Swerve Strickland Says He’s Got To Go Ten Times Harder Due To Being An African American Man

Swerve Strickland comments on the struggles he faces as an African American Man in professional wrestling.

Strickland is one of the top AEW stars right now and has continuously teased being the first black AEW World Champion. This is something that is deeply personal to Strickland, who has spoke in the past about the struggles of being a black professional wrestler.

While being interviewed by SI.com, Strickland stated that he’s after the best the industry has to offer noting that he can’t accept any less being an African American man.

“I’m after the best this industry has to offer,” said Strickland. “I don’t want to accept anything less. For me, as an African American man, we can’t accept less. We have to strive to be exceptional in everything we do. I’ve got to go ten times harder because of that, and I want the absolute best because I deserve that–and I deserve that so our culture can see that. Being good enough is never good enough. I have to exceed others’ expectations. I want to make the biggest impact I can. I believe I can do that.

“People are starting to believe in what I can do. Over the last week, I’ve heard, ‘That is your moment.’ Woah–slow down. I’m going to have more moments. Maybe this was your first time seeing me. I’m only 34 years old. You’re seeing Christian having his resurgence in his late 40s. Sting is performing at 63, and he’s still going hard. Adam Copeland coming over, he’s having a resurgence. Chris Jericho is doing prime work. People are just seeing me. Wait until you see what comes next.”

Swerve Strickland

After defeating Hangman Adam Page at AEW WrestleDream, Swerve is now set to take on Bryan Danielson on tonight’s AEW Dynamite, with a shot at the TNT Championship on the line.

Elsewhere in the same interview, Strickland would address his WWE release.

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