Update on Max Caster-AEW

A joke about an incredibly messy alleged sexual assault scandal and another one about mental health problems is incredibly tasteless, especially when it’s a show in aid of sexual assault survivors charities. I’ve thought a lot of his promo comments towards Julia Hart have been awful, it’s just too far for me. “It’s just part of the battle rap scene” is a lame excuse, he’s not performing at one, he’s on a very highly rated national TV show, and I can see the furore from sponsors (and the general audience) if this stayed up would be worse. Leave the trash he said in the Attitude Era, we don’t need to see it anymore.

Dave Wilkins

I never dug the insult rap gimmick. Relies on cheap heat too much. Caster is a good talent though, so hopefully, he learns from this and comes back with a different gimmick.

Ray Callahan Jr

there should have been a producer for the match the rap should have at least got a once over before being green lit even the commentary team saw the promo was problematic and were scared to go near it so the fact it got to the mic let alone to air is a systemic problem which i hope gets looked into. i'm all for creative freedom but there's also a line of sensitivity vs cheap heat, they are talented enough to not need to sink that low.

Chris Sully

Anyone who think implying rape is funny is seriously fucked in the head.

johnny oxbow

No shot Way over reaction

Angel “The New Guy” Gonzalez

This is such a ridiculous knee-jerk reaction. The rape line was definitely ill-advised, but the rest of it was fine. They should just have him apologize, and that should be the end of it. Anything more is an unnecessary overreaction.

Steveisnotmyname

Like, I don't want The Acclaimed to split up or for either of them to go, I just don't want them saying messed up shit in their freestyle rap promos. I'm admittedly shocked that they apparently didn't run any of them by anyone and that Tony or any other producer didn't vet their raps or something.

CSDX

I'm so happy I joined Fightful Select last night

Ant

2 months will go by quick. Same thing happened with Sammy. Sucks because it kills all the momentum The Acclaimed had. Hopefully they can get it back when they come back.

I thought they should take him off tv for a few weeks max. Doesn’t deserve to be fired

Elaquent

Abraham Washington Kobe Bryant vibes

Big warning and take him off tv for a couple weeks and just make sure the raps are in good taste and move forward

Colt Baudoux

I didn't see aew removed from his page. Am I missing something

Raul Ortega

This is the right move.

David Blumberg

As opposed to just firing someone & keeping it moving I appreciate AEW as a company to see the root of the problem & have him do sensitivity training. Much like the Sammy Guevara incident last yr I think AEW does a good job of realizing the issue & doing what’s best fit to move forward. No one needs to lose jobs but consequences for certain actions must be accounted for

What can you really do with him after that? His dis tracks were a huge part of the gimmick. Now that he crossed the line it might be something that you cant go back to.

Ugh I hope he’s back.

Angel “The New Guy” Gonzalez

Can’t let silly things like facts get in the way of a good rush of self righteous outrage

Just Some Guy

Damn, and I liked the raps.

Christopher Barnes

Not like it makes the intention of his lines any better, it doesn’t, they were tasteless, but, there was no rape by the Duke Lacrosse Team. I see people mentioning it here but it was a false accusation by the alleged victim.

Dave Stroble

sensitivity training is the right move. hopefully he takes this time as an opportunity to be creative about his disses without getting into rape joke territory,

Daisy Foster

Whatever happens with Max, I just hope that Anthony Bowens isn't left hanging on the shelf in the meantime. Then again, I don't know how much input he has with Max's promos.

Going back in time to the St Louis territory so I can be on Wrestling At The Chase... Richardson

Would be a bit too much if fired but maybe the same punishment as sammy got.

Cameron Hutton

Sensitivity training will help him in his career especially with his gimmick

Right call, firing would be an overreaction. Let's hope he learns from this and The Acclaimed carry on being a joy in future

Reece Hayes

The rap wasn’t funny whatsoever. No one wants to hear Simone Biles jokes. The Duke Lacrosse stuff was a poor way to get heat in North Carolina. However, they let him push the envelope and never said anything to him AFAIK about this rap until after it aired and people were upset so AEW shares blame here too for letting this make it on air to begin with. Since he went as far as removing AEW stuff from his social media maybe he wants out because of this but that’s not something I would know about.

Brian Bayless

No, you don’t understand. The mob MUST have their pound of flesh. The people upset about this won’t be truly happy until they draw and quarter him in the public square.

Just Some Guy

I get that the rap was wrong but that’s it. Surely a slap on the wrist will do for now.

Andrew Cairns

I don't want to see him fired. That only makes this a punishment, instead of a chance to diversify and grow. Sensitivity counseling, working with an emcee coach, charitable donations for women's shelters, working with special needs instructors to see what he was actually mocking; are all genuine ways to open someone's eyes to the words they say having weight. Even in a theatrical career choice.

Rincewind

It'd be stupid to get rid of him, but they should take it as a big warning about what happens when you give a little too much freedom to the talent

Macho Man

Play stupid games, earn stupid prizes. Hope he learns from this experience that you don't have to cross the line to get heat

Luis Pulido

Two completely different situations. One was a work designed to tell a story. It just so happened the sponsor caught wind of the use of a pizza cutter. The other was making a joke around real life situations that caused real life trauma to these real life individuals. And it stayed in the final cut for six days. I don’t think he should be fired but what he said was a little bit more serious than an off color remark

Joel Wood

Just so I’m clear Jericho can get sliced up from eyeball to a**hole by a convicted felon on their national tv show and create heat with a sponsor and that’s not only accepted but celebrated. Max makes a few off color remarks on YouTube though and the same people start looking for their fainting couches.

Just Some Guy

I mean he's 32, but I agree he shouldnt be fired

Fightful Select

He's young and made a mistake. Take him off TV for a bit and do what you did with Sammy. Tony should not fire Max. He just needs to learn from this.

He stepped over the line but no one bothered to question or edit the footage for a week! Putting him on ice is too much.

Josh Savory

I felt some of the things he said towards Julia in the previous weeks were pushing it, and with this he outright crossed the line. Where AEW take this I don’t know, I think part of that depends on Caster’s willingness to tone it down.

Dave Wilkins

I mean, what he said was stupid and insensitive. That said, I don’t think that should cost him his job. People make mistakes. I’m sure he regrets it. I wouldn’t be opposed to sensitivity training of some sort. Get him on the right track and bring him back.

Joel Wood

Mocked an athletes mental health and made light of a rapist in 1 take. This is the least he deserves

JoshB17

He needs to be sent to the same sensitivity training as Sammy. From there who knows.

Once again coming through with the story behind the story…only wrestling related content I’ve paid for since the WCW Hotline and it’s been completely worth every penny.

Dave Stroble

I'm guessing they'll do the same thing with him that they did with Sammy.

Jules Mac

I'd account it to the growing pains of giving the talent the level of freedom they have. Mistakes will be made, hopefully Tony sets a proper expectation of the line going forward and no further repercussions are needed.

Chris Mate

That’s disappointing.

His rap was bad, but this seems extreme.

Donnie K