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Tag: Swerve Strickland

  • There’s A Reason Swerve Strickland Has A Lot To Say About Aleister Black’s Future

    There’s A Reason Swerve Strickland Has A Lot To Say About Aleister Black’s Future

    Swerve Strickland has weighed in on the future of Aleister Black and Zelina Vega following their WWE releases.

    Speaking on Bootleg Kev, Strickland stopped short of advocating for or against Black returning to AEW. He focused instead on hoping Black and Vega land somewhere that fulfills them.

    “I just hope that Aleister — I’ll speak to, I hope Tommy finds what he’s looking for in this industry, this part in his career. [Black and Vega are] both very talented, incredible people. Incredible talents in itself. I just hope they find something that gives them the type of — I don’t know what it is that he’s really [looking for], whatever it is, I hope they find some place that gives them that, you know what I mean?”

    Strickland credited Black with having a significant influence on his own career development.

    “Because he has so many great ideas. He’s one of the guys that got me into NXT. Like, him talking with Terry Taylor and he’s like, ‘This is the guy you gotta watch out for.’ I did tape studies with him in 2017. My last indie run, he was the guy I was going to. He really helped my mind a lot at that stage in my career. So I just hope, like, he finds the place that gives him whatever it is that can fulfill him in the industry again.”

    Black and Vega were both released by WWE in April 2026. AEW has denied being in negotiations with Black for a return. Black previously left AEW in 2025 for WWE, and there are unconfirmed reports he was reluctant to lose matches during his AEW run — claims Black has denied.

  • Former AEW World Champion Eyes Hollywood Acting Career

    Former AEW World Champion Eyes Hollywood Acting Career

    Swerve Strickland has a list of action franchises he would love to be part of, and the depth of thought he has already put into acting. Speaking with TMZ Inside the Ring, Strickland explained that he has been studying film for years, not purely as a fan but as a performer seeking lessons he can apply to his wrestling work.

    “Movies and cinema is like, that’s part of who I am, as far as like growing up on this side of the screen. Growing up on it, I’m a fan of a lot of actors. Daniel Day-Lewis, one of my favorite performers. Oh, tremendous. Like Edward Norton. Brad Pitt’s one of my favorites I’ve watched. I’ve studied a lot of these people. Studied Denzel, studied Damson Idris. Studied a lot of these guys, just watching a lot of these little nuances of what they do to take that into what I do.”

    He was clear that converting that passion into a Hollywood career is an entirely different undertaking, one he wants to approach with the same preparation that has defined his wrestling development.

    “Now to be where they are in their position, that’s a different monster, especially Hollywood in itself. So I would say it starts all over again. I got to understand and learn the craft first, to now find the passion. Then to tackle that to be ready for those opportunities.”

    When asked which franchise he would most want to be part of, Strickland named three and explained the specific qualities of each that draw him in. 

    “If I had to choose one? It’s a lot. Honestly, I would like to be in the Extraction franchises. Like what Chris Hemsworth’s doing right now? Amazing camera work. And it looks like such challenging stunt work, such challenging stunt choreography. And being former military, that attracts me to it a lot. It’s like, ‘Man, what could I do in that universe?’ And then like the Man on Fire stuff with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, he’s killing it right now too. And I was like, ‘Man, imagine if I got thrown into that universe and that series.’”

    He also singled out the John Wick franchise for its cinematographic innovation, citing a overhead sequence in John Wick 4 as an example of filmmaking that excites him as a student of the medium.

    “The John Wick universe, like the gunplay and the manipulations of all like, the shot of the camera being above the set in John Wick 4 looking like — what’s the game? Hotline Miami. Like the over above, the shot with the fire shotgun and stuff. I’m like, ‘Who thinks of that and how do you pull that off so efficiently?’ So those things, I like. I look at a lot of camera work.”

    Strickland returned to AEW television late last month with a vignette targeting Bandido, with Double or Nothing being discussed as a potential landing spot for the matchup. 

  • Swerve Strickland Reveals He Texted Kofi Kingston After WWE Release and Calls Him Top Five Greatest Ever

    Swerve Strickland Reveals He Texted Kofi Kingston After WWE Release and Calls Him Top Five Greatest Ever

    Swerve Strickland would love to see Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods land in AEW, but he made clear on the latest episode of TMZ’s Inside the Ring podcast that his primary concern is that the two New Day members do whatever is best for them after their WWE departure.

