Tag: Swerve Strickland

  • Swerve Strickland Praises Oba Femi, Says He Belongs In Main Events

    Swerve Strickland Praises Oba Femi, Says He Belongs In Main Events

    Swerve Strickland would love to see Oba Femi continue to conquer big things in his career.

    Oba Femi’s rise in the WWE from NXT to Monday Night Raw has been everything he has dreamed of. From dominating the scene with the best up-and-coming wrestlers in NXT to opening up WrestleMania against Brock Lesnar, Femi is truly becoming the Ruler of the WWE.

    During an appearance on The Bootleg Kev Podcast, Swerve Strickland, a former All Elite Wrestling Men’s World Champion discussed meeting Femi once at the gym and how he praised the big man, telling him he would be booked to win championships in his debut if Strickland had the pen to make it happen in a different world.

    “I met Oba [Femi] at the gym and I said, ‘If I had the pen, your debut would be winning that belt.’ Put him in main events. Perception is everything. People will buy it, but they got to see it.”

    Femi has been rag dolling and destroying talent all over Monday Night Raw, proclaiming himself as the new Ruler of the brand.

    Strickland is set to battle Bandido in the First Round of the 2026 Owen Hart Tournament at AEW Double Or Nothing.

    h/t to WrestlePurists for the transcription.

  • Swerve Strickland: Kofi Is A Role Model To A Whole Generation of Kids

    Swerve Strickland: Kofi Is A Role Model To A Whole Generation of Kids

    Swerve Strickland knows a lot of wrestlers want to see the New Day make their arrival at All Elite Wrestling.

    On May 2, the news broke that Kofi Kingston (Kofi) and Xavier Woods (Austin Creed) of the New Day would be requesting their release from the WWE following a situation where they were asked to take a pay cut by TKO on their current contracts but ultimately decided on leaving after over a decade with the company.

    Former AEW Men’s World Champion Swerve Strickland was asked about the duo and spoke about the impact they have made on the sport, plus how inspirational they are to a whole generation of kids who aspire to become professional wrestlers in the future.

    There’s a lot of wrestlers that want to see them end up in AEW. I talked to them the same day. Kofi took another day to get back to me, but they’re in high spirits, they’re motivated, they’re happy. I feel like they have the ball in their court which is what they always wanted. They have the ball in their court and they honestly feel like they can control their own narrative, and Xavier is really good at that. Kofi is walking [as a] free agent for the first time in his whole career. He was a Hall of Famer like five, six years ago. He was a Hall of Famer then, and to add the World Title match on top of that. He’s the only black wrestler to ever win the World Title at Mania. He’s the only one. That’s something you can’t take away from him. Never had any negative press on him, never had any issues, suspensions, fines, never any of this. So he’s walking out a role model to a whole generation of kids.” – Swerve Strickland said on Bootleg Kev.

    Strickland has not been on AEW TV in quite some time, he recently said on social media that it was because the company is afraid of what he will do to Bandido, the current ROH Men’s World Champion.

    h/t to Fightful for the transcription.

  • The Top 10 Matches in AEW History, Ranked

    The Top 10 Matches in AEW History, Ranked

    Sometimes I forget how young AEW still is. It has not been around that long, yet it already has a backlog of matches that feel historic. These are the kinds of matches you rewatch on a random weeknight on HBO Max or send to a friend with a simple message: you have to see this.

    Once Forbidden Door became an annual event, the number of dream matches only grew. This is not a technical breakdown or star-rating list. This is a fan list. Some matches are left off, and that’s okay, they are still great. These are the matches people still talk about, rewatch, post clips of and hold onto years later.

    Let’s count it down.

    10. Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Will Ospreay,
    Forbidden Door 2024

    This one can get overlooked because Forbidden Door cards are always loaded, but it delivers. Two elite athletes move at full speed with no hesitation. Once Ospreay arrived in AEW, this matchup felt inevitable, and it delivered.

    Each sequence builds on the last, faster and more intense. By the end, it feels unreal. It also felt like a preview of AEW’s main event scene for the next decade.

    9. MJF vs. CM Punk
    Dog Collar Match, Revolution 2022

    Pure hatred defined this match. Chains, blood and old-school callbacks made it feel deeply personal. Not storyline personal. Real personal.

    This was also the night MJF cemented himself as a top star. After this, there was no denying it.

    8. Mariah May vs. Toni Storm (c)
    Hollywood Ending Falls Count Anywhere, Revolution 2025

    This match still feels surreal. It blended cinematic storytelling with chaos. The action moved through the arena and into complete disorder, yet it never felt over the top. It felt dramatic, emotional and intense.

    Storm fully embraced her Hollywood persona, while May matched her at every level. It felt bigger than a title match. It felt like the climax of a film.

    It also served as a fitting sendoff for May and capped what may be the best feud in AEW history. This stands as the top women’s match in company history and proof the division can headline.

    7. Kenny Omega (c) vs. Bryan Danielson,
    Grand Slam 2021

    A dream match that lived up to expectations. The atmosphere in New York felt massive as two of the best faced off. Danielson was fresh from leaving WWE, and the dream matches could finally come to life.

