Swerve Strickland has made it clear that he’s here to stay in AEW.
Strickland signed with WWE in 2019 after appearing for numerous independent promotions, most notably Lucha Underground. During his time in NXT, under the name Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, he was part of the Hit Row stable and managed to pick up the NXT North American Championship. However, his time with the main roster on SmackDown didn’t last long, as he was released from the company in November 2021. Strickland has fared much better since moving to AEW, with both World Championship and World Tag Team Championship reigns under his belt, and it appears he won’t be leaving any time soon.
Speaking recently on The Breakfast Club, Strickland was asked about the possibility of a WWE return:
“Nah, I’m happy building AEW. I’m happy building myself in AEW. AEW has given me something that I don’t think WWE could ever give me. I’m really proud of that and I wave the flag proudly.”
He went on to praise AEW President Tony Khan for the freedom he allows, especially regarding wrestling personas:
“Tony Khan didn’t take a chance on me, he knew what he wanted from me. He put me in the position and said, ‘Now grow.’ ‘What avenues do I have to grow?’ ‘Whatever you want.’ There were no parameters, no red tape. I learned how to become a true businessman on top of being a professional wrestler. That’s why the mogul persona is truly personified in AEW. It let me be my best self as a man and a professional.”
"Black Champion/ Black Quarterback"
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FULL INTERVIEW: https://t.co/ekyAOShww3@breakfastclubam w/ @cthagod and @djenvypic.twitter.com/vGpBptDzxe
— The Realest Swerve Strickland (@swerveconfident) September 27, 2024
Strickland has made headlines in recent months due to the violent nature of his feud with Hangman Adam Page. Their “Lights Out” steel cage match at AEW All Out involved a multitude of weapons, including a staple gun, barbed wire, and a cinder block, leading to some mixed reviews from the wrestling world. The lead up to this match saw Page set fire to Strickland’s childhood home.
Swerve Strickland Drops Major Update Regarding AEW & Fox
Swerve Strickland appeared on the QUEENZFLIP YouTube channel recently, and provided an update on AEW’s ongoing media rights deal. Much speculation has surrounded the promotions future, with Tony Khan yet to confirm whether a new deal with WBD (Warner Bros Discovery) has been arranged.
In a new interview, Swerve Strickland discussed his upcoming AEW return at WrestleDream.