There still male heroes in this world. One of those names, is Swerve Strickland.
Every single narrative America now accepts, is destroyed in Saint Louis on Sunday.
The thing is that, he wasn’t supposed to win this.
But 2 years ago, he was fired from a NXT that was built for his rise.
He turned all of it into a world championship, and got people that have been in that conversation of greatest wrestlers of all time, their blessing.
I think what happened on Dynasty, AEW’s recent PPV is quite telling.
I have mentioned this before, I will mention it again - the entertainment industry is in utter shambles. It’s in shambolic fashion because people believe minorities in this and any other country cant survive without a little of a push, negative as it may seem.
But Swerve Strickland didn’t ask for the handout. He believed he was in that conversation of a world champion. In Saint Louis- with a massive walk up - he did it.
There were two moments i felt, that AEW knew they had something in Swerve.
The first was the interview he had with Kenny Omega and the important moment where Kenny Omega mentioned how much the Joshi Pro Wrestlers suffer when they come here even after going through doing great in the shows. It lit something in him, that it wasn’t about him - others go through the same issues and it comes from one place.
The place he was fired from.
The second moment - was him facing off MJF, the former world champion when he had the title. MJF was (and will be again, he is too talented) the marquee story and had way too much backing. Even with that, Swerve had his number. I KNEW that he had arrived at that moment because MJF was on another level at that moment - but Swerve was calm. He had it in him.
Sporting Productions had to replicate that using part timers and all sorts of chicanery in the main storyline in the 40th anniversary of the companies biggest show. You know the bad faith grifters whine you see them but fair play to Sporting Productions, they got a damn great match out of a confounding story arc with the right ending - that should have been a 6 (and the greatest match branding in their eyes if the right person was there).
Swerve has blasted all of the narratives about him and other wrestlers and all of the sports world, to smithereens. The reasons are simple as day.
To ask or look for representation without ownership that isnt earned will make that representation, contrariety.
He earned it, by the grind and the struggle and the lessons.
Destroyed that aspect that black men cant compete and cant sell tickets against the best in the wrestling world.
Wrong again, Dynasty is going to do well. The ratings despite NBA Playoffs may increase. If by 6 months he gets new people to watch, then it was worth it in spades.
The cringyness that exist in other acts, you don’t feel it in him.
He got the long term rivalry with the talisman of the promotion.
6 of the best wrestlers in the world, are all gunning for his belt plus members of the “4 Pillars”, one of which has got his sea legs.
He has the vibes. The rizz to match. Despite how the story looks, you cannot deny he succeeded and won.
You can hate all you want, but he did it and in a time when most don’t consider many human. I seen all the bullshit.
I see it for what it is.
Get on the grind and prove like you belong. Period. No DEI - No Woke, never needed it any how. And respect comes when you real men, not the jokes you see today with the bad takes of bad faith see you as a man with or without the questions of “unnecessary help” along the way.
Because the system that plagues many, cannot be saved by retrofitting lies. By hating others. It comes from respecting history, bad, good, indifferent, and too many times ugly into better days ahead and greater respect for all.
Hard work does pay off. People from Sporting Productions and the wrestling media and aspects of the fandom are using the media and its narratives and worse - inconsiderate, and incoherent statements to prevent that hard work from being rewarded both in ticket sales and ratings by creating a propaganda scheme that covers all corners that misrepresent and misinterpret the facts on the ground. It hurts not only Swerve, but now will hurt Trick Williams but will also diminish Kofi Kingston’s successful run. The SPIN MOVE~! is not just a fact - its a reality.
But it will pay off. The right way.
Because it took AEW five years, that other companies did in 30, 25, 7 - to give talented wrestlers such as Swerve a chance to win.
This time, the rewards will be great.
May this reign be the one that solidifies AEW as the place to be.
I know he can.
He didnt answer the call.
He now has the chance to turn that day to a 2 billion dollar pay day for AEW.
Swerve as he drives, indeed.
Before i end this, i will like to send heartfelt condolences, to the family and friends and colleagues of Twitter user (WeLuvWrestling1), who pass away recently. He was very supportive of all the wrestlers and always wish for their wellbeing and for them to do their best. May he rest in peace.