AEW: Anthony Bowens on Goal for AEW Career, CM Punk & William Regal Backstage Incident Update, More News

Anthony Bowens Comments on His Goal of Wanting to Be AEW’s First Gay World Champion

In a recent interview with Out Magazine, Anthony Bowens gave his thoughts about his current main goal for his career in AEW.

“As much as I hope The Acclaimed, the tag team I’m a part of, stays forever, I would love to become AEW’s first gay World Champion. I got the Tag Team titles checked off the list, but there hasn’t been a gay World Champion. I would also like to be a Grand Slam champion, too, which is where you win every title once.”

Bowens also gave his thoughts about how gay people have currently been presented in wrestling television and storylines.

“Thankfully we don’t have to exist anymore being stereotypes or being the fodder in the story. We’re presented as credible athletes and champions like myself or [Nyla Rose]. Wrestling has come a long way with the presentation of queer athletes, which is why I’m particularly happy I’m signed to [All Elite Wrestling]. Tony Khan and the company allow us to be us and whatever that may be, whether it’s Sonny Kiss, who is genderfluid, or Nyla Rose, or myself who now has straight people scissoring each other (laughs). I don’t ever have to worry about upper management trying to change me or direct me to be a certain way. Hopefully, wrestling continues to move in that direction. The independent circuit is doing great because now, there are so many LGBTQ+ wrestlers. It’s come a very long way and I’m excited to see where it continues to go.”

---

More on CM Punk’s Backstage Incident with William Regal

As noted before, CM Punk and William Regal were involved in a backstage incident at AEW’s Revolution 2022 event in March of 2022 which was Regal’s official debut in the company.

The Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez reported on the F4W Board that his sources stated that Regal did not tell his friends about the incident for months and when he finally did, he stated to them that it was not a big deal.

Alvarez stated:

“Something happened on Regal’s first night in. I don’t know the details. But I know Regal didn’t tell his friends about it for months and when he did he said it wasn’t a big deal.”

---

AEW News & Notes

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that Bryan Danielson’s influence behind-the-scenes in AEW has risen greatly over the past six weeks. Johnson reported that Daneilson had taken on the responsibility in recent weeks of becoming a facilitator between talent.

AEW held one dark match prior to the start of this past Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite show in Indianapolis, Indiana. This was a singles match of Johnny TV vs. Brandon Cutler, which was won by Johnny TV.

During this past Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite show in Indianapolis, AEW officially revealed a new logo and design for this year’s Full Gear event at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, California paying homage to NBA team Los Angeles Lakers.

Kenny Omega recently accepted a challenge from MMA fighter Demetrious Johnson for a special match of Street Fighter 6 with the loser to donate money to the charity of the winner’s choice. Johnson stated “Hey @KennyOmegamanX , I hear you’re pretty good at Street Fighter. How about you put your money where your mouth is and face ME at @AEW WrestleDream in my hometown of Seattle in a 1 v 1 battle in Street Fighter 6! Loser donates to the charity of the winner’s choosing. You game?” Omega responded stating “Anyone’s free to insult my wrestling ability but this cockamamie idea that you’re better at Street Fighter than me?! That makes it personal. For charity, I’ll do it – Heck, I can even put you in touch with @AustinCreedWins . You guys can bond over being losers, etc.“

In a recent interview with the Good Karma Wrestling podcast, Colt Cabana stated that he was planning to work full-time for New Japan Pro Wrestling had he not joined AEW. Cabana stated “I don’t even think it’s possible but this is a little inside baseball maybe or, I don’t know that everyone will pick up on it but you know, Brandon Cutler and I have been trying to tag a little bit and I was like, ‘Hey, we should watch some Florida Brothers content.’ It was an old, Japanese, early 2000, pure comedy… They were a Japanese tag team who were clearly Japanese and saying they were from Florida and I guess it would hold a whole new meaning nowadays. Like maybe they should grab (Joey) Janela and tag up as The Florida Men but, yeah, I guess a dream match would probably be me and Cutler versus The Florida brothers for 2023 Colt Cabana.  Really hope so (Tony Khan books it). I’ll also let you know, before the pandemic, before signing with AEW, I was tagging with (Toru) Yano and I was gonna be a full-time New Japan wrestler with Yano and I made the decision to go to AEW so, maybe there’s something to me, Cutler and Yano versus the Florida Brothers and Florida Man (he laughed). I don’t know if Tony will book Janela anymore but, we’ll see.” (Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com)

In a recent episode of the Busted Open Radio podcast, co-host Mark Henry gave his thoughts about if AEW was in a better place following CM Punk’s recent firing from the company. Henry stated “Yes. Now, you can freely go and there will be no more complaining. There should be no more complaining. The problem is gone. The so-called problem is. Everything should be shits and giggles and unicorn pee and rainbow blankets. That’s what it should be now. I’m curious to see how it’s going to be. The problem is solved.” In response to a question by co-host Bully Ray comparing Punk’s departure with Dennie Rodman’s departure from the Chicago Bulls, Henry stated “When Rodman left, the team got worse. When he left Chicago, they got worse. San Antonio, they got worse. Detroit got worse when he left because he was a defensive stalwart. ‘I’m gonna go against your best player and I’m going to make his life miserable. It’s going to affect his offense.’ As far as Punk is concerned, it’s not the offense affected, it’s the money, the gates, the live events, the brass tax dealing with licensing products and merchandise money coming in. Money is going to be affected. Still, everything is solved now. The problem is gone, and there should be peace and prosperity in life.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)