Swerve Strickland hopes AEW All In will be a turning point for the professional wrestling industry.
All Elite Wrestling‘s Swerve Strickland recently sat down with Uproxx Sports. When asked about his WWE release, Strickland admitted that it put a chip on his shoulder.
“That left a big chip on my shoulder to prove it was one of the biggest mistakes you could have made,” Swerve Strickland said. “And now, winning the tag titles with Keith Lee and doing a co-main event in pay-per-views with said tag titles. Doing all these big arenas and being featured in a lot of different, very unique ways and being able to do the music crossover and show them that was one of the biggest mistakes you made, but you can’t have it back now.
“You can’t make up for that now, and I’m creating something that’s even bigger than what you expected of me over there. I’m really blessed in that department. I want to not just give back to them, but I want to showcase, I want to exceed the expectations of me here at AEW as well.”
Representation At AEW All In
When asked about working on All In, Strickland believes it’s a big moment for the culture.
“I always felt like whether I intend to or don’t intend to, the culture is always watching. African American culture, the Black pro wrestling fan base, the hip hop culture, all that has influenced me so heavy. It’s helped create the Swerve character,” Swerve Strickland said. “People really have caught onto that, and they’re influenced, and some are even inspired by that.
“So just the fact that I am the representation on the Wembley card right now at this moment, because there’s still more matches to be announced, that’s big. And to be going against an icon like Sting and, somebody that I’ve gone to wars with for years on the independents with Darby Allin. And somebody that I’ve had one of the greatest matches with A.R. Fox, that’s a really wild crew of people to be around that I never would’ve thought of six, seven years ago.”
Turning Point
Swerve believes what happens at Wembley Stadium this weekend could be a turning point for the industry. The leader of the Mogul Embassy also hopes that it will make things better for all companies across the board.
“It makes people see that there’s a possibility. It makes people believe again,” Swerve Strickland said. “We know WWE is doing their thing. Their business is higher than it’s ever been and congrats to them. But that made us raise their game.
“Wembley is going to make them have to make changes. They’re not sitting as comfortable in there anymore. And that’s not a bad thing; that’s a good thing, we want them to. If AEW can make the people who run WWE treat my friends and talent better and get them better opportunities and stuff, that’s a win for pro wrestling, and that’s all we need.”
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What do you make of Swerve Strickland’s comments? Could All In create a turning point for the industry this weekend? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.
