Swerve Strickland has become the top guy in AEW over the past year, starting with his rivalry with Hangman Page, continuing with his run in the Continental Classic, and peaking with him winning the AEW World Title and defending it in the main event of AEW All In.
Bryan Danielson was the man who ended Swerve's reign, extending his full-time career a bit longer as a loss would have sent Danielson into retirement.
Speaking to Justin Barrasso of Undisputed, Danielson had nothing but praise for the former AEW World Champion.
“Swerve was perfect at All In,” said Danielson. “I mean, he’s incredible. He just signed a new contract with AEW–and that is one of the benefits of having two mainstream wrestling companies in the United States. WWE didn’t see value in him, and they let him go. When Swerve came here, he said he was going to become AEW champion–and he did.
“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. And that goes both ways–I don’t want it to sound like, ‘Oh, evil WWE, they don’t let their talent be their best selves.’ Some people will thrive there. Some people will thrive here. There are people who will thrive in both places, there are people who will be underutilized. That’s the benefit of having two major companies in the United States. If someone doesn’t see value in you, you can try somewhere else. Swerve, he is the most professional of the professionals. Him, Claudio, [Samoa] Joe–anything you need them to do, they do it without hesitation. The way he’s been able to show everyone how skilled he is of a professional wrestler, I’m so impressed. I can’t say enough about him as a professional wrestler or a human being.”
Swerve was released by WWE in November 2021. He signed with AEW when his 90-day non-compete clause expired in March 2022.
Swerve signed a contract extension with AEW on the day of All In.
Danielson hasn't been heard from on AEW TV since AEW All Out when he was suffocated with a plastic bag by Jon Moxley.
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