Former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland recently spoke about his run of critically acclaimed matches since joining All Elite Wrestling in 2022. During an appearance on Complex Sports, Strickland was asked about the “five-star” ratings his matches have received from journalists and fans, a level of recognition he said he didn’t achieve until he arrived in AEW. The comment highlights the creative freedom and high-level competition that has defined his tenure with the company, allowing him to produce what many consider to be classic bouts against opponents like “Hangman” Adam Page and Will Ospreay. He noted that he believes he is the Black wrestler with the most five-star matches in history, a distinction he takes great pride in. For Strickland, the accolades are a welcome byproduct of his main goal, which is to create memorable moments for the audience.
“I didn’t really have a five star match till I got to All Elite Wrestling. So that’s just three years I’ve really been getting that kind of recognition. I’ve heard I’m the one black wrestler with the most in history. So it’s something that I pride myself in, just putting on something that’s a classic. I wouldn’t necessarily put stars next to it, but I just appreciate putting on something that people are just gonna remember for a very, very long time. And if the stars come with that, that’s awesome. But I just wanna make sure when I leave the ring and put on a great performance and a great match.”
Strickland’s comments come as he is currently sidelined from in-ring action. He is recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus, an injury that was written into storylines following his AEW Unified Championship match against Kazuchika Okada at the recent AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view.
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