Gay wrestler Anthony Bowens praises AEW for LGBTQ+ allyship

Anthony Bowens has praised the wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW) for allowing LGBTQ+ wrestlers such as himself to be themselves without fear.

The 35-year-old former tag team champion said he felt “comfortable right away” after joining the AEW roster in 2020 and seeing the array of LGBTQ+ talent inside the locker room.

He said AEW’s treatment of its queer wrestlers proved how “groundbreaking” the company is for marginalised and younger talent, and shows how far the industry has come on LGBTQ+ rights.

“I’m really glad AEW allows its performers to be themselves, whatever that looks like,” he told the Phoenix New Times. “That’s one of the biggest perks of working here, and one of the reasons I wanted to be here in the first place.”

Bowens began his storied stint in the promotion as one-half of The Acclaimed, a tag-team formed alongside Max Caster.

He became the first out gay wrestler to win an AEW championship after baging the AEW World Tag Team Championship in 2022. He has since embarked on a solo career following a feud with Caster in January 2025, competing in the men’s Casino Gauntlet match in July.

The wrestler said it was an “honour” to help move the industry forward towards LGBTQ+ acceptance, which he said wouldn’t be possible without AEW.

“When I first came in as an extra and was looking for a job, I saw LGBTQ+ performers just being themselves, people like Nyla Rose and Sonny Kiss, at the time,” he said. “I felt comfortable right away. It felt like a place where I didn’t have to watch what I said, hide my personal life, or look over my shoulder.”

While the wrestling industry is certainly moving in the right direction, LGBTQ+ wrestlers have historically faced both overt and underlying discrimination, often being used as punchlines or ‘heels’ – a wrestling term for a villain.

Bowens said that representation had changed things for the better, adding that, as the only out gay male wrestler currently in a major wrestling promotion, he hopes to “lead the charge” in continuing that progress.

“There are plenty of LGBTQ+ performers across different companies and levels, and it’s great to see,” he said. “Hopefully, I’m helping lead the charge in opening doors for more LGBTQ+ athletes and creating positive representation in professional wrestling.”