At All In: London 2024, Swerve Strickland faced Bryan Danielson in a highly anticipated AEW World Championship match at Wembley Stadium. Strickland, who made history as the first Black World Champion to headline the iconic venue, ultimately lost the title to Danielson. Following the event, Strickland shared his heartfelt reflections on the emotions stirred by the match and the significance of the moment.
Emotions Surfacing After the Final Bell
Strickland revealed that the emotional weight of the match didn’t hit him until after it concluded. Speaking to Jamal Niaz of Monopoly Events, he described the moment following Danielson’s submission when confetti fell and he walked up the ramp alongside Nana, his close ally. This marked a profound moment for both of them, as they overcame significant challenges and defied expectations.
Strickland recounted,
“So honestly, the first emotion I felt was after the submission, I roll out, the confetti falls. I walk up the ramp and I’m with Nana. And I was like, ‘We did it.’ Because it was like, I was trying to do justice for him, because Nana was somebody who’s not supposed to be in this position. Nana was written off so many years ago when Ring of Honor was kind of like, getting bought out. So people weren’t necessarily like, clamoring for him. But then us coming together built such a historic moment — and not just in AEW, but in professional wrestling history. I was one of the guys that was just like, I was written off after being let go from WWE. People weren’t expecting much of me. Nana was written off, people weren’t expecting much of him. And we came together and made such an impactful moment, that we’re making history in Wembley Stadium as the first Black World Champions in wrestling history to main event Wembley Stadium.”
“And we’re walking out and like, are we walking out victors? No. But we walked in as champions, and that’s a proud moment. That was the first emotional nerve that struck, because I was with him and we did it together and we did it authentically ourselves.”
?Swerve Strickland, AEW World Champion
Growing Confidence Fuels Resilience in the Ring
Throughout his career, Strickland has emphasized the importance of building confidence as a fundamental strength. In the interview, he shared how this confidence evolved and became a driving force behind his success in high-pressure situations like the AEW World Championship bout against Bryan Danielson.
He explained,
“I was always saying that confidence is like a muscle. And once you start exercising it, it gets stronger. And so when your confidence — like mine early on in my career was kind of like right here [middle range], but I like started exercising it and it started growing. So my career and my physique, and my in-ring style — all those things, my creativity started growing because I kept exercising the muscle, which is the confidence in me.”
“And then once I got to that point, it was just like, ‘Okay, I’m unstoppable. I’m undeniable. Put something in front of me that you think I can’t accomplish, I will conquer it.’ And especially when people aren’t checking for you, when you’re so off the radar, that’s where you become the deadliest because people are not checking for you. And then now it’s like, ‘Okay, I’m so in the forefront of it now.’”
He continued,
“Now the expectation’s there, but my confidence has grown so much more because of that. And I just kept exercising that muscle, and now I’m just ready for anything that come my way. I don’t feel the nervousness. So I don’t feel the the stress and the responsibility that’s on my shoulders anymore. I just feel like, ‘I’m just going to give you my authentic self and you’re going to accept it.’”
Impact of the AEW World Championship Clash and What Lies Ahead
Swerve Strickland’s match against Bryan Danielson at All In: London 2024 stands as a landmark in wrestling history due to both the venue and the representation. Their bout not only illustrated the competitive spirit shared by two incredible talents but also highlighted the breakthrough of Black performers in wrestling’s top spots. Strickland’s reflections underscore his resilience and authenticity, qualities that have propelled his journey from being written off to making history at Wembley Stadium.
The match’s outcome has shifted the AEW World Championship spotlight to Danielson, whose victory added another storied chapter to his career. Meanwhile, Strickland’s growing confidence and experience suggest that he remains a formidable presence in the wrestling world, ready for whatever challenges may come next.