    Strickland was asked directly whether he wants to see Kingston and Woods sign with AEW when their 90-day clauses expire following their May 2 release from WWE.

    “Oh yeah, of course. Absolutely. I also just want them to do what’s best for them. If they want to take like a five-year hiatus, they’ve earned it. They’ve more than earned it. They know their value as well, and that’s the most important thing. I hope that’s the lesson that everybody learns in this, not just like as a fan but as a professional yourself in this industry, they know their value, and they understand who they are, and they understand what they bring, and what they brought and their legacy they leave behind.”

    Kingston and Woods departed WWE after being offered a significant pay cut one year into a five-year contract, choosing to walk away rather than accept reduced terms from TKO. Strickland revealed he reached out to Kingston shortly after the news broke.

    His praise for Kingston went far beyond a supportive text message, placing him among the best who have ever worked in the business and describing him as a role model in the purest sense of the term.

    “He’s like the epitome of professionalism when it comes to that. Especially in our culture, you look at Kofi as one of the top five greatest ever to do it. He’s truly a model — a role model, but he’s the model type of role model. He’s the perfect type of role model.”

    Strickland also connected Kingston’s legacy directly to his own historic moment in AEW, explaining that Kingston’s WrestleMania title win was one of the key inspirations behind the emotion of his own April 2024 AEW World Championship victory, which made him the first Black wrestler to win the men’s AEW title.

    “I meant every word I said when I won the championship and was like, ‘Kofi’s a big inspiration for that.’ It’s like, man, how do I do something so cool like that and make it my own? How do I do that in my own legacy, in my own career, something that Kofi did at WrestleMania. He’s the only Black wrestler to win the World Championship at WrestleMania. You cannot take that away from him. He’s the only one.”

  • Swerve Strickland Returns on AEW Dynamite

    Swerve Strickland Returns on AEW Dynamite

    Swerve Strickland is back, and he has already made clear who he is coming for.

    A vignette aired on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite showing a man walking through a Western town before finding a Bandido wanted poster on the ground. The camera panned up to reveal Strickland alongside Prince Nana, who handed him a lighter shaped like a gun. Strickland used it to set the poster on fire.

    Strickland has been out of action since losing to Kenny Omega in a match where his World title shot was put against Omega’s EVP role on the March 25 Dynamite. Reports had suggested his absence was tied to filming material for WBD, though a member of his team denied that explanation.

    Bandido, the current ROH World Champion, has not been particularly active in the ring since losing to then-AEW World Champion MJF in January, competing just three times in the months since, with his last appearance coming in the vacant TNT title Casino Gauntlet match at Dynasty. Vignettes featuring Bandido in the same Western town setting have been airing on AEW programming in recent weeks, building toward an apparent collision.

    The two have history in both singles and tag team matches, but have never faced each other in AEW. Their most recent one-on-one meeting was in 2019, during OTT, a very different period for both men.

    Double or Nothing next month is being eyed as a potential landing spot for the matchup.

  • Swerve, Raquel Rodriguez & Sheamus Announce 2026 NFL Draft Picks

    Swerve, Raquel Rodriguez & Sheamus Announce 2026 NFL Draft Picks

    Three top stars from WWE and AEW were on hand for Saturday’s 2026 NFL Draft, and had prominent roles in the day’s festivities. Former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland, Raquel Rodriguez of WWE’s Judgment Day, and WWE’s Sheamus each announced fourth, fourth and sixth round picks, respectively, for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and Tennessee Titans.

    https://x.com/Jaguars/status/2048096472202150380?s=20

    https://x.com/AEW/status/2048093925588521185

    Strickland announced the Jaguars’ selection of Duke EDGE Wesley Williams at No. 119 overall, a pick Jacksonville traded up five spots with the Carolina Panthers to make. Williams logged 11 career sacks and 29 tackles for loss across four seasons at Duke. The Jaguars-AEW connection runs deep, with both outfits operated by Tony Khan, who recently launched an AEW x NFL Team Lucha Masks merchandise line earlier this year. Strickland made his appearance fresh off his March 25 Dynamite match against Kenny Omega.

