Swerve Strickland Faces Uncertain AEW Future As Surgery Confirmed

Swerve Strickland suffered a sick attack at Forbidden Door, and now his immediate future in AEW has been confirmed.

Swerve Strickland picked up a huge win at All In Texas with Will Ospreay as they combined to defeat The Young Bucks. The Bucks were stripped of their EVP status as a result of the loss and have been humiliated in the company that they ran roughshod over ever since.

The Bucks’ partner in The Elite, Kazuchika Okada, took exception to Strickland’s part in his friends’ loss and targeted him. That led to a match between the two men for the AEW Unified Championship at Forbidden Door. Okada picked up the win and continued the assault afterwards as he slammed a chair repeatedly into Strickland’s knee.

Wardlow then made his surprise return to AEW, attacking Prince Nana while Strickland could only watch helplessly. Wardlow then embraced Don Callis as he became the newest member of his Family.

And it seems the prolonged assault from Okada on Strickland was done for good reason.

Swerve Strickland Going Under The Knife

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed that Swerve Strickland is set to go under the knife on Wednesday, the 27th of August. It is unknown how long he will be out of action following that. It was believed that Swerve Strickland was dealing with meniscus issues in his knee prior to Forbidden Door.

Strickland won’t be the only AEW star out of action for the foreseeable future, as Will Ospreay is set to miss a prolonged spell from the ring. Ospreay has previously discussed his serious neck and back issues that need to be addressed, but he still made his presence felt in the huge lights out steel cage match in London, England.

Ospreay’s squad picked up the win over the Death Riders and Young Bucks, but Jon Moxley had the last laugh. Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli trapped Ospreay in the cage alone after the match, repeatedly dropping him on his head before stomping a steel chair wrapped around his neck. Will Ospreay was then stretchered out of the arena as a result of the assault.