Swerve Strickland, who became AEW’s first African American World Champion after years of striving for recognition, believes pro wrestling must keep evolving, and he hopes to one day surpass himself. In a recent interview on “Insight with Chris Van Vliet,” Strickland praised WWE NXT’s Jevon Evans, calling him a promising talent who could eventually challenge his position in the wrestling world. He emphasized that Jevon Evans, already better at 21 than Strickland was at 30, is on track to become a formidable competitor within the next three years. Strickland credited the black wrestling stars of the 2010s independent scene for influencing both himself and Evans, highlighting that they learned from predecessors like Lio Rush and Ricochet learned from legends such as Rey Mysterio. Strickland expressed excitement about the unique qualities Evans will develop as he continues to grow, urging the wrestling community to push the industry forward rather than looking backwards.
Fan Take: This news is significant for AEW fans because it highlights the respect and recognition wrestlers from different promotions have for each other’s talent, signaling a healthy competitive spirit that drives improvement. It also suggests that fresh, young stars like Jevon Evans could shape the future of professional wrestling, keeping the sport dynamic and exciting.
