AEW Dynasty kicked off with its standard preshow but this event closed with a special moment. Max Caster had another open challenge, but this one was answered by none other than Anthony Bowens, making his return since the team split back in January. The reaction was huge and it is clear that All Elite Wrestling has a star in Anthony Bowens.
Anthony Bowens needed just a few minutes to dispatch his former partner, putting him down with the rolling elbow. But that is not the lead in the news of his return.
Bowens was presented with new music and Billy Gunn by his side. The theme combined with his look made him appear as a superhero jumping out of the panels of a comic book. He is called the “Pride of Professional Wrestling” and “AEW’s Five-Tool Player.” Everything about Bowens screams superstar babyface and AEW needs to capitalize on that.
Anthony Bowens has the makings to be a superstar in professional wrestling
Representation remains an important talking point in several forms of entertainment, including professional wrestling. Bowens is someone who has the potential to represent everything that is enjoyable about this industry for so many people. He’s openly gay and proudly speaks to that as a part of his life. On top of that, being an African American man gives him another space where legions of fans are ready to get behind him, looking to support stars who look like him.
The question is whether Bowens will get the big push that fans are open to seeing. Expect him and Caster to have an extended feud, as they have an important story to tell against each other. From there, he should be on the short list for a run with the TNT Championship. “Five-Tool Player” isn’t just a nickname. Bowens can work and he is a great performer who could take that title and help elevate its status within the promotion as a working champion putting on matches each week.
Will Bowens ever get to the AEW Championship? That’s much harder to predict, especially on a roster as stacked as the one in AEW. However, the possibility should not be ignored, because the fan reaction is there. Look back at how hard fans pushed for The Acclaimed to win the tag team titles in 2022. Much of that was due to the praise of Bowens.
AEW needs major babyfaces. Individuals who can be presented as a clean-cut star for fans to always cheer. Anthony Bowens has the potential to be that performer if he gets a run that is representative of how fans support him each week.