Swerve Strickland has looked back on an unforgettable night inside Wembley Stadium and how he wouldn’t be where he is today without it.
Six months before he captured the World Championship at Dynasty, Strickland was in one of the biggest matches at the first-ever All In pay-per-view, which took place in front of a packed crowd inside Wembley Stadium. Teaming with Christian Cage in a tag team coffin match, their opponents were Darby Allin and Sting in what turned out to be The Icon’s final match in the UK and in front of one of the biggest crowds in his 30-plus year career.
With Seek & Destroy by Metallica ringing out through the stadium and The Icon met with a thunderous ovation, fans knew this would be a night to remember. Diving through tables and playing all the hits, Sting gave the fans what they wanted to see and then some and he continued his undefeated run.
With it being common knowledge that Sting was fast approaching retirement and his time left in the ring was extremely limited, Strickland was honoured that he got to be one of the select few.
Speaking with Kenny McIntosh for issue 45 of Inside The Ropes Magazine, Strickland praised Sting for all that he had accomplished in his career and how that math was integral for his own career progression:
“Man, just to be a part of the last part of the close out of an incredible, iconic career of someone that you’re never going to really see like that again. You’re never going to see a Sting, and if you do, it’s going to be a while because it’s really hard to create something like a Sting and have a career resume of those stars that he was in the mix with. Taking titles from Hogan, taking titles from Flair and some of the greatest to ever do this stuff.
Then to be in the ring across the ring with somebody like that at Wembley Stadium was a historic moment. I could never have written this in my story. That guy’s a part of my story, my evolution, putting me in a coffin is what got me to where I’m at now. Without that, I can’t write that. So I feel honoured, privileged, proud. I can’t really put it into words.”
“It Was Surreal”: Swerve Strickland On Sting’s Retirement
At Revolution 2024, Sting competed one final time as he teamed with Darby Allin once more to defeat The Young Bucks while reigning as Tag Team Champions. Also in the interview, Strickland was honoured to be on the same card as The Icon for a historic night:
“It was surreal. The year prior I wasn’t even on Revolution, and then being in a world title match the following year, and then watching him win the tag titles and close out his career in a sold-out 16,000-seat arena, that’s incredible. So I’m truly forever thankful and grateful to be working with Sting in the year that we’ve had in 2023, and that I got to see him off in 2024.”
The full interview with Swerve Strickland is available in Issue 45 of Inside The Ropes Magazine, which can be purchased here.
If you use any quotes from this article please credit Inside The Ropes.