Overview:
Anthony Bowens, an AEW superstar, is one of the first openly gay champions in AEW history, and he is using his platform to inspire and make progress in the industry. Bowens, who came out at 26, is proud of his journey and the support he has received from his family, friends, and fans. He is excited to represent the community and professional wrestling at Dallas Pride in June and to be part of AEW's upcoming shows in North Texas. Bowens' legacy is about making the culture more open and inclusive, and he encourages young people to be themselves and use their platforms for positivity.
You don’t just need catchphrases to command a room — just ask “The Pride of Professional Wrestling” Anthony Bowens.
The AEW superstar doesn’t just walk to the ring; he walks in his purpose. As one of the first openly gay champions in AEW history, Bowens is proudly blazing his own trail in a sport that hasn’t always made room for athletes like him.
But before the fame, the titles, and the national platform, Bowens was just a kid from Nutley, New Jersey, with two big dreams.
“My two passions in life were baseball and professional wrestling,” he says. “I played baseball at a high level through college—NCAA Division I and a top Division III school. Once that ended, I threw everything I had into pro wrestling.”
Bowens’ baseball career spanned 11 years, including stints at both Seton Hall University and Montclair State University, where he played two seasons each for the Pirates and Red Hawks. At Nutley High School, he was a standout athlete, laying the foundation for his competitive drive.
The switch from baseball to wrestling wasn’t easy, but for Bowens, it was necessary. As a lifelong athlete and creative soul, he needed something to pour his energy into once baseball was over. Wrestling showed up right on time.
“I had all this time back,” he says. “As someone who’s used to five or six hours of training or games every day, I didn’t know what to do with myself. One thing led to another, and I ended up meeting [wrestler Santino Marella] at the gym who gave me the number to Pat Buck at Create A Pro Wrestling Academy. I walked into that place, and after three minutes, I just knew: this is what I want to do with the rest of my life.”
Coming Out — and Coming Into Himself
Bowens’ journey hasn’t just been about becoming a great performer; it’s been about becoming himself — and doing it out loud.
“In high school, I started to see the world a little differently. I was trying to figure out who I was,” he shares. “That really picked up in college, and by then, I knew. But the industry wasn’t as progressive. There weren’t a lot of people who looked like me or represented me in that way, so I stayed closeted for a long time.”
He finally came out at 26. “It was scary at the time,” Bowens admits. “There wasn’t a blueprint. There wasn’t much representation to say, ‘You’ll be okay if you come out and still want to do this.’”
But once he did, he never looked back. “It was the best decision I’ve ever made. I finally felt like myself. My friendships in wrestling and in life got stronger because I didn’t have to hide anymore. I could be authentic.”
Now, that authenticity is his power.
It Takes a Village
Behind every strong person is a stronger village, and Bowens makes sure his people get their flowers.
“The first people I came out to were my best friends,” he says. “We were a crew of six or seven back then — now it’s nine — and they made me feel safe. I was nervous and uptight at the time, but they gave me so much love and support. I really owe them a lot.”
He doesn’t take his family’s support for granted either. “Once I came out to them, they were always super supportive. I’m very fortunate and privileged to have a good support system around me to help me grow as a person.”
That same energy has followed him into the AEW locker room.
“The entire roster has been supportive,” he says. “I don’t have to walk on eggshells or change stories to make people feel ‘comfortable.’ I can just be me. Everybody’s very supportive, and I feel free to talk about my personal life without any kind of judgment.”
He’s quick to shout out his inner circle — the crew he calls “the lads”: Top Flight, Hook, Action Andretti, and Casey Navarro. And of course, there’s Billy Gunn.
“Billy’s been a mentor to me since 2022. He’s someone I can always text or call if I need advice. That means everything.”
Why AEW Felt Like Home
Before Bowens officially signed with AEW in November 2020, he was already watching its culture from the outside. What he saw wasn’t just opportunity — it was safety and freedom.
“I came in as an extra and saw people like Sonny Kiss and Nyla Rose just being themselves — and being accepted,” he says. “I remember one AEW Dark taping where there were like eight, nine, maybe ten out LGBTQ+ athletes there, from people on the roster to folks from the indies that Tony [Khan] brought in during the pandemic to make sure they had a paycheck. And I thought: this is where I want to be.”
It was bigger than a contract. AEW represented a culture where he didn’t have to choose between being a wrestler and being himself.
From Online Hate to Real-World Love
Of course, being out and visible on a global stage comes with its challenges, especially online. But Bowens has learned how to navigate it.
“Every now and then you get some idiot in the comments. You get negativity. But I’m numb to it now,” he says. “There’s always going to be hate. You just have to ignore it and keep going. And maybe — just maybe — you help open up someone’s eyes along the way. Even if it’s one person, it’s worth it.”
More often than not, the love drowns out the noise.
“The support means everything to me,” Bowens says. “It’s always good to have a strong support system with friends and family, but it also means a lot when fans have your back. That’s who we do this for. We go out there, perform, tell stories, and connect with the fans.”
After doing shows in empty arenas during the pandemic, Bowens doesn’t take a single cheer for granted. “It was so good to get people back in the crowd. Wrestling without them just isn’t the same.”
Pride, Purpose, and a Big Homecoming
This June, Bowens steps into a new kind of spotlight as an honorary Grand Marshal for Dallas Pride.
“I’ve never done that before, so I’m super excited to see what that entails,” he says. “It’s really cool to be able to represent the community and professional wrestling all over the world. And I get to do that here in Dallas.”
He won’t be gone for long either. Next month, AEW takes over North Texas with a full week of shows, including Dynamite and Collision at the Curtis Culwell Center and their biggest pay-per-view of the year, All In, at Globe Life Field in Arlington.
“It’s going to be crazy,” Bowens promises. “I encourage Dallas, the community, to come out and enjoy some good professional wrestling — elite professional wrestling. Everybody that comes always ends up having a good time.”
Legacy, Impact, and What Comes Next
Anthony Bowens already made history by becoming one of AEW’s first openly gay champions. But when you ask him what he wants his legacy to be, it’s clear his vision goes deeper.
“I want to be remembered as one of the best to ever do it. And I want to be the guy who brought progress and opened doors for other LGBTQ+ athletes in professional wrestling,” he says. “You want to leave something behind that matters. Something that says: he was here, and he made it easier for the next one.”
And to that next one — that young person watching from the crowd or scrolling on their phone, thinking they don’t belong in this world — Bowens has a message.
“The door is open for you. Opportunities are out there. The business has changed. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. You have people like me pushing to make the culture better and more open.”
He keeps it real, too. “Yes, there’s always going to be negativity. But there’s so much more love now. And places like AEW let you be yourself. That’s powerful.”
So, can he evoke change just by strapping up his boots in the ring on television and in promos?
“Oh, absolutely,” he says. “If you’ve got a platform, use it. Use it for positivity. Use it to inspire. People are looking for someone who looks like them, thinks like them, feels like them. Be that person.”
This Pride Month — and every month that follows — Anthony Bowens is living proof that greatness and authenticity can go hand in hand.
And in his case, you can be All Elite while you’re at it.
You can catch Anthony Bowens on AEW programming every week on Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision, you will also get a chance to see him live when AEW returns to Texas for All In at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Saturday, July 12, 2025. Tickets for all upcoming AEW events are available now at AEWtix.com.