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It’s not hard to find an AEW fan who believes Swerve Strickland is on the cusp of something great, and possibly a future world champion. The leader of the Mogul Embassy has it all, including crazy athleticism, oodles of charisma and the ability to be an equally effective villain (as he is right now) or fan favorite.
How do Strickland’s fellow wrestlers feel about him? Pretty much the same way, actually. That’s clear from what fellow Pacific Northwest native and wrestling legend Bryan Danielson had to say after working with Swerve one-on-one for the first time.
Danielson and Strickland finally crossed paths last week on the special Title Tuesday edition of AEW Dynamite, where they competed for the right to challenge Christian Cage for the TNT Championship. Though Danielson got the win in that encounter, he came away even more impressed with Strickland, as he told Sports Nightly (h/t Wrestling Observer for the transcription).
Last Tuesday was the first time I had ever been in the ring with Swerve. I’d watched him wrestling before and he’s that next level of great. Seeing him is one thing, being in the ring with him is a completely different thing. But that dude is something special.
Strickland also offered his respect for Danielson on social media after they clashed.
"Seattle's Best"
🔻🙏🏾🔻 pic.twitter.com/QfsFzPye1q— The Realest Swerve Strickland (@swerveconfident) October 11, 2023
Despite the loss, the feeling that Strickland is on the path to bigger and better things is impossible to shake. And when you’re on that ride, it’s hard to have a bigger co-signer than the American Dragon, so that’s definitely nice to see and well deserved.
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