AEW star Swerve Strickland, a former AEW World Champion, has identified the new Four Pillars of All Elite Wrestling as he prepares for a major upcoming match at Forbidden Door 2025. The event, set for this weekend in London, will feature Strickland challenging for the AEW Unified Championship, marking a pivotal moment in his career and the company’s future.
Swerve Strickland Recognizes AEW’s Emerging Core Stars
Since signing with AEW, Swerve Strickland’s presence in professional wrestling has risen sharply. Prior to AEW, Strickland, once known as The New Flavor, had a brief WWE run that included a reign as NXT North American Champion. Despite a modest impact in WWE, he has now become one of Tony Khan’s key assets in Jacksonville and is confident about his role among AEW’s leading talents.
In a discussion with Yahoo Sports reporter Cameron Hawkins, Strickland named himself alongside MJF, Will Ospreay, and “Hangman” Adam Page as the defining figures of AEW’s current generation.
“Ospreay, Hangman, myself, MJF included. We are the definitions of this era and generation. We take pride in that work.” —Swerve Strickland, AEW Star
This new grouping replaces the original Four Pillars of AEW—Darby Allin, MJF, Jack Perry, and Sammy Guevara—reflecting a shift in the company’s leadership and future direction.
Key Matchups at Forbidden Door 2025 Highlight AEW’s Competitive Landscape
Forbidden Door 2025 will feature several high-profile matches at The O2 Arena in London. Central to the weekend is the AEW Unified Championship bout, where Swerve Strickland will challenge current champion Kazuchika Okada. Both wrestlers are expected to deliver a spectacular showdown that fans eagerly anticipate.
The event’s full matchcard includes:
- “Hangman” Adam Page (c) vs. MJF for the AEW World Championship
- Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Alex Windsor (AEW) vs. Peresphone (CMLL) vs. Bozilla (STARDOM) in a four-way TBS Championship match
- Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Swerve Strickland for the Unified Championship
- Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi), Darby Allin, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Will Ospreay vs. The Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli and Jon Moxley), The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson), and Gabe Kidd in a Lights Out Steel Cage Match
- Adam Copeland and Christian Cage vs. Killswitch and Kip Sabian in a tag team match
- Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin vs. FTR vs. Brodido in a three-way tag team elimination match for the World Tag Team Championship
- “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) vs. Athena for the AEW Women’s World Championship
- Kyle Fletcher (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi for the TNT Championship
- Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Nigel McGuinness for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
The Significance of the New Four Pillars and What Lies Ahead
Swerve Strickland’s recognition as one of AEW’s Four Pillars signals a shift in the company’s core leadership and represents a new era for the Jacksonville-based promotion. Alongside MJF, Will Ospreay, and Hangman Adam Page, Strickland embodies the evolution of AEW’s identity and competitive strength.
With Forbidden Door 2025 serving as a key battleground, Strickland has a chance to further cement his legacy by capturing the AEW Unified Championship from Kazuchika Okada. As these top stars converge, the event will likely shape AEW’s trajectory and showcase the best talents from multiple wrestling organizations on a global stage.
