Shane ‘Swerve’ Strickland reportedly signing with AEW

AEW’s free agent signing frenzy will continue as Fightful reported Wednesday that former WWE NXT North American Champion Shane “Swerve” Strickland is going to ink a deal that begins next month.

In last week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer noted that Strickland, fka Isaiah “Swerve” Scott in NXT, was expected to sign but wasn’t definitive it would happen.

In the Fightful report, it said the deal was expected since January and that it goes into effect the first week of March — the same week as their Revolution pay-per-view.

The report also noted there is talk Strickland is seen as a potential crossover star and that AEW was immediately interested when he got released by WWE after more than two years in the system.

Strickland and the rest of Hit Row (Top Dolla, B-Fab and Ashante “Thee” Adonis) were a surprising part of two rounds of November 2021 releases less than six weeks after they were called up to the main roster as part of the WWE Draft.

After the faction formed in NXT and became a top act, Strickland defeated Bronson Reed (JONAH) for the North American title, holding it for over 100 days before losing it to Carmelo Hayes.

Strickland has a busy schedule in the months ahead with his Terminus debut Thursday, an upcoming DEFY match against prodigy Nick Wayne, several matches during WrestleMania weekend in Dallas and two GCW events in April.