In a recent interview on “Vlad TV,” Swerve Strickland provided additional depth to the August 2024 announcement detailing his renewed contract with AEW.
The professional wrestling community had previously noted that WWE showed interest in signing both Strickland and Prince Nana. However, Strickland’s subsequent contract with AEW was allegedly seen as a detriment to the sport by WWE executives. They felt the value of the contract outstripped what WWE considered a suitable market value.
Check out the main talking points from the interview below:
Discussing WWE’s assessment of his worth, Strickland commented, “I don’t think their value is fair. I don’t think they market anybody’s value as fair, really.”
In response to Booker T’s assertion that he had been treated justly in WWE, Strickland said, “That’s not what happened when Vince said the N-word in front of you. That’s not being treated fair, my opinion. It’s not just me just talking out of my ass out of nowhere. It’s what your audience has been complaining about for the better part of two, three years from not seeing Black talent even getting singles matches on PLEs and stuff like that.”
About Triple H’s press conference remarks on “not seeing color” he continued, “Since that quote, you’re hearing quotes from Triple H saying he doesn’t see color in press conference so after someone actually calling them out at their press conference, saying, ‘Oh, why is there no African-American talent?”
Strickland ended his comments with, “I’m not saying anything brutal or mean or disrespectful to the company. I’m just regurgitating what your fanbase is telling you, that you’re not hearing and giving what they’re giving. So it’s not just me like, ‘Oh, woe is me, I’m bitter.’ I moved on, and I got my money, and I created my own values.”
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