Swerve speaks to Fightful about Hangman, Ospreay, Joe, His Theme (Patreon)

Fightful Select caught up with All Elite Wrestling’s Swerve Strickland at the annual Lexington Comic & Toy Convention.

Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp sat down with the former AEW Tag Team Champion, and the two conversed on numerous topics.

Swerve told Fightful he’s staying busy. He noted he recently performed with Eric Bellinger and Flash Garments in New York. Swerve also told Fightful he finished filming his scenes for the upcoming horror film “Stiletto” in Los Angeles.

The 13-year veteran talked about his song “Big Pressure.” He said it took about a year for people to get attached to it. Swerve said his character was going in a different direction, so he had to change a few things in the song. He mentioned changing the guitar, tempo, and beats.

Swerve said Nana came in and added the dance, which took it to a viral level. He compared it to Michael Jackson and his videos. Swerve said Jackson added a visual to his work to make the record bigger.

Sean would ask about adding “Who’s house” at the beginning of the entrance. Swerve mentioned the contrast between him and Nana and added that it makes the team a team. Swerve said, “Shaq is the opposite of Kobe. They don’t play alike, which makes them successful.” Swerve would also use the characters Jesse and Walter of Breaking Bad as examples. We see so many more similarities.

Swerve talked about his feud with ‘‘Hangman’’ Adam Page. He told Fightful he did not know where they were going to start. He mentioned that former Fightful contributor and Grapsody host Will Washington came up with the idea because they did not have a direction after Wembley. Swerve said they wanted to get Page back into singles matches because he was working in the trios' division. Swerve said they would see who came out at the end. Swerve mentioned that we both came out of it, but somebody came out differently.

The former Defy World Champion spoke about his character and wondered if all the bad things he was doing, possibly within the storyline, is what got him wondering if it was all worth it. Swerve said, “I think this evil, this resentment I’m holding inside of me, is holding me back from achieving my goals.” He talked about almost winning the AEW Continental and TNT Championship and how that played a role in achieving his goals.

Sean asked about the crowd's reaction when working with Page. Swerve compared it to Wesley Snipes character in the film Demolition Man. Swerve mentioned how Snipes character was an evil person.

He would mention how the character would steal from people, and you would look at him as a criminal and wrongdoer. Swerve said, “If you really follow their story and watch how and why they’re under the ground and coming up to try to take from the rich so that they can eat and provide.”

Swerve told Sean if you go back to when Page was dressing him down right before their Texas Deathmatch. Swerve said it came down to Swerve wanting everything Page had. Swerve said, “I want what you have. Hangman, you have the house. I’ve been in your house. You have a lovely family. You have your wife. I want that. But the only way for me to get that is to get to where you’re at, and the only way I know how to do it is to steal from you, the people above, from the people below.”

Sean and Swerve discussed the Texas Death Match and its intricacies. Swerve told Sean, “At the time, all you’re trying to do is make sure that certain points of the match are laid out so people understand it. I wanted to make sure it reads properly to the audience live and people watching at home.” Swerve mentioned that he wanted to make sure the fans understood the motives behind our actions.

Swerve mentioned how he wanted the match to be more than two guys bludgeoning each other with objects. He wanted fans to know there was a motive for what they were doing to each other. He talked about the staples and how they signified the child’s picture that he ripped off the refrigerator in Page’s home. Swerve said Page wanted to put it back on my face. He talked about Page being infuriated with rage and mentioned that he went as far as drinking Swerve’s blood.

Sean mentioned the blood to Swerve and wanted Swerve’s reaction to it. Swerve said, “I was like, ‘This is a lot of blood. This is an awful lot of blood.’ That’s all I was really thinking about.” Swerve would mention that he had never bled that much in his life. Swerve said he stayed calm and said he would not stop bleeding. He said it got to a point where he fell to the mat and wiped his face on the mat.

The former NXT North American Champion discussed his recent match at AEW Revolution, where he challenged for the AEW World title. He said this was a distraction because he was focused on Page. After all, that’s who he wanted to beat.

The two would talk about Will Washington some more. Swerve said, Will knows his capabilities. He says Will knows what Swerve is capable of and sticks up for him as a talent. Swerve says he still has to go out there to perform.

He said some people can say, Oh, they’re getting these opportunities because this person is speaking to this person. Swerve would discuss the recent free agents that AEW acquired, Will Ospreay and Okada.

He said, “These are the teammates I want to have on the field with me. These are guys I want to build a dynasty with. That’s the team. It’s not like me being on the top, being an individual talent. No, I want my team with me. I just want to quarterback that team. Right now, [Samoa] Joe’s playing quarterback. But I’m coming up close to, ‘Hey, I’m Willie Beamen, bro.”

On the potential dream match with Will Ospreay. Swerve said that would be a huge honor for him. He said, “Coming from where I was two years ago, being let go and many people being like, ‘Who is this guy?’ People who were familiar with me in NXT or even familiar with my career on the independents, it’s coming from there to being like, ‘Yes, we want  this guy as the champion and main event of Wembley against this guy who is widely regarded as the best of this generation, period.’”

Swerve said Will Ospreay is inhuman in his eyes. He compared him to a video game character, and he’s known him since he was 18. Swerve added that this is stuff he doesn’t take lightly.

Swerve discussed the recently retired Sting. He said, “The funniest thing was when I was with DJ Whoo Kid in early 2023. He asked me, ‘Who is someone you want to get in the ring with?’ I said, ‘Sting.’ Little did I know it would happen in front of 80,000 people with DJ Whoo Kid walking me down to the ring. So it’s funny how the universe works in that way. Swerve would tell Sean that there is a photo of him about to do the 450 splash and crash onto Sting, and he says that it is one of his favorite photos he’s ever taken. He said there was so much symbolism going on in the picture. He said to have one of my best friends, Darby, across from him, and we got to share that moment. Swerve mentioned that it wasn’t long ago when they were sharing hotel rooms in EVOLVE or watching wrestling with Sami Callihan on his couch in Florida and not knowing where we would go in our careers.

He added that two Washington guys shared this moment with Sting and mentioned tagging with Christian. Swerve said one of his favorite wrestlers of all time is ‘Edge’ Adam Copeland, and they were doing double spears. He said he had a big mark-out moment. He said that he would sit and enjoy this moment,’ and then get back to work, but it was unreal.

Swerve spoke about the support he is getting to be the First AEW African-American Champion. He says calling it validation without having it is like slowing up before crossing the finish line.

Swerve mentioned to Fightful that he feels he’s had seven breakout moments in his career. They were Lucha Underground MLW, winning the North American title.

In closing, Swerve mentioned horror culture, which he is still learning. Swerve said he takes little things and adds to what he’s doing. When it’s time to feel menacing, he said he feels like Mick Foley is probably the best at it.

We ask that agggregators wait until the full interview comes out Wednesday for full context.