Samoa Joe believes Anthony Bowens is expanding his game in an important way through his time with The Opps.
Bowens entered the group with a well-established reputation as a high-level athlete and a successful tag team wrestler following his run as one-half of The Acclaimed. In Samoa Joe’s view, however, Bowens is now finding a different layer to his presentation and in-ring approach: one built around greater viciousness, edge and versatility.
Speaking in a new interview, Joe assessed Bowens’ development and said the former Acclaimed member is becoming a more multifaceted performer. The veteran praised the tools Bowens already brought to the table while emphasizing the value of putting him in situations where a more intense side can emerge.
“I think he’s becoming a much more varied competitor, where he’s going to be multifaceted, and listen, he’s always been a blue-chipper athlete. He’s always been a tremendous grappler. He’s able to connect with crowds. He’s able to bring people off their feet. But it’s just now kind of pairing a little bit of more viciousness, putting a little bit more edge on the blade, and putting him in the positions where and hopefully he can shine and then kind of show the world what he’s capable of.”
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Joe highlights the foundation Bowens already had
Joe’s comments make clear that he does not see Bowens’ evolution as a complete reinvention. Instead, the change appears to be about adding to qualities that were already present.
Before joining The Opps, Bowens had long demonstrated the athletic ability that Joe called “blue-chipper.” He had also shown the crowd connection referenced by Joe, particularly during The Acclaimed’s rise into one of the most popular acts in the tag team division. Bowens’ ability to perform in front of a live audience was never the missing ingredient in his presentation.
The key distinction in Joe’s assessment is the emphasis on range. Calling Bowens a “more varied competitor” suggests that Joe sees room for him to move beyond a single familiar identity in the ring. Athleticism, grappling and crowd response remain important strengths, but they can carry different weight when paired with a more ruthless mindset.
That is especially notable coming from Joe. Across his own career, Joe has been identified with a punishing, direct style and an ability to make every match feel dangerous. His perspective on Bowens centers less on changing the younger wrestler’s physical gifts and more on adding a harder edge to how those gifts are used.
In practical terms, the idea is straightforward: a wrestler can be explosive and charismatic without always seeming threatening. Joe’s description of Bowens points to a performer learning to combine those traits. A crowd can still react to Bowens’ athleticism, but that reaction can be matched by the belief that he is willing to impose himself physically and seize an opening without hesitation.
The Opps has created a different setting for Bowens
Bowens’ association with The Opps has coincided with the more serious and vicious approach Joe described. The faction has provided a setting that differs from the environment audiences knew during Bowens’ run with The Acclaimed.
That distinction matters because factions can serve more than one purpose. They can offer numerical strength, establish alliances and create new rivalries, but they can also reframe an individual wrestler. A change in surroundings can alter the way a performer is presented, how opponents respond to them and what fans are encouraged to focus on.
For Bowens, being aligned with Joe puts him alongside a veteran whose standards and in-ring identity are unmistakable. Joe’s public remarks suggest that he sees Bowens as someone with significant ability who benefits from being placed in opportunities designed to reveal another level of intensity.
Joe specifically mentioned “putting him in the positions where and hopefully he can shine.” That phrasing leaves the focus on potential rather than declaring the process complete. Bowens is not being described as a finished product. Rather, Joe sees him as a wrestler with the attributes to become increasingly dangerous and complete if he continues to receive the right opportunities.
It is also an acknowledgment that development in wrestling is not limited to learning more holds or adding spectacular offense. Bowens has been praised by Joe for his grappling already. The next stage, as Joe frames it, involves the decisions, urgency and attitude that shape how those skills are applied when the bell rings.
Viciousness can change the meaning of an established skill set
Joe’s reference to “putting a little bit more edge on the blade” was the most revealing part of his evaluation. It is a colorful description, but its meaning is clear: Bowens’ offense and athletic profile can feel more impactful when delivered with a more aggressive purpose.
That type of growth is often visible in the smallest moments of a match. It can be reflected in how a wrestler follows up after an advantage, how long they maintain control, how they respond when an opponent fights back, or whether they view a hold as a transitional maneuver or an opportunity to wear someone down. None of that requires abandoning the existing strengths that earned the wrestler attention in the first place.
For Bowens, the upside in Joe’s description is substantial. He already has the ability to connect with an audience, and Joe said he can bring people “off their feet.” Those are valuable traits for any wrestler. Adding a more menacing dimension could allow Bowens to operate effectively in a wider range of situations and against a broader variety of opponents.
A wrestler who can draw an audience into a moment while also projecting danger has more options. They can build a match around speed, grappling, sustained punishment or sudden intensity. Joe’s use of the word “multifaceted” captures that possibility. It is not simply about becoming tougher; it is about becoming less predictable and more equipped to control the tone of a contest.
That is why Joe’s praise was measured but meaningful. He did not merely say Bowens was talented. He outlined the specific traits Bowens has, then identified the added ingredient he believes is helping him progress. The resulting picture is of an athlete whose ceiling may be raised by greater conviction and a more ruthless application of his abilities.
A notable endorsement from a veteran leader
Joe’s words carry weight because they come from the leader of the group Bowens joined. The comments are not framed as empty encouragement; Joe pointed to concrete elements of Bowens’ game, including his athleticism, grappling and ability to engage fans.
At the same time, Joe did not hide what he wants to see more of. The focus on viciousness shows that the standard within The Opps is not simply to perform well or be popular. It is to bring an edge that makes the group’s members feel more formidable when competition intensifies.
That standard can be particularly useful for Bowens as he continues to establish what this chapter of his career represents. His past success and his connection to audiences are part of his résumé. His work with The Opps offers the chance to demonstrate that he can add a harsher, more confrontational presence without losing the athletic qualities that made him stand out.
Joe’s assessment also avoids placing an artificial endpoint on Bowens’ trajectory. The language of “hopefully he can shine” and “show the world what he’s capable of” keeps the attention on what lies ahead. There is confidence in Bowens’ ability, but also recognition that the fullest version of this evolution will be proven through continued performances.
What Joe’s comments mean for Bowens’ next chapter
Anthony Bowens has already shown he can succeed as part of a major team and connect with fans on a large stage. Samoa Joe now sees a path for him to become something broader: a competitor able to merge his natural athleticism and grappling foundation with a more pronounced edge.
The central theme of Joe’s remarks is expansion. Bowens does not need to discard the traits that brought him success. Instead, Joe believes those tools can become even more effective when sharpened by aggression and placed in meaningful situations within The Opps.
Whether that development continues will be determined in the ring, but Joe’s endorsement establishes an intriguing direction. Bowens is being encouraged to show a more varied and vicious side of himself, with the goal of making clear just how much he can do as a multifaceted competitor.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.