YMMV / The Acclaimed

• And You Thought It Would Fail: The National Scissoring Day segment was highly likely to be a flop. An Attitude Era-style sports entertainment skit? Check. From a promotion where such segments are uncommon? Check. Much to everyone's surprised delight, the segment was equal parts hilarious, inspiring and endearing that showcased the team and Billy Gunn at their best and funniest. Bryan Alvarez theorised that the reason for its success was that, unlike basically every other celebration segment ever held in any company, there were no heels to run in and break it up by attacking the faces or sudden heel turns from any of the participants to ruin everything; they just gave the audience something fun that they wanted and let them enjoy it.
• Base-Breaking Character: Max was one of these prior to the team's face turn, with many fans debating just how entertaining his raps actually were. This seems to have died down for the most part, as he and Anthony have exploded in popularity.
• Crosses the Line Twice: Max's raps tend to get pretty spicy, usually involving references to things Ripped from the Headlines. One of them was so crude it actually got him suspended.
• Ensemble Dark Horse: For the majority of their early run, The Acclaimed were a relatively minor tag team who didn't really feature very prominently on AEW shows. However, their over the top personas garnered a devoted following who tuned in to nearly any show they were featured on just to see them and hear Max's line-crossing raps. They finally broke out in 2022, where they got a significant push culminating in a tag team championship victory.
• Funny Moments: Has its own page.
• Heartwarming Moments:
  • Caster's rap after Bowens' return following an injury, which is especially nice considering their villainous role at the time.
    It's The Acclaimed, I'm Platinum Max
    Everybody cheer 'cause Bowens is back
    He got hurt, but now the man's better
    Thanks for the love and all the fan letters
    Thanks for the gifts and the positive tweets
    Tonight we gon' get real lit in these streets
    So start clappin' if you hear what I'm sayin'
    Why? 'Cause everybody loves The Acclaimed
  • On Elevation, January 11, 2022, Caster affectionately namedrops the recently passed Betty White.
  • Caster and Bowens reuniting with Billy Gunn after Austin and Colten betrayed him in favor of Stokely Hathaway.
  • During the National Scissoring Day segment, Caster likens the team's win of the tag titles to Super Bowl XVII, which was won by the Washington Redskins, the team that his father Rich played for at the time. He also likens Rich's Super Bowl ring to the tag title belts.
  • Initially "Everybody Loves the Acclaimed!" was a facetious catchphrase as Max and Anthony were heels. Following their face turn however, it's proved to be completely true as they rapidly became one of the most beloved teams on the roster.
• Memetic Mutation: '"SCISSOR ME, DADDY ASS!" <scissors fingers together>
• Moment of Awesome: All Out 2022. The Acclaimed vs. Swerve in our Glory for the Tag Team Championships. If there was ever any proof of how over The Acclaimed are as a team, one only has to listen to the Chicago crowd's uproarious reaction, which even spawned a unique chant in "Oh, Scissor Me Daddy!".^note An impromptu crowd hijacking of Keith Lee's "Oh, bask in his glory!" chant. While Caster and Bowens end up coming short, a result that the crowd rained down boo's on, this was a star-making match for the pair, looking like true contenders for the titles and winning the crowd every step of the way. It's widely considered to be the PPV's match of the night.
  • At 2022's Grand Slam Dynamite at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the team would face off against Swerve in our Glory in a highly anticipated rematch. Not only did they receive a thunderous ovation the entire time, they captured victory and the tag team championships, securing themselves as the top tag team in the company.
• Most Wonderful Sound: Say it with us now! "*INSERT CITY NAME HERE!!!* THE ACCLAIMED! HAVE ARRIVED!!!". Much beloved because of Bowens absolutely bombastic delivery each and every time.
• Retroactive Recognition:
  • Max Caster appeared on an episode of WWE Raw in the infamous "Bobby Lashley's sisters" angle as Francis Lashley.
  • Anthony Bowens did Jobber duty on an episode of NXT, in a somewhat infamous moment where he was legitimately knocked out when The Authors of Pain powerbombed his tag team partner onto his face.
• Tear Jerker: The Gunn Club's betrayal on Dynamite 7/6/22. Of note:
  • Austin Gunn snatching the mic out of Caster's hand prior to the opening rap. From the immense heat at the Gunns and the dejected look on the Acclaimed, it's pretty clear that Caster treats the mic like it's his baby.
  • The aftermath of the dissension between both teams has the Gunns eventually attacking the Acclaimed. Their father Billy steps in to seemingly cool the tension...only to clothesline Caster and side with his sons. Bowens pleads to Billy's better side through scissoring, and is taken down with a Fame Ass-er.