Anthony Bowens: Bryan Danielson Personally Requested A Match With Me, That Made Me More Confident

On the November 5 episode of AEW Rampage, Bryan Danielson clash with Anthony Bowens.

Bowens had a short singles run when Max Caster was inactive following controversial remarks made in a rap, but otherwise has been paired with Caster as The Acclaimed for most his time in AEW.

Speaking to Pink News, Bowens reveals that Danielson personally requested the match with Bowens.

“I don’t know if I’m supposed to go into the insider stuff, but Bryan personally requested that match with me, which made me even more confident. And I stepped up and hit it out of the ballpark. It unlocked this side of me where I’m so confident out there now. I thought, ‘If this guy believes in me just like Tony does, I can literally do anything,'” he said.

Bowens has shared the ring with plenty of top names and legends during his time in AEW including Danielson, Chris Jericho, and Sting.

“To be on the shortlist of people that both Sting and Bryan Danielson have wrestled so far in AEW, or even just in general, is mind-blowing. That match in particular was a turning point for me as a performer. I was always very confident in myself and my abilities but you don’t truly know until you get in the wring with someone who I consider to be one of the best wrestlers in the world right now, if not the best. It was such a big confidence boost to go out there and know that I not only hung with Danielson, but I beat his ass… and then he actually got me at the end, but that’s not the point of the story! [Laughs] Everyone cheats against The Acclaimed, it’s very unfair!” he said with a laugh.

Bowens most recently stepped in the ring with Jon Moxley at AEW Rampage Beach Break. Moxley picked up the victory in the bout.

Fightful will have live coverage of AEW Rampage beginning at 10 p.m. ET on Friday.