AEW Sensation Refutes WWE Return: Strickland’s Unexpected Revelation

One of AEW’s prominent stars has recently disclosed that he opted not to respond to a call from WWE regarding a potential return to the company.

When Triple H assumed control of WWE’s creative direction in the summer of 2022, he initiated efforts to re-sign numerous talents who had previously been released by the company, particularly those with whom he had collaborated in NXT.

While several of these talents chose to return to WWE, others, such as Swerve Strickland of AEW, did not, despite their former Hit Row stablemates doing so.

In a recent appearance on the Smooth Vega podcast, Strickland discussed Hit Row’s challenges upon their return to WWE in August 2022 without him:

Strickland elaborated:

“My approach stems from my past experiences. I’ve had a unique journey, building myself up from the independent circuit.

“I know what it takes to hustle, to navigate through various stages of my career, to put on captivating performances, and to continually evolve.

“Throughout my journey, I’ve learned that every step leads to another, shaping my persona, my wrestling style, my appearance, and my overall presentation.”

Strickland then revealed that WWE did reach out to him about a potential return, but he declined the offer:

“It’s a lesson some of my former colleagues are still learning. The creative landscape in WWE can be challenging when you’re not given control over your own direction, and decisions are made by higher-ups.

“I was in a place where I knew I belonged – AEW. When the call came from WWE, I didn’t even entertain it. It was a clear ‘no.'”

Since joining AEW in March 2022, Strickland has thrived, capturing the AEW Tag Team Titles alongside Keith Lee and setting his sights on the AEW World Championship in 2024.

With a possible showdown against Samoa Joe at Revolution 2024 looming, Strickland is set to collide with Hangman Adam Page on tonight’s AEW Dynamite (February 7).