AEW’s Swerve Strickland Reflects on His Growth
During the post-show media scrum for AEW WrestleDream, former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland took a moment to reflect on his journey and growth. In his conversation, Strickland referenced his past experiences at DEFY Wrestling, a promotion where both he and MVP wrestled, crediting it as a key stepping stone in his career.
“I love DEFY. That’s a flag I’ll always plant,” Strickland said. “Every time I get the chance to shout them out—especially here in Washington—I’m going to do it. DEFY was really the birthplace for a lot of us to make that leap, especially on the independent scene. It’s where elite wrestling in this area started. In the Pacific Northwest, only a handful of people have really broken through, and DEFY introduced a whole new wave of talent—like myself, Darby [Allin], and Nick Wayne.”
Earlier this year, Strickland made a special return to DEFY Wrestling following his victory at AEW Dynasty, where he was crowned AEW World Champion. The visit allowed him to reflect on his early days, including a pivotal moment in 2017 when he faced Cody Rhodes in a GFW NEXGEN Championship match at DEFY’s debut event. From those beginnings, Strickland steadily climbed through the independent ranks, later joining WWE and eventually signing with AEW.
“DEFY really taught me how to be a star,” Strickland explained. “You can learn how to wrestle anywhere, but there aren’t many places that teach you how to be a star. DEFY did that for me.”
Strickland’s journey from the independent circuit to WWE and now AEW demonstrates not only his growth but also the influence of smaller promotions like DEFY in shaping the future of wrestling talent.
