Former AEW champion seems serious about splitting from tag team partner after 4 years together
AEW Full Gear 2024 featured a title change, a shocking main event, and several unexpected moments, but one of the most ominous teases happened in the pay-per-view's opening match. The Acclaimed's Anthony Bowens has now shown that he is aware of the fracture taking place between himself and his longtime partner, Max Caster.
The Acclaimed was once the most popular tag team in All Elite Wrestling, but the group has been struggling lately. Max Caster has been trolling fans and acting like a villain on social media all year, and he's beginning to lose himself on television as well. Caster's ego was on full display last night at Full Gear.
From the moment Max Caster threw his microphone at Anthony Bowens during The Acclaimed's entrance, it was clear that the two were not on the same page. Things only got worse for them during the chaotic four-way World Tag Team Championship match, which they ultimately ended up losing.
Anthony Bowens wordlessly addressed the issue today on his official X (fka Twitter) account. The 33-year-old posted a photo of himself and Caster staring each other down at Full Gear, making it clear that The Acclaimed was far from okay.
Top AEW faction could accelerate The Acclaimed's breakup
It's clear that Max Caster and Anthony Bowens are not on the same page. Billy Gunn is stuck in the middle, trying to mediate and keep the two calm, but the duo seems to be growing farther apart each week. Enter The Hurt Syndicate.
MVP has been trying to recruit new clients ever since he debuted in AEW. So far, he's gone after Ricochet, Lio Rush, and Swerve Strickland, but he might have hooked Max Caster.
Earlier this month on AEW Collision, MVP was rebuffed by Anthony Bowens, but he managed to pull Caster aside. He reminded the 35-year-old that he still had The Hurt Syndicate's business card, and Platinum Max looked conflicted.
With the way Caster has been acting, it's almost certain that he intends to leave Anthony Bowens behind to seek more glory for himself. Whether the former AEW World Tag Team Champion joins The Hurt Syndicate remains to be seen.