AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland recently spoke with Chase McCabe on The Chase & Big Joe Show on a number of topics including how heโs thankful for being given a chance at a World Title run.
Strickland said, โ[AEW] gave me the opportunities, for sure, but itโs still, I had to fight for it and claw for it and take risks.โ โFor me, going for the top prize doesnโt come without taking bigger risks. I appreciate being given the opportunity and the chance, and also getting the platform to truly be expressive and creative at the same time with it. Being able to do how I want to do, the way I want to do it. That means a lot.โ
โThe fact that any performer, when they are getting time, is probably one of the best benefits of this job. Time, I can do a lot with a little. Imagine what little I canโt do with a lot. Thatโs what All Elite Wrestling has done for me. Being able to go out there and perform with a Will Ospreay, Claudio Castagnoli, Kyle Fletcher, The Elite. Facing off with Brian Cage, Christian, Samoa Joe. There guys are legends and future legends. Being able to do all that but still be me and keep my core of who I truly am and do it the way I want to do it. There wouldnโt be that without AEW. Iโll always have a high level of respect, love and appreciation for AEW for that.โ
(H/T to Fightful for transcribing the above quotes)