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Major AEW Star’s WWE Exit Not On Good Terms

Samoa Joe Swerve Strickland AEW

It seems that one things were not left on good terms when WWE fired someone who has become one of the top stars in AEW.

At AEW Revolution, Samoa Joe put his AEW World Championship on the line against both Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland. Samoa Joe retained the gold after he forced Page to tap out to his Coquina Clutch but the runaway fan favourite in the match was no doubt Strickland.

Strickland taunted Page’s baby son after breaking into the star’s home during their feud together but no matter how nefarious he got, it seems the fans only got behind him more and more. This has led to him becoming one of AEW’s top stars but it could have been so very different.

Strickland was on WWE’s roster as Isaiah “Swerve” Scott but just a few weeks after he and the rest of his Hit Row group were called up to SmackDown, they were all released. And it seems things might not have been left on good terms.

AEW’s Swerve Strickland Has Strained Relationship With WWE

Speaking on We’re Live Pal, Andrew Zarian gave some insight into Strickland’s departure from WWE and it seems things were not left on good terms:

Swerve came in there, an indie guy for sure, one of the best on the indies and he went to WWE. WWE let him go and they let him go, I don’t know if they’ve told this story on how he was let go but it wasn’t on good terms.

It wasn’t done right, it was a very convoluted reasoning but he leaves and over time he just develops into that character and now he’s one of the top guys in [AEW].

Strickland joined AEW in March 2022 and in August of that year, the rest of Hit Row were signed back to WWE after Vince McMahon temporarily stepped away from the company.

Since joining AEW, Swerve Strickland has held the AEW Tag Team Championship, and following his Revolution match, it seems the sky may be the limit for the star in Tony Khan’s company.

If you use any quotes from this article please credit original source and then h/t with a link back to TJR Wrestling for the transcription.