Swerve Strickland, one of AEW’s top stars, recently revealed that WWE showed interest in him when his contract with AEW was nearing its end.
During an appearance on Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM, Strickland clarified that WWE reached out through his representation, not directly to him.
“Yeah. It wasn’t like the words ‘re-sign.’ They ‘asked about my availability.’ They never contacted me. They contacted my representation. I’m at a stage now where I enjoy the fact that I don’t have that direct contact,” Strickland shared. “You can check my phone. It’s never been there. I never had direct contact. I want to keep that little space. Communication has been reached out.”
Despite the interest, Strickland expressed no desire to return to WWE, stating his satisfaction with AEW.
“I’m happy with building AEW. I’m happy with building myself,” he said. “AEW is giving me something that I don’t think WWE could ever give me. And I’m really proud of that. I wave the flag proudly because Tony Khan didn’t take a chance on me—he knew what he wanted from me. He put me in the position and said, ‘Now grow.'”
Strickland previously worked with WWE from 2019-2021 as part of the Hit Row stable and won the NXT North American Championship before being released along with the group.
Fellow AEW star Bryan Danielson praised Strickland, questioning WWE’s decision to release him: “You watch him and ask, ‘Who would ever let go of this guy?’ He just wasn’t given the opportunity to be his best self.”
While some members of Hit Row returned to WWE, Strickland joined AEW, where he has flourished, winning the AEW World Tag Team Championship and the AEW World Championship.
He was also ranked No. 2 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s PWI 500 in 2024, behind Cody Rhodes.
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