Ladies and gentlemen, gather ’round, because we have ourselves a big-league contract signing, and it’s not just any contract—it’s a five-year, life-changing, money-making deal for the one and only Swerve Strickland! Yes, folks, in a move straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster, Swerve inked his new AEW contract right in front of a live audience at AEW All In’s Zero Hour. Why? Because subtlety is for amateurs, and Strickland is playing the game like a seasoned pro.
Now, according to the ever-watchful Dave Meltzer, Swerve didn’t just sign any deal; he signed one of the biggest contracts in the history of the sport. We’re talking big bucks, folks—so big that he’s up there with wrestling titans like Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Kazuchika Okada, and the artist formerly known as Sasha Banks, Mercedes Mone. The kind of deal that makes you wonder if Swerve’s nickname should really be “Money Moves” Strickland.
But let’s not stop there. Word on the street is that WWE tried to snatch Strickland and his pal Prince Nana as a package deal. A cunning plan, no doubt, but one that was swiftly rejected. Not only did WWE try to get him back right after he originally signed with AEW in 2022, but they doubled down this time and got a resounding ‘No’ for their efforts. What do they say about persistence? Well, in this case, it just wasn’t enough.
And how did WWE react to being outplayed in the Strickland Sweepstakes? Oh, they’re not happy, folks. Word has it they’re calling this a “bad move for the sport.” Yes, the same company that once wanted to make every wrestler work for “exposure” is now worried about how much Tony Khan is spending. It’s the kind of reaction that has you wondering if WWE’s just upset they have to add another name to their “what might have been” list.