Bryan Danielson Takes Slight Dig At WWE For Firing Swerve Strickland

WWE has released a lot of people in the name of budge cuts. The pandemic saw a ton of releases, and while some Superstars were brought back under Triple H’s regime, Swerve Strickland hasn’t returned, because Tony Khan offered him a much