Swerve Strickland made a dramatic return to AEW right after the main event at Full Gear, confronting the newly crowned AEW World Champion Samoa Joe and The Ops before ending the night standing side-by-side with “Hangman” Adam Page. Strickland had been absent since his defeat to Kazuchika Okada at Forbidden Door in August, where he unsuccessfully challenged for the unified title.
The Full Gear main event featured Joe and Page battling in a steel cage for the World Championship, with Joe emerging victorious thanks to a controversial hook turn, claiming his second world title reign and seemingly closing the show. Suddenly, the arena’s power went out, and when it returned, Prince Nana appeared on the entrance ramp. New entrance music signaled Strickland’s comeback as he made his way to the ring. When Joe invited Page to join him, Strickland instead faced off against The Ops’ henchmen, driving them away as the main group retreated. Page then joined Strickland, and the two stood united, glaring at The Ops as the show ended.
Strickland originally won the AEW World Championship from Joe at Dynasty 2024 and was last seen allied with The Ops in a combined effort alongside Jon Moxley and the Death Riders.
Fan Take: This unexpected return injects fresh excitement into AEW and hints at new alliances and rivalries, keeping fans guessing about the direction of the roster’s top stars. Swerve and Page standing together could signal a powerful partnership, setting the stage for compelling storylines and high-stakes matches moving forward.
