"Anthony Bowens Isn't Coming Back, I Ran His Ass Out Of AEW" - Max Caster (AEW News)

Max Caster has claimed that former tag team partner Anthony Bowens isn't coming back to AEW as the former Acclaimed man's absence stretches beyond the two-month mark.

Caster's in-character comments came during this weekend's special Slam Dunk Saturday episode of Collision (22 March). The self-proclaimed 'Best Wrestler Alive' was in the ring, hosting one of his now-regular open challenge segments. A chant of "We Want Bowens!" broke out in the audience, prompting Caster to say that Bowens wasn't in the building and wasn't coming back, because Max "ran his *ss out of AEW."

Bowens hasn't been seen on AEW television since January's special Maximum Carnage Collision show, on which The Acclaimed finally split up after months of tension. With Bowens firmly the babyface in the interaction, Caster set off in a new, heel direction, and his since remained a regular fixture on AEW television - albeit in a losing role.

Max's 'Best Wrestler Alive' gimmick has opened him up for a series of squash matches preceded by an ego-centric, braggadocious promo, after which Caster is immediately shut down. Rush, 'Hangman' Adam Page, Brody King, Jay White, Konosuke Takeshita, and Hook have all shut Caster down in this format. The matches have been entirely one-sided, with only the King contest going beyond the 1:30 mark.

As for Bowens, there is currently no word on when he might be back on AEW television. His last match for the promotion came on the 1 January episode of Dynamite, where he and Caster were defeated by The Hurt Syndicate in little over four minutes.

The Acclaimed were previously AEW World Trios Champions (w/ Billy Gunn) for 238 days between August 2023 and April 2024, and World Tag Team Champions for 140 days between September 2022 and February 2023.