Swerve Strickland, who joined AEW in 2022, recently shared insights about his choice to stay with the company by signing a new contract. Having originally signed a deal when he fully committed to AEW last year, Strickland was recognized for exceeding expectations even before that contract expired.
After being released by WWE in November 2022, Strickland returned to the independent wrestling circuit before landing in AEW. He admits he wasn’t well-known before joining Tony Khan’s promotion and explained on the podcast Insight with Chris Van Vleet that this unfamiliarity worked in his favor. He saw signing with AEW as a fresh start, with no previous reputation to live up to, contrasting it with established stars like Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley who had more pressure due to their big-name histories.
Strickland is now set to sign a multiple-year contract that will keep him with AEW until 2029. He discussed building trust with AEW President Tony Khan, emphasizing that this trust allows wrestlers to perform in ways that resonate on TV. He recounted advice from Paul Wight about the importance of understanding what management wants and delivering it, using John Cena as a prime example.
Reflecting on his WWE tenure, Strickland acknowledged he often felt like he was putting in too much effort without the right outcomes. His experience now in AEW marks a more collaborative relationship, fostering confidence and mutual respect.
Fan Take: Swerve Strickland’s long-term commitment to AEW signals a growing confidence in the promotion’s direction and the opportunities it offers its wrestlers. For fans, this means seeing more of Strickland’s evolving talent and innovative performances, which could elevate AEW’s standing in the wrestling world even further.
