Swerve Strickland On Stepping Into Role Of AEW Champion: It Feels Like Fitting Into A Perfect Shoe

Swerve Strickland came prepared.

As the AEW World Champion, Swerve Strickland has the added responsibility of representing the company not only on their own television programming, but also in several other facets. While speaking with Renee Paquette on AEW Close Up, Strickland opened up about the process of stepping into the shoes of an AEW World Champion.

In this role, Strickland now finds himself as the go-to guy for AEW-related media appearances, such as promotional interviews or throwing out the first pitch at a Major League Baseball game. As Strickland points out, though, he is no stranger to taking on additional tasks.

“It feels like fitting into a perfect shoe that was made for you,” Strickland said. “I feel like the last two years three years, that was the preparation and it wasn’t like I was being presented to do these things. It was just something I just wanted to do. I’m inspired by [Chris] Jericho having Fozzy touring and still making the TV, doing Talk Is Jericho during the shows, and all these guys have these outlets. I’m like ‘Man, that’s awesome. I want to do that.'”

Being Inside The AEW Machine

“So this was all the just the practice run and getting the oil in the machine and stuff,” Strickland continued. “Now, it’s like okay, I’m inside the machine. The machine is here. I’ve been ready for this for a while because I’ve been doing it on my own with my small team, my small crew, but I also have to lead that. I’ve been leading these small crews in music and stuff.”

“That responsibility has been bestowed on me for the last several years and so now, it’s like okay now we’re going to add this responsibility on top of that. ‘Can you be here at this time? Be punctual? Can you say the right things with the right people? Make the company look good and look better?’ All those things.”

Strickland’s reign as AEW World Champion began at AEW Dynasty after he defeated the now-former titleholder, Samoa Joe, in the PPV’s main event. With Strickland’s victory, Joe’s reign as champion officially came to an end at 113 days.