    Thirty minutes of wrestling with no wasted motion. Even the draw felt right. It felt epic, like two gods testing each other.

    6. Bryan Danielson vs. MJF (c)
    60-Minute Iron Man Match, Revolution 2023

    MJF proved himself again here. Going an hour with Danielson is a test few can pass. He did.

    The pacing, storytelling and final stretch kept the crowd engaged throughout. It had a classic, old-school feel that worked perfectly.

    5. Young Bucks (c) vs. Lucha Bros
    Steel Cage Match, All Out 2021

    One of the wildest tag matches ever. Blood, near falls and unforgettable moments defined it.

    By the end, no one was sitting. I was there live and by the end I had no voice. This is the match to show anyone that doubts tag team wrestling can deliver the best matches.

    4. Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland Texas Death Match, Full Gear 2023

    This match was violent and relentless. It was not about technique. It was about damage.

    Barbed wire, glass, staples and more turned it into a brutal spectacle. It also solidified Strickland as a true main event star. This match helped solidify this feud as one of the best ever.

    3. Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay,
    Dynasty 2024

    A showcase of elite wrestling. Counters, strikes and constant motion made it impossible to look away.

    Danielson’s technical style blended with Ospreay’s speed and creativity. Every near fall felt significant. It is the kind of match that reminds you what peak in ring storytelling looks like when two of the best push each other to the limit.

    2. Hangman Page and Kenny Omega (c) vs. Young Bucks,
    Revolution 2020

    For a long time, this stood at the top. It remains AEW’s best tag team match ever.

    The storytelling carried everything. Friendship, tension and rivalry played out in every move. It was not just a match. It was a story that touched every emotion.

    1. Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega (c),
    Forbidden Door 2023

    This is the one.

    From start to finish, it delivered at the highest level. Ospreay entered as the outsider, while Omega defended both his championship and his ground.

    The match featured constant momentum swings, creative offense and near falls that kept the crowd engaged throughout. Ospreay’s speed matched Omega’s precision, creating a near perfect balance.

    It felt like two of the best in the world pushing each other to the limit. Every sequence raised the stakes.

    When it ended, it left a lasting impression. The kind of match that defines a company. The kind you recommend every time. Only time will tell if we get a third match.

    Maybe All In 2026?

  • Wardlow: You Will See the Biggest, Baddest Version Of Myself When I Come Back

    Wardlow: You Will See the Biggest, Baddest Version Of Myself When I Come Back

    An update on the timeline of recovery for Wardlow.

    Last August, Wardlow made his return to All Elite wrestling after being involved in a car accident that took him out for over a year.

    Upon returning, he aligned himself with the Don Callis Family and feuded briefly with former AEW World Champion, Swerve Strickland until a torn pectoral muscle a couple weeks later took him out of action for the last couple of months.

    Now, there is now an update that has been provided from Wardlow after his recent interview with BCP+.

    Wardlow spoke extensively on the events that unfolded with getting hurt and apologized to the fans with going ghost on social media. Here is the full quote below.

    “I miss him too. I miss Wardlow so bad. Like I said, it’s been over two years since I’ve wrestled. So, it has been a rough two years. Basically everything I have loved and cared about was taken away from me almost all at once. From my friend to my dog to wrestling to the ability to work out. I mean, everything I loved was taken from me, and I miss wrestling so much, I can’t even put it into words, and I do wanna apologize to the fans for my absence, and for completely going ghost on social media. Because I just kind of hid under a rock for a while… So I apologize to the fans. I will never be absent again, and I am so excited to get back to wrestling in front of a live crowd and at this point, I don’t care if they’re cheering me, I don’t care if they’re booing me. I just want to feel that energy. Positive or negative. I just wanna feel that energy and get back to doing what I love, and we’re very, very close to being ready… Obviously, I’m healing up from the torn pec, which most people know about. I also wanna state, because there’s a lot of discourse online about this, about injuries, right? This torn pec is the first injury in my entire life, indies included, that I’ve ever taken time off for wrestling. Any time you saw me absent before the car accident, any time you saw me absent was never because of an injury. It was creative or there just wasn’t anything going on at the time and I was sitting at home. Did I tweak my knee? Yes, and I continued wrestling. Did I tweak my hamstring? Yes. I continued wrestling. Then I got into that car accident, and I’m so dumb I would have continued to wrestle. Most people after that car accident would have been in a hospital bed. I didn’t even go to the hospital. I got in my car, went to the airport, and I flew across the country for work, and I had to stand in the bathroom most of the flight because it hurt so bad to sit down. When I got to work, I had our doctors take a look at me and my hip was actually popped out of place, and I flew there with my hip out of place which is why it hurt so bad to sit down, and they popped my hip right back into place right there, which I don’t think I’ve ever made the noise I made when that happened. I have a pretty high pain tolerance. Boy, did that hurt. So it was the car accident that really messed me up, and I was gonna continue to work, which maybe wouldn’t have been smart but I was gonna continue to work, and then the storyline that was planned got thrown in the garbage for like the second or third time, and that’s when I ultimately decided, okay, I’m gonna go home. The storyline that I was looking forward to for the second time got canned. I can barely walk at this point after the car accident. So I finally decided to take some time off, which was the first time ever in my career, and then it was while I was healing from that, (American) Gladiators came about. So, thank you to AEW and thank you to Tony Khan for giving me the blessing to go do Gladiators, and then yes, obviously a bummer. I come back immediately, tear my pec. But, we are most definitely going to come back the biggest, baddest version of Wardlow that anybody’s ever seen.”

