Report: Shane "Swerve" Strickland Expected To Join AEW

Since being released by WWE in 2021, many fans have wanted Shane ‘Serve’ Strickland to end up in AEW, and reports indicate that they could be about to get their wish.

Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer said that Swerve becoming ‘All Elite’ is likely:

“[Tony] Khan has also talked about signing more new talent with Keith Lee signed and Shane Strickland and Jeff Hardy both expected to be coming at some point and other ex-WWE names have been talked with, such as Buddy Matthews.”

Meltzer would later claim that Strickland and AEW were in ‘significant talks’ and whilst no deal has been signed as of yet, there’s a ‘very good chance’ that Strickland joins the company.

Strickland’s WWE non-compete clause expired in the past week, with ‘Swerve’ appearing at a recent DEFY show and telling Darby Allin he’d be seeing him soon - whether this means in a DEFY ring or an AEW ring is anybody’s guess.

A former NXT North American Champion, Strickland is also a former CZW World Heavyweight Champion, MLW World Heavyweight Champion, and EVOLVE Champion, amongst others.