    Rodriguez announced the Houston Texans’ selection of Oklahoma offensive guard Febechi Nwaiwu with the No. 106 overall pick.

    https://x.com/HoustonTexans/status/2048076603763155168?s=20

    Sheamus Reps the Titans From Dublin

    Sheamus took part in the festivities from Dublin, Ireland, announcing the Tennessee Titans’ sixth round pick at No. 184 overall. The Titans selected Baylor defensive tackle Jackie Marshall.

    https://x.com/WWESheamus/status/1915713421947928591

    Wrestling Crossovers Run Through 2026 NFL Draft

    This year’s NFL Draft has featured several wrestling crossover moments. Earlier in the week, Seth Rollins walked off the Good Morning Football set after host Kyle Brandt joked about bringing in Becky Lynch. Former AEW Women’s World Champion Britt Baker, a Pittsburgh native, has been a regular attendee at the draft in her hometown. The 49ers also selected Ole Miss wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling in the second round at No. 33 overall, the nephew of WWE Hall of Famer Don “The Rock” Muraco.

  • AJ Styles to AEW? Swerve Strickland Weighs In

    Swerve Strickland says he isn\’t chasing a dream match with AJ Styles, and insists the shoe is on the other foot.

    Speaking at the For The Love of Wrestling convention in Manchester on February 23, 2026, Strickland made clear that his continued rise in AEW has flipped the dynamic when it comes to marquee matchups.

    \”At this point, I think I\’m becoming something that AJ Styles wants to compete against instead,\” Strickland said.

    \”I\’m pushing myself to be at the top of this game. So I\’m not chasing after anybody\’s matches. I want those matches to chase after me now.\”

    A Generation Built on AJ\’s Blueprint

    Strickland acknowledged Styles\’ enormous influence on the generation of wrestlers now headlining major promotions, listing Will Ospreay, Seth Rollins, Mike Bailey, and himself among those who studied Styles\’ work.

    \”AJ\’s earned more than enough in his career to walk away from it — or continue on and do something different and unique with the generation of guys that he\’s curated and kind of spawned,\” Swerve said.

    \”Ospreay\’s always been on record saying how AJ influenced him. Even Seth Rollins, myself, the Mike Baileys — so many of us have all kind of watched and studied AJ.\”

    Despite that reverence, Strickland made it clear the invitation is open rather than urgent. He described Styles as \”more than capable\” and noted he appears to be in strong physical and mental condition — but left the decision entirely in Styles\’ hands.

    \”If he wants to take a chance and come over to AEW — we\’re all here, open, waiting if he decides to make that jump,\” he said.

    Context: AJ Styles\’ WWE Future in Question

    Styles\’ career was put on the line against Gunther at the Royal Rumble in January 2026. He lost the match, leaving his future with WWE uncertain. Styles notably kept his gloves on after the loss rather than leaving them in the ring, fueling speculation about what comes next.

    Whether that next chapter includes AEW remains to be seen, but Strickland made clear that whenever the time comes, AEW\’s locker room – and Swerve himself – will be ready.

    A tribute for AJ Styles is scheduled for tonight\’s episode of WWE Raw from Atlanta, Georgia.

  • Swerve Strickland Turns Heel After Dynamite Victory Over Kenny Omega

    Swerve Strickland has finally snapped.

    Tonight\’s Dynamite from Sacramento, California, was main evented by the former AEW Champion facing Kenny Omega in their first-ever singles match.

    The physical 20-minute bout saw both contenders trying their best to win the match. Omega hit multiple V-Triggers towards the ending of the fight, but it was Strickland who picked up the victory with a House Call counter.

    The winner wasn\’t done with his opponent even after the bell, however. After some brutal punches, Swerve obtained a chain from Prince Nana and hung Omega over the ropes in a brutal spot.

    If this wasn\’t enough of a statement, Swerve Strickland then went out of the ring and cleared the announce desk. Bryan Danielson at the commentary pleaded with him not to continue the beatdown, but Strickland finished Kenny off with a Deadeye on the table.

    The heel turn for the rap star had been teased since his return at Full Gear last year. There has also been speculation about Strickland potentially reviving the Mogul Embassy. So it\’s possible that we will see the faction reuniting under Swerve after tonight\’s show.

  • Swerve Strickland Fires Back at Booker T\’s \’Bad Habits\’ Insult

    Swerve Strickland has responded to Booker T\’s latest criticism with a sharp, humor-driven clapback — and used the moment to showcase his Reebok Answer 3 \”Swerve\” collaboration sneaker in the process.

    On a recent episode of his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T took aim at rising WWE star Je\’Von Evans, suggesting the 21-year-old \”probably grew up watching guys like\” Swerve and needs to \”get rid of those bad habits.\” The comment clearly framed Strickland\’s influence as a negative, a continuation of the WWE Hall of Famer\’s longstanding issues with the former AEW World Champion.

