Swerve Strickland, a prominent member of the AEW roster recognized for his impressive in-ring skills and charismatic character work, has gained heightened visibility since his feud with Adam Page last year. After the events of AEW Dynamite this week, Strickland sent a clear message to Samoa Joe.
During the latest AEW Dynamite episode on March 13, Swerve Strickland confronted AEW World Champion Samoa Joe and he was holding a chain, but Joe left the ring.
In a digital exclusive, Swerve Strickland asserted that his bout with Joe could never be on equal terms. He acknowledged that fairness ceased to be effective long ago. Directly addressing Joe, he insisted that resorting to old tactics was inevitable, fueled by the championship’s demands. Swerve then openly challenged Joe to provoke him.
“Now see, Joe, when you put hands on someone, you can’t be really surprised how they’re gonna retaliate or how they’re doing to react to things. It’s not always gonna be a fair fight. It’s not gonna be equal opportunity, no. When you slap someone, don’t be afraid and don’t be surprised when they come at you with a car, trying to mow you down, and that’s what it was. You choked me out last week on Dynamite, so I came at you with a chain that I was ready to wrap around your neck until your face turned blue and your head popped off.”
”I realized playing fair just doesn’t work around here. I learned that a long time ago. So it’s not gonna be even. It’s never gonna be that even, fair fight with you, especially when it comes to that AEW World Championship. I’m gonna have to get a little more dirty, I’m gonna have to resort to some old tactics. You bring that out of me. The championship brings that out of me. I ain’t a killer, but don’t push me. No, I am a killa. I dare you to push me, Joe.”
We will have to wait and see whether Swerve Strickland will eventually be the one to dethrone The Samoan Submission Machine and become the new AEW World Champion once and for all.
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