Swerve Strickland addresses report WWE believed AEW overpaid him

Swerve Strickland is proud of all the ways he’s been able to grow in AEW.

While appearing on The Breakfast Club radio show, Strickland addressed whether he would like to go back to WWE after building himself up in AEW. Strickland said he is not interested in a WWE return. He wants to stay in AEW where he’s been able to be his best self both in the ring and outside of it.

“No, I’m happy with building AEW. I’m happy with building myself in AEW,” Strickland said. “AEW has given me something that I don’t think WWE could ever give me. I’m really proud of that, and I wave the flag proudly because Tony Khan didn’t take a chance on me, you know, he knew what he wanted from me. And he put me in the position and he was like, ‘Now grow.’ And I’m like, ‘Ok, what avenues do I have to grow?’ He’s like, ‘Whatever you want.’ There was no parameters. There was no red tape. And I learned how to become a true businessman on top of just a professional wrestler. That’s why ‘The Mogul’ persona is truly personified in AEW. It’s literally let me be my best self as a man and a professional.”

The 33-year-old Strickland recently signed a lucrative new AEW contract. After the deal was announced, Dave Meltzer reported that — while WWE had made a play for Strickland — there were multiple people on the WWE side who saw his new AEW contract “as being bad for the sport” because it was so far above what WWE perceived Strickland’s market value to be.

Strickland responded to that report while appearing on The Breakfast Club.

“They only complain when a Black person gets paid, I will say that,” Strickland said. “We shake the foundation of things like that. Because it’s like, ‘Oh snap, wait. That’s not what we would pay.’ And I’m like, ‘Then why are you calling me? Why are you asking me?’ You know? If I’m not your concern, don’t worry about it. Don’t worry about my pockets and our money. We good. You have your talent, you made your decision with me two years ago. No hard feelings from me. I keep it moving and I’m going to figure my way out and I’m going to build myself up.”

Strickland was released by WWE in November 2021. He confirmed on The Breakfast Club that, after joining AEW, there was a point where WWE reached out to his representation enquiring about his availability.

The first Black men’s World Champion in AEW history, Strickland held the title from April-August of this year. He’s been off AEW television since losing to Hangman Page in an unsanctioned steel cage match at All Out.

When Strickland returns, it looks like he’ll be involved in a storyline with MVP, who made his AEW debut on Dynamite Grand Slam this week.