    Strickland didn\’t fire back with a lengthy rant. Instead, he turned the dig into a branding opportunity. After a fan joked on social media asking how many pairs of shoes Swerve wore out \”tap dancing\” for WWE, Strickland replied with a photo of his Reebok Answer 3 collaboration and wrote: \”If he needs a new pair he can borrow mine.\”

    The response works on multiple levels. It mocks the \”tap dancing\” narrative that\’s often been directed at Black wrestlers, while simultaneously positioning Swerve as the one with the mainstream crossover leverage — a signature sneaker deal with Reebok — and Booker as the one who could use a new pair.

    A Feud That Goes Back to AEW Dynasty

    The tension between Strickland and Booker T has been building for over a year. During a VladTV interview, Strickland questioned Booker\’s defense of WWE\’s treatment of Black talent, pointing to specific incidents including Vince McMahon using a racial slur in Booker\’s presence. Booker fired back on his podcast, expressing disappointment and saying he had personally spoken to Swerve about his comments.

    Things escalated at AEW Dynasty 2025, when Strickland closed the show by telling the Philadelphia crowd \”F*** Booker T.\” Booker called the moment unprofessional, said it overshadowed the pay-per-view itself, and vowed he was done putting Swerve over publicly.

    Booker\’s \”bad habits\” line aimed at Je\’Von Evans is the latest shot in that ongoing exchange, and Swerve\’s sneaker-fueled response makes clear he has no intention of letting the rivalry fade. If anything, Strickland seems content to keep flipping Booker\’s criticism into content — turning a veteran\’s jab into a chance to promote his brand while keeping the back-and-forth in the public eye.

  • MJF Becomes 2-Time AEW Champion At World\’s End

    MJF is a world champion again.

    The AEW World\’s End PPV this Saturday featured Samoa Joe defending his championship against the Salt of the Earth, Hangman Adam Page, and Swerve Strickland.

    At first, MJF was making little impact in the bout as he kept getting taken out by other contenders whenever he tried to gain some momentum. The Opps intervened on behalf of Joe when the young star finally started getting some chances.

    Though Samoa Joe failed to take advantage of the chance provided by his teammates, as Hangman Page somehow managed to kick out of the Muscle Buster. The referee then ejected the outside parties, and the match continued.

    The ending saw Swerve Strickland delivering a big powerbomb to the champion. He failed to do any further damage as MJF shoved Strickland from the top rope, only to eat a kick from Adam Page in return.

    Page took charge with a couple of big Lariats on the defending champion, but Joe only looked staggered instead of going down. As Hangman went for the third Buckshot, MJF low-blowed him outta nowhere. The 29-year-old then delivered a Heatseeker to Samoa Joe to win the AEW World title for the second time in his career.

    This ends Samoa Joe\’s second AEW World title reign at just 34 days. Now we\’ll have to see how long MJF, who held the belt for a record 406 days last time, is able to keep the title around his waist.

  • MJF Returns To Make Diddy Reference, Insert Himself Into Worlds End Match

    MJF is back and is already creating controversies.

    This week\’s Holiday Bash special of Dynamite featured a contract signing segment for the upcoming World Heavyweight Championship match between Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, and Hangman Page.

    Before the contract could be signed, however, the Salt of the Earth returned to the company, making his first appearance since the All Out PPV in September.

    The former AEW Champion immediately inserted himself into the title picture. MJF announced that he will be cashing in his Casino Gauntlet contract to make the Worlds End title match a fatal 4-way.

    MJF Mocks Swerve Strickland

    The former Pinnacle leader went on to cut promos on all three competitors. He first explained that he is cashing in the contract to prove that he is not a coward like Hangman claimed.

    He blamed Samoa Joe for the fans turning on him after the Samoan Submission Machine defeated him for the AEW title two years ago.

    MJF finally turned his attention towards Swerve Strickland, comparing the music star to P. Diddy. He claimed that both are dogshit rappers who use too much baby oil. He also mocked Strickland for his WWE days, saying the former Hit Row member was twerking for Top Dolla when he was already a star in AEW.

    AEW Worlds End this year will be taking place from the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on December 27, 2025. Apart from the World title match, the show will feature the Continental Classic semi-finals and final, as well as a match between Kris Statlander and Jamie Hayter for the AEW Women\’s title.