The Acclaimed
The Acclaimed in August 2023. From left to right: Anthony Bowens, Billy Gunn and Max Caster
Tag team
MembersMax Caster
Anthony Bowens
Billy Gunn (manager/trios partner)
Name(s)Bowens and Caster
The Acclaimed
Billed heightsCaster 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Bowens: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Gunn: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Combined
billed weight		695 lb (315 kg)
DebutOctober 27, 2020
Years active2020–present

The Acclaimed are an American professional wrestling stable currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The faction consists of Max Caster and Anthony Bowens - who comprise the main tag team of the group - and Billy Gunn, who serves as their manager and wrestles as their partner for six-man (referred to by AEW as trios) matches. Bowens and Caster are former AEW World Tag Team Champions and all three are the current AEW World Trios Champions in their first reign.

History

Formation and various feuds (2020-2022)

Caster and Bowens were initially performing individually on AEW programming in 2020.[1] Caster first appeared on AEW Dark as a solo act, with Bowens being brought in a month later.[1] The idea of putting the two together as a tag team was conceived by Tony Khan, who also named them the Acclaimed.[1] Their debut match as a team was against Best Friends;[2] according to Bowens, Khan offered them full-time contracts immediately after the match,[3] on a 5-year deal.[4] On the Holiday Bash special, the Acclaimed challenged the Young Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team Championship, but were unsuccessful.[5] Bowens has expressed that initially fan reaction to the team was more negative than expected, which led to him ironically declaring "everyone loves the Acclaimed" in promos.[6]

The Acclaimed competed in a Battle Royal to determine the number 1 contenders for the tag team titles on February 3, 2021, but lost to Chris Jericho and MJF of The Inner Circle.[7] On April 22, 2021 they again competed in a #1 contendership match, this time a four way, where they were defeated by SCU.[8]

On the August 3, 2021 episode of Dark, while making his entrance, Caster rapped about subjects such as Olympic gymnast Simone Biles' mental health issues, the Duke lacrosse case, the validity of PCR COVID-19 testing, and made a sexual joke about Julia Hart. Caster was suspended for two months without pay for the incident, effectively putting the team on hiatus.[9][10][11] AEW owner Tony Khan called the rap "terrible", said it should have been edited out of the show and announced that he would personally be taking over the editing of the show going forward.[12] He returned to action at Dark: Elevation on September 1.[13] After Caster returned from suspension, the Acclaimed challenged reigning champions the Lucha Brothers for the tag team titles on the June 10, 2021 episode of Rampage, but were unsuccessful.[14]

Bowens during his injury with manager Billy Gunn

Beginning in 2022, the Acclaimed allied with the Gunn Club, Billy Gunn his sons Austin and Colton. On Dark and Dark: Elevation, the alliance defeated the Dark Order and later the team of Lee Johnson, Brock Anderson, Lee Moriarty, and Matt Sydal.[15] Although ostentisiably allies, the Acclaimed regularly disparaged Austin and Colton, with Billy Gunn showing unequal favour towards Caster and Bowens. The Acclaimed competed in a #1 contendership tag battle royal on March 3, 2022, although lost to the Young Bucks. They later challenged Jurassic Express for the tag titles, but were unsuccessful.[16][17] In May 2022, Bowens underwent knee surgery, sidelining him for several months.[18] During this time Bowens still attended AEW shows and performed his regular promos, although did not wrestle and was confined to a wheelchair; Caster subsequently teamed increasingly with the Gunns.[19] Bowens returned from injury at the Blood and Guts edition of Dynamite.[20]

Their alliance with the Gunns broke down and turned into a rivalry in mid-2022, leading to a "Dumpster Match" in August 2022, which the Acclaimed won.[21] While Billy Gunn was initially caught between the two groups, his sons turned on him, having joined the Firm, leading to him becoming the Acclaimed's manager.[22]

AEW World Tag Team Champions (2022)

In the latter half of 2022, the Acclaimed entered a feud with tag team champions Swerve in our Glory (Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee). At All Out of that year the Acclaimed challenged for tag team championships, although Strickland and Lee retained.[23] The Acclaimed again challenged for the titles on the September 21 episode of Dynamite, winning the bout and becoming AEW World Tag Team champions for the first time.[24] Over the following months the team successfully defended the title against Private Party and The Butcher and The Blade in a triple-threat match,[25] the Varsity Athletes (Tony Nese and Josh Woods),[26] and a rematch against Swerve in Our Glory at November's Full Gear.[27]

In early 2023, the Acclaimed resumed their feud with Austin and Colton Gunn. On the February 8, 2023 episode of Dynamite, the Gunns successfully beat the Acclaimed for the tag team champions, ending their reign at 140 days.[28]

AEW World Trios Championship (2023–present)

As 2023 went along, the three members of the Acclaimed became focused on winning the AEW World Trios Championship. This led to a match on the July 22 episode of AEW Collision, where reigning champions the House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King and Buddy Matthews) defeated the Acclaimed, leading to Gunn—thinking he was the reason for the loss―taking his boots off and leaving them in the ring, seemingly signifying his retirement (as that is viewed as an established wrestling tradition).[29]

In August, the House of Black threw Gunn's boots in a trash compactor, leading to Gunn returning and rejoining Caster and Bowens. The Acclaimed (as a trio) then won the Trios Championship from the House of Black on August 27 at All In in a House Rules No Holds Barred match.

