Swerve Strickland Doesn’t Think We’ll See A WWE-AEW Cross Promotional Event In His Lifetime

Swerve Strickland comments on a WWE and AEW crossover.

For years, fans have discussed potential WWE and AEW dream matches, but aside from a handful of independent matches featuring WWE ID talents or lower-level AEW talents, those matches haven’t come to fruition.

Swerve Strickland doesn’t believe those matches will ever come to fruition, at least not in his lifetime.

Asked by Carl Lamarre of Billboard, Swerve was asked if he thinks fans will ever see an AEW-WWE cross-promotional event in his lifetime.

“No. Not in my lifetime at least,” he replied.

Asked why, Swerve replied, “It’s control. It’s all about marketing. It’s like the NFL, WWE has to protect their shield. There’s no way they’d allow any of our wrestlers to look better and be better [than them]. Obi Femi is a world beater. You gotta protect that and make sure he keeps looking good. Gunther, have to protect that. Roman [Reigns], have to protect that. Cody [Rhodes], have to protect, even more so because of AEW. There’s a lot of that happening.

“When it gets to the women, then that’s even tougher. Rhea [Ripley], Liv [Morgan], Chelsea [Green] all have to be protected. You wanna see Seth [Rollins] and Ospreay. That’s the generational thing, but who do you protect? Who has the leverage? Us in the locker room, we just wanna have these matches. I’m good friends with Carmelo [Hayes], Jevon [Evans] and Oba. Those are my boys. I love those guys. I don’t care who wins. Double DQs. I don’t care.”

Asked if there was anyone he wanted to go up against, Swerve stated, “I don’t do those anymore. I wanna be the fantasy match. I’m at that stage now.” 

Swerve is one-third of a trio with The New Level (Kofi & Austin Creed) in AEW. They lost the AEW Trios Titles to Hangman Page and Brodido (Bandido & Brody King) at AEW WrestleDream.

Fans can find results from the event by clicking here.