Swerve Strickland says building a relationship with Tony Khan helped him become a top star in AEW.
The former AEW Champion has become a top star in the company since signing in 2022. He is a former AEW World and Tag Team Champion, and has been in high profile feuds with the likes of Adam Page, Orange Cassidy and Sting.
Swerve Strickland even recently main evented AEW All In at Wembley Stadium. While he lost the match to Bryan Danielson, it was the relationship he forged with Tony Khan that helped make him a main event talent in the promotion.
The former AEW Champion recently appeared on The Rich Eisen Show. Swerve Strickland revealed that his ability to do what Tony Khan needed is what helped build their relationship.
“It was also a relationship that I had to build with Tony in All Elite Wrestling. It wasn’t always about me and what I wanted. I had to learn that, too, midway through my tenure in AEW. I had to ask myself, ‘What is it that Tony needs? What can I provide that Tony needs right now that he’s looking for but just can’t find, or there’s nobody to offer it to him?’
‘Okay, he needs me in tags? I’ll go in tags, cool. He needs someone to face Orange Cassidy for the All-Atlantic Championship, which is becoming the International Championship? He needs a great challenger for him? Give it to me, I’ll do it. We need a good match out of Sting? We need something big for him? Swerve can do it. Yes, I can.’
Swerve Strickland: Relationship With Tony Guaranteed Me Trust
Swerve Strickland continued. He added that the relationship forged with Tony Khan helped guarantee him “trust and equity” in AEW. His work over the years has gained him a good standing, allowing to have matches against the likes of Bryan Danielson.
“That’s what built the relationship—just put me anywhere, I’ll make it work. Put me anywhere, I’ll give you what you’re looking for. ‘What do you need? Someone in Nashville two weeks ahead of schedule to promote this? Hey, could you make this TV spot? Could you do this promotion? Could you do something for TNT? For TBS? Could you be there for Jacksonville Jaguars games to be on the field to talk with so-and-so? Could you be there?'”
“‘Yep,’ and I think that relationship is what guaranteed me the trust and equity in the company and with Tony, to not only just be in the position to face off with Bryan Danielson at Wembley. All those things add up, and it’s the things that people just don’t want to do. I’ll do it, I’ll be the team player. I’ll be the face, I’ll step up, and I’ll be that guy.”
