One big thing: AEW star Anthony Bowens and former MLB slugger Jose Canseco engage in heated Twitter exchange
Anthony Bowens, one-half of AEW’s The Acclaimed, is set to participate in the Going Yard Home Run Derby on October 5, alongside various professional athletes and celebrities.
The exchange:
• Bowens initiated the interaction, suggesting retired baseball players should “sit back in their rocking chairs and watch The Scissor King win” the Derby.
• Canseco responded, questioning the meaning of “The Scissor King” and calling it “gross.”
• Bowens fired back with a video of The Acclaimed performing at Wembley Stadium, claiming 80,000 fans chanted their catchphrase.
• Canseco dismissed Bowens as an “actor” rather than an athlete.
• Bowens corrected Canseco’s grammar and referenced his past steroid use.
Why it matters:
This exchange highlights the intersection of professional wrestling and mainstream sports, showcasing how social media can create unexpected rivalries and generate buzz for events like the Going Yard Home Run Derby.
The bigger picture:
• Bowens, an openly gay wrestler, faced homophobic comments from some social media users following the exchange.
• He has been vocal about his sexuality and its impact on his career since joining AEW in 2020.
• Bowens sees his role as important for representing the LGBTQ community in professional wrestling.
By the numbers:
• The Acclaimed performed in front of a reported 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium during AEW All In.
• Canseco hit 462 home runs during his 17-year MLB career.
This social media spat between Bowens and Canseco has certainly drummed up interest for the upcoming Going Yard Home Run Derby. What do you think about athletes from different sports engaging in these kinds of exchanges? Leave a comment below with your thoughts!
