During a recent interview on “VladTV”, professional wrestler Swerve Strickland talked about his departure from the WWE in 2021.
He revealed that the departure was fueled by a backstage clash involving a member of his group, Hit Row, that resulted in the removal of AJ “Top Dolla” Francis, Ashante Thee Adonis, and B-Fab. The following are the significant points discussed during the podcast:
– The entire Hit Row was released from their WWE contracts. According to Strickland, Brianna, the only female member of the group, had a contract dispute which led to her no longer being part of the show. Her flight information simply disappeared, and she was eventually let go along with a handful of other staff and talent.
– A group member’s behavior also contributed to their departure. He allegedly caused some turbulence when he aggressively demanded information about Brianna’s flight details, a matter deemed ‘none of his business’ by WWE CEO Vince McMahon. This altercation resulted in a meeting with McMahon, which Strickland believes brought about a chilling effect on the group.
– Strickland recounts how another member of Hit Row was sidelined due to appendicitis, and this left him and another member to navigate the tag matches. He vaguely suggested that this member somehow upset someone in the backstage, which might have further fueled their departure.
– He also shared his experience at WWE PC, where he felt he was being underutilized and unsupported after showcasing his skills in front of a significant audience at the 205 Live against Drew Gulak. He described being side-tracked and asked to revisit basic skills at the PC, post his stunning performance.
– Strickland strove to learn from Shawn Michaels, seeking permission to join his class and do tape studies with him. However, there were hurdles in setting this up.
The detailed conversation gives a peek into the backstage politics in the professional wrestling world.