    If you use any of the quotes above please H/T Bodyslam.Net 

  • WWE & AEW Breakout Stars to Watch in the Coming Months

    WWE & AEW Breakout Stars to Watch in the Coming Months

    Wrestlers Who Could Break Out in the Coming Months

    In wrestling, timing is everything.

    You can have the talent, the look, and the crowd reaction, but until everything lines up — the right storyline, the right moment, the right opportunity — a breakout doesn’t happen. And then suddenly, it does.

    Right now, across WWE and AEW, there are several names sitting right on that edge. They’re getting reactions, picking up momentum, and just need that one push to move into a completely different tier.

    Here are a few wrestlers who feel closest to that moment.

    LA Knight: still building momentum

    LA Knight is already popular, but it still feels like there’s another level he can reach.

    Crowd reactions haven’t cooled off. If anything, they’ve stayed consistent, which is usually the hardest part. His promos connect, his presence is strong, and he knows how to control a segment.

    The question isn’t whether he’s over. It’s whether WWE fully commits to positioning him at the top.

    If that happens, the jump from fan favorite to main event regular could be quick.

    Carmelo Hayes: ready for the next step

    Carmelo Hayes has been on the radar for a while, but the transition to a bigger spotlight always takes time.

    In-ring, he’s already there. Smooth, confident, and adaptable. What matters now is how he’s presented on a consistent basis.

    The crowd response has been growing, and the more exposure he gets, the more comfortable he looks.

    A strong storyline or a key win could be enough to push him forward.

    Swerve Strickland: momentum in AEW

    Swerve Strickland feels like someone who has already crossed into a new level, but there’s still room to grow.

    His presence has become more defined, and the reactions are stronger than they were even a few months ago. AEW has leaned into that, giving him more meaningful opportunities.

    What stands out is how natural everything feels. The character, the delivery, the in-ring work — it all connects.

    That’s usually a sign that something bigger is coming.

    Tiffany Stratton: rising fast

    Tiffany Stratton has improved quickly, and that hasn’t gone unnoticed.

    What started as a strong character presentation has developed into a more complete performance. She’s more confident in the ring, more comfortable in segments, and clearly getting more trust from creative.

    Crowd reactions are building, and the presentation continues to evolve.

    If that trajectory continues, she won’t stay in the mid-card conversation for long.

    Predictions are starting to shift

    As momentum builds, expectations begin to change.

    Fans start looking at match results differently. A win means more. A loss feels more important. The conversation shifts from “potential” to “what’s next.”

    That’s where things get interesting.

    People follow these shifts closely, comparing reactions, booking decisions, and performance week to week. On login melbet, you can see how expectations evolve over time, especially as certain wrestlers begin to stand out more consistently.

    Momentum in wrestling isn’t static. It moves quickly.

    Bron Breakker: intensity and presence

    Bron Breakker has all the physical tools to stand out.

    Explosive, intense, and believable in everything he does, he brings a different kind of energy. The transition to a bigger stage is already underway, and the reactions are growing.

    What matters now is consistency in booking. If he’s positioned in meaningful matches and given space to develop, he could become a major name sooner rather than later.

    Konosuke Takeshita: quietly building credibility

    Takeshita doesn’t always get the same level of attention, but his performances speak for themselves.

    Every match feels solid. Every appearance adds credibility. Over time, that kind of consistency builds trust with the audience.

    He might not be the loudest presence on the roster, but that doesn’t stop him from standing out.

    Breakouts don’t always happen with noise. Sometimes they happen through steady progression.

    Popularity beyond the ring

    Today, a wrestler’s rise isn’t limited to what happens on screen.

    Social media, clips, and fan discussions all play a role. A strong moment can spread quickly, and reactions can build faster than ever.

    Communities around MelBet Instagram Somalia reflect how quickly popularity can grow. Fans follow segments, share highlights, and react in real time to what’s happening.

    That kind of visibility can accelerate a breakout.

    Timing is everything

    Some wrestlers stay in the same position for months, then suddenly everything changes.

    A storyline clicks. A feud connects. A moment lands perfectly.

    That’s usually all it takes.

    The wrestlers listed here are already close. They’re getting reactions, building consistency, and finding their place on the card.

    Now it’s about timing.

    Final thoughts

    Breakouts in wrestling are rarely random.

    They come from a mix of talent, opportunity, and momentum. When all three line up, things move quickly.

    Right now, several wrestlers are right on that edge.

    And if the next few months go their way, they won’t stay underrated for long.