW is truly looking to build a steady roster of stars, it has to look outside the ranks of those who put on five-star classics every time. There’s a level of star available to them who can become crossover names for their appeal in other ways. Anthony Bowens is one of those performers and it is time that AEW put a sustained push behind him toward a major outcome.