Swerve Strickland discusses the AEW Continental Classic.
In recent weeks, the AEW Continental Classic tournament has been featured on AEW programming. The round-robin stage of the tournament has consistently delivered quality matches. The competition will culminate in the finals at AEW Worlds End.
In an interview with Jimmy Varsallone of the Miami Herald, Swerve Strickland shared his thoughts on the AEW Continental Classic. He stated that it has been a shot in the arm of what the pro wrestling industry needed (H/t Jeremy Lambert of Fightful for the transcription)
“The Classic has been a shot in the arm of what the pro wrestling industry needed,” Swerve Strickland said. “Introducing a new style of tournament bracketing with the classic round-robin style of blocks and scoring points. The usual tournament, you see [the seeding] and sometimes those guys don’t cross paths and they don’t face each other.
“In round robin, everyone has to face everyone, and that’s what made it so special. Everyone in the block was like, ‘I get to see these matchups. That’s going to be cool. I don’t know who is going to win here. This could be a draw.’ A lot of fans had a lot of fun with the scoring. Whoever is truly a wrestling connoisseur can have a lot of fun with those things.”
Swerve Strickland On Setting The Tone In The First Continental Classic
Swerve Strickland continued by noting that by being part of the first Continental Classic, the competitors had to set the tone. He highlighted his upcoming match with Jay White and Jon Moxley. Strickland made it clear that he knows White wants to avenge his previous loss to him.
“Me being part of the first one, we had to set the tone for the first-ever Continental Classic,” Swerve Strickland said. “Me being a finalist and going against Jay White and Jon Moxley, who is going to go down as a Hall of Famer and all-time great, being able to not face him once, but face him twice, means a lot. I get redemption for myself.
“Jay White, one of the pioneers of New Japan for the last three or four years, coming over here, he is new and being integrated to the national audience on-screen. I have a victory over him, and that means something, and it means something to him. He wants his redemption on me. Everyone is after something and we want to take it out on each other.”
On the December 27 episode of AEW Dynamite, Swerve Strickland will face Jon Moxley and Jay White in the AEW Continental Classic Gold League Finals. WrestleZone will have coverage of the show as it airs.
