Swerve Strickland is one of the top stars in All Elite Wrestling. Ever since he turned heel, the fans have been completely behind him and his work has been praised by a lot of people within the company including the President of the Jacksonville-based promotion Tony Khan. Strickland also received praise from WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry.
The leader of The Mogul Affiliates has been featured almost every week throughout 2023. His most talked about matches are in the AEW Continental Classic Tournament and outside that it is the Texas Death Match against former AEW World Heavyweight Champion Hangman Adam Page.
During a recent interview with Premier Live TV, WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry claimed that Strickland was the breakout star of 2023. He compared his time in WWE and AEW. Henry mentioned that Strickland is a totally different person with a much more meaner and tougher persona.
“He [Swerve Strickland] is definitely the Breakout Wrestler of ’23. But you got to look at this too, is he the same guy that he was at WWE? At NXT? He not the same guy, he grew up, he 20 pounds heavier. He looks more the part. Also, he didn’t do a lot of the Hardcore, the tough character building, the fact that you go, ‘Hey man, be careful. That dude ain’t right. He willing to put himself through pain in order for you to have pain.’ He wasn’t that guy. Now he’s a different… So, he’s the same man, but just elevated,” Mark Henry said.
Recently, Swerve Strickland defeated Dustin Rhodes at the AEW World’s End pay-per-view and then at the post-show media scrum, mentioned that he is hunting for championship gold next.
Is Swerve Strickland the breakout wrestler of 2023?
