HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Local 10 News spoke with AEW wrestler Anthony Bowens ahead of the company’s sixth anniversary show, Dynamite, at Hard Rock Live on Wednesday night in Hollywood.
Known as “the pride of professional wrestling,” Bowens has made a name for himself both inside the ring and as a prominent voice for the LGBTQ+ community.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Bowens said with a smile when it comes to taking the ring as a solo competitor. “I’m the pride of professional wrestling, and I’m taking on all comers.”
Though his match was not announced in advance, Bowens said that uncertainty is part of the thrill.
“Oh no, I know nothing,” he said. “That’s kind of the beauty and the fun part about this job — the unknown. You show up and sometimes you have a match, and sometimes it’s just, ‘What am I waiting for? What’s gonna happen?’ And that really makes me excited.”
Asked how he approaches unpredictability, Bowens said it comes down to adaptability.
“You just ignore it, and I think that makes you a better performer because you gotta be on your toes at all times,” he said. “When you do live television, anything can happen. So I think it’s just fun. Maybe I’m just psychotic.”
Bowens, who was previously part of the popular tag team The Acclaimed with “best wrestler alive” Max Caster, is now forging his own path as a singles competitor.
“I’ve always dreamed of being a single star, singles competitor, and I’ve been taking the opportunity by the horns,” he said.
That shift has strained his partnership with Caster.
“We don’t speak,” Bowens said. “I’ve been beating him up for the last couple of months, which has been great — get a lot of frustrations out."
Over his AEW career, Bowens has won two championships and held the longest reign as part of AEW’s trios champions.
He said his goal now goes beyond personal success.
“I want the world to know that Anthony Bowens is one of the most elite performers in the history of professional wrestling, that I’m the pride of the industry. I’m the pride of the LGBTQ+ community,” Bowens said. “I’m trying to do everything I can to open more doors for more athletes, to be able to be themselves and to have access to whatever sport that they choose to play.”
Bowens said he frequently hears from younger athletes and fans who relate to his journey.
“I get messages like that all the time, which is great to see, that there’s other folks that can relate to my story and relate to my journey,” he said. “And I’m just doing the best I can every single week just being myself, going out there and trying to be as successful as possible and, again, to open more doors for other athletes. That in itself is just an honor on top of being able to live my dream every week.”
Coming out publicly had a profound impact on Bowens, both personally and professionally.
“It felt like a lot of the walls kind of came down. I was able to be myself more. I didn’t have to feel like this heaviness that laid over me in regular life and also in the ring, so I just feel, I guess, free, which is great,” he said.
“It impacted my relationships greatly with the people around me, my coworkers,” Bowens added. “I had always been out to my friends for a very long time. They’ve always supported me and encouraged me to be myself, which was great.
“My family as well. But after I came out, my friendships in the wrestling business, with the other wrestlers, with the fans, just kind of strengthened. So it was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life,” he said.
Beyond wrestling, Bowens is also pursuing acting and recently landed a role on a daytime soap opera. He did not disclose which show it was.
“I live in Los Angeles now. I’m trying to start to build that resume up as well, and we’ll see what happens,” he said.
Reflecting on his career, Bowens, said he feels he is exactly where he needs to be.
“I’m in the best professional wrestling company in the world with the most elite roster in the world, a place that allows me to be myself. I’m successful. I’m a former AEW tag team champion, longest reigning AEW trios champion. Now I’m forging my own path as the pride of professional wrestling in my singles career. I think I’m doing everything right.”
AEW Dynamite’s sixth anniversary show will take place Wednesday at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood.
Click here to follow Bowens on Instagram.
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