When cutting a promo with Renee Paquette on AEW Collision, The Acclaimed showed that they were no longer on the same page.
THE ACCLAIMED BREAKUP ANGLE IS FINALLY HERE!
— 🅰️🅾️ (@KXNGAO) November 3, 2024
BOWENS WE GONE GET YOU OUT OF THERE! YOU DONT BELONG IN THERE!!!!! #AEW #AEWCollision
pic.twitter.com/lUBGkn4SLI
Anthony Bowens showed like he has shown time and time again he’s the rock and foundation of the group, explaining why The Acclaimed should be back at the top of the AEW World Tag Team division. Max Caster on the hand? Well he did Max Caster things.
Max Caster showed he’s wearing a jacket with BEST WRESTLER ALIVE on the back, which got barely any reaction from the crowd. The only reaction you could hear was a few people booing. It did get a reaction from Renee and Anthony. Or rather, a stare. Directly into the camera. Jim Halpert style.
Renee and Bowens both doing a Jim from The Office when Caster showed the jacket is so good. #AEWCollision pic.twitter.com/IUWqns6otk
— GrapPro – Aaron Wrotkowski (@AaronWrotkowski) November 3, 2024
Max refused to give up his mic time, even when he cut to Anthony for the catchphrase. He couldn’t help himself. Showing off friendship bracelets, a pocket full of cash, and a business card, Max Caster thought this was in some way a good way to show confidence against the new AEW World Tag Champions Private Party.
It was showing that business card that revealed Max Caster was still thinking about the idea of The Acclaimed joining the Hurt Syndicate, as offered by MVP. When Caster tried to cut the, “Nut up or Shut up” line that’s when Anthony had enough. Him ending the promo with a loud, NUT UP OR SHUT UP” and looking over at Max Caster was a clear sign that this relationship was about to be in troubled waters.
Now at this point I should state that I have not been a fan of The Acclaimed. Adding Billy Gunn made them one of the worst acts on the show for me and I haven’t been interested in anything they have done since. I think the absolute world of Anthony Bowens and would love to see him get a singles run in AEW to see whether or not he has it.
Max Caster I feel is one of the worst wrestlers on the entire roster, bested (worsted?) by only Billy Gunn himself and a guy like Danhausen. His, “Best Wrestler Alive” thing would make sense as a heel knowing he isn’t the best to get cheap heat (like when say The Miz or Shane McMahon would do that stuff) but Max Caster isn’t a heel. He’s a babyface. His social media presence is also all about antagonizing people instead of being a well liked babyface. He works hard not in the ring to be the best wrestler but to constantly derail whatever progress and potential The Acclaimed have made as a tag team.
It’s because of this I feel like we are more than due for The Acclaimed to break up.
There are a few ways you can go with this, and I think I’ll lay the main three out.
Scenario 1: Max Caster turns heel on Anthony Bowens to join The Hurt Syndicate
This would be the one that so far it feels like is playing out on television. Max Caster is interested in joining The Hurt Syndicate though it’s an offer for The Acclaimed. Eventually Caster in frustration of a loss turns on Anthony Bowens to go it out alone.
I’ve talked before that the presentation of The Hurt Syndicate is one of MVP being a sports agent and representing athletes, and while Caster doesn’t fix that in character, he is the son of former NFL three time Pro Bowler Rich Caster. Essentially it’s in his blood to be treated like a great athlete.
Having Caster be heel also makes sense just because the guy works so hard at being a heel despite being in a babyface tag team for several years. If it’s what he wants you might as well lean into it. Being in The Hurt Syndicate allows Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin to have a partner in trios matches should they want to move into the division.
This also lets you run with Anthony Bowens as a singles babyface and see what he has in the role. It works.
Scenario 2: Anthony Bowens turns heel on Max Caster to join The Hurt Syndicate
While I’m sure The Hurt Syndicate would want The Acclaimed, I think the man they want is Anthony Bowens. As I said before, Hurt Syndicate is presented like sports athletes with MVP as their sports agent. Bowens is the five tool athlete, and absolutely is the workhorse of the team. Even if he right now is showing solidarity for the AEW Originals and rebuking the idea of joining Hurt Syndicate? He absolutely fits the group.
This would of course make Max Caster the babyface, which isn’t really a good course of action. Unless his contract was soon up and he wanted to join Lexis King in NXT, I don’t really see what one would do with a babyface Max Caster without an Anthony Bowens to carry him. Which brings me to the third scenario…
Scenario 3: Max Caster turns on Anthony Bowens but doesn’t join Hurt Syndicate
In this scenario? The only way The Hurt Syndicate want The Acclaimed is as a duo.
After a loss (possibly to Bobby and Shelton), Max Caster would turn on Anthony Bowens, declare himself the Best Wrestler Alive, and say that he doesn’t need Billy Gunn or Anthony Bowens now that he’s cashing in that card for a spot in The Hurt Syndicate.
That’s when MVP comes out to reveal that there is no deal if it isn’t a packaged deal. He wanted The Acclaimed. He doesn’t want just Max Caster. As a matter of fact, Max Caster has no value to him at all on his own.
It’s here that Anthony Bowens can stay babyface and Max Caster turns heel, without adding someone to Hurt Syndicate that doesn’t make sense for them. Caster can try to patch things up and be rebuked, told to get away from Bowens. Caster’s betrayal and ultimate humiliation can lead him down a different path, either staying a singles wrestler or finding someone else to represent him.
Anthony gets to have his singles run without turning him heel and without being pitted against Hurt Syndicate, which I don’t see him doing too great against at this point. Once he’s had a strong solo run then maybe you could put him against Bobby Lashley for a victorious outcome, but right now not so much.
Any way you look at it and any scenario you consider? It’s just time for The Acclaimed to break up. I know it will be hard for Tony Khan, since The Acclaimed is one of his first tag team creations and was a pretty strong success, but there’s a shelf life for everything. It’s also time for Anthony Bowens at 33-years-old to get an opportunity to prove himself in the singles division, and for Max Caster to do something else that I can easily ignore. Oh, and hopefully the end of Billy Gunn on my TV. That’d be good too.
Everybody might love the Acclaimed but love it not enough.