Championships and accomplishments

The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn (right) receiving the AEW World Trios Championship from House of Black at All In in August 2023.

Notes

  1. ↑ The Acclaimed won the award together.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Acclaimed Tag Team Is Tony Khan's Finest Original Creation IN AEW". The Sportster. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  2. ↑ Middleton, Marc (3 November 2020). "AEW Signs Max Caster And Anthony Bowens For New Tag Team Called "The Acclaimed"". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "Anthony Bowens Reveals How A WWE Offer Led To Formation Of The Acclaimed". wrestlinginc. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  4. ↑ Johnson, Mike (November 3, 2020). "Two New AEW Signings (Updated Team Name)". PWInsider.com. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  5. ↑ Beaston, Erik (December 23, 2020). "AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  6. ↑ ""They can't stop talking about us" - AEW star Anthony Bowens talks about the rising popularity of The Acclaimed". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  7. ↑ Elizabeth, Claire (February 3, 2021). "AEW Dynamite results, live blog (Feb. 3, 2021): Beach Break!". Cageside Seats. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  8. ↑ Beaston, Erik (May 5, 2021). "AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from May 5". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  9. ↑ Jenkins, H. (August 10, 2021). "Max Caster Suspended From AEW Over Offensive Rap About Simone Biles". Ringside News. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Max Caster Reportedly Suspended By AEW Following Controversial Rap". The Sportster. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "REPORT: AEW SUSPENDS MAX CASTER FOR TWO MONTHS WITHOUT PAY". WrestleTalk. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  12. ↑ Currier, Joseph (August 4, 2021), "Tony Khan: 'Terrible' Max Caster AEW Dark Rap Shouldn't Have Aired", Wrestling Observer Newsletter, retrieved August 4, 2021
  13. ↑ Rose, Bryan (September 1, 2021). "Max Caster Makes AEW Return During Dark: Elevation Tapings". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  14. ↑ Konuwa, Alfred (October 8, 2021). "AEW Rampage Results: Winners, News And Notes On October 8, 2021". Forbes. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  15. ↑ Juon, Steve (February 7, 2022). "AEW Dark Elevation recap (Feb. 7, 2022): Dante Martin vs. Aaron Solo". Cageside Seats. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  16. ↑ Mueller, Chris (March 3, 2022). "AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 3". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  17. ↑ Elizabeth, Claire (March 9, 2022). "AEW Dynamite results, live blog (Mar. 9, 2022): Revolution fallout". Cageside Seats. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Out AEW wrestler Anthony Bowens is out with a knee injury". OutSports. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  19. ↑ "Anthony Bowens Discusses Missing Time With A Knee Injury, Wanting AEW Tag Team Gold". Fightful. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  20. ↑ "Anthony Bowens Walks; Billy Gunn Sides With The Acclaimed Over His Sons At 6/29 AEW Blood And Guts". Fightful. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  21. ↑ Curtie, Billy (August 3, 2022). "AEW Dynamite Results for August 3, 2022". Wrestling News.co. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  22. ↑ Beaston, Erik (August 17, 2022). "AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from August 17". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  23. ↑ Manolo Has Pizzazz (September 5, 2022). "AEW All Out 2022 recap & reactions: CM Punk vs. MJF feud reignites". Cageside Seats. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  24. ↑ Gerics, Chris (September 21, 2022). "AEW Dynamite Results – 9/21/22 (Grand Slam, new AEW World Champion)". Wrestleview.com. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  25. ↑ Mueller, Christ (September 30, 2022). "AEW Rampage Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from September 30". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  26. ↑ Manolo Has Pizzazz (October 22, 2022). "AEW Rampage recap & reactions (Oct. 21, 2022): All-Orange Championship". Cageside Seats. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  27. ↑ Powell, Jason (November 19, 2022). "AEW Full Gear results: Powell's live review of Jon Moxley vs. MJF for the AEW World Championship, The Acclaimed vs. Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee for the AEW Tag Titles, Toni Storm vs. Jamie Hayter for the Interim AEW Women's Title, Death Triangle vs. The Elite for the AEW Trios Titles, Saraya vs. Britt Baker". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  28. ↑ Barnett, Jake (February 8, 2023). "2/8 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of MJF vs. Konosuke Takeshita, and Jamie Hayter vs. The Bunny in eliminator matches, Bryan Danielson vs. Rush, The Acclaimed vs. Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn for the AEW Tag Titles, The Elite vs. AR Fox and Top Flight for the AEW Trios Titles, Ricky Starks runs the JAS Gauntlet". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  29. ↑ "AEW Collision Results for July 22, 2023". All Elite Wrestling.com. AEW staff. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  30. ↑ "AEW World Tag Team Championship History".
  31. ↑ Staszewski, Joseph (December 27, 2022). "The Post's 2022 pro wrestling awards". New York Post. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2022". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2021". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  34. ↑ Jaymond P (February 24, 2023). "2022 Wrestling Observer Awards Results". WrestlePurists. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  35. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (February 2023). "February 2023 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Results of the 2022 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards". Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
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