In the wrestling world you can spend years wrestling before as they say “lightning in a bottle” strikes. It happened with Hulk Hogan in 1984, Steve Austin in 1998 and John Cena around 2005. Swerve Strickland is having that moment right now. It’s the moment when the entire wrestling world and beyond decides you’re one of the top talents on the planet and they start following you. Intensely.
In 2022 Swerve Strickland (real name Stephon Strickland) entered Jacksonville-based All Elite Wrestling (AEW) with a lengthy pedigree in wrestling. He had wrestled in WWE, Lucha Underground and other spots in the industry. He entered as a midcard talent even winning the tag team championship. But everything changed in 2023 when AEW owner Tony Khan decided to give Strickland a major push. And he has succeeded in taking his ball and running with it. Strickland has quickly become one of the top stars in the entire industry and is currently feuding with another top star in John Moxley. But Strickland said that 2024 will be even bigger.
He plans to win gold. “Not just any type of gold. AEW world championship,” said Strickland. “Only to the top and I said in the middle of this year, if I had gotten the opportunities that Hangman Page would’ve gotten my first year, I would have been the first African American AEW world champion. And I do believe that. I can still do that.”
On MJF’s world title reign: “I could do better”
Swerve Strickland
To do that Strickland will have to knock off the current champ Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF). While Strickland did say he thinks MJF is doing a good job as champ “I think I could do better,” he added. “Without a doubt. Without a doubt.”
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Strickland said his primary focus for 2024 will be winning the heavyweight championship. “That is the only thing on my mind right now,” he said.
As far as his company, AEW, Strickland said it’s doing well and will grow in 2024. He said he filters internet rumors about the wrestling industry and trusts his owner Tony Khan who trusted him with wrestling stardom.
He also thinks AEW has brought much needed competition to the pro wrestling industry which had been singularly dominated by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) since 2001 when its former competitor World Championship Wrestling (WCW) went out of business.
“It’s competition and I think competition builds character,” said Strickland. “Everybody has to step their game up. Whether it be the talent, Tony Khan himself, whether it be the competition itself in WWE. We want to compete and show the case that there’s another place to go and a different way of doing this.”
And the lifestyle of wrestling, which many veterans will tell you is not an easy one, has not been a hard transition for Strickland. Originally from Tacoma, Wash. Strickland spent much of his childhood overseas in a military family. He’s very accustomed to moving around.
“The only difference is now I’m just traveling by myself,” said Strickland. “As opposed to my mom and my dad and stuff. But I was like, it was ingrained in me to be on planes and traveling.”
Strickland has also discovered something in the past year that he realized may seem somewhat ridiculous, but that doesn’t matter, it works. That would be in the form of his manager Prince Nana. If you haven’t taken the time, it’s worth a quick social media search to see his dance as he accompanies Strickland to the ring. It is becoming a social media trend that can’t be denied.
Happy Holidays Everybody 💯😈😈😈🔻🙏🏾🔻 #HappyHolidays #mogulembassy #AEWDynamite #AEWCollision #AEWRampage pic.twitter.com/TgOz5R86oy
— Prince Nana (@PrinceKingNana) December 19, 2023
In fact that dance was on display when Strickland was introduced at a Jacksonville Jaguars game. Tony Khan is a part owner of the Jaguars with his father Shad.
“At one point he did an IG reel,” said Strickland. But Prince Nana didn’t realize how much it would blow up until recently. “You’re seeing Jeff Jarrett on his podcast doing it. You’re seeing Eric Bischoff. Okay! So they are watching.”
And as he ventures into 2024, while Strickland is focusing on a world title, his past may be hovering behind him like a stalking horse. A former rival and huge star in his own right Keith Lee won’t leave Strickland alone. He may have to deal with that before he moves forward.
“I don’t feel like he’s done with me. And it’s interesting timing that he chooses to rekindle this whole thing,” said Strickland. “I’m focused on gold, he’s focused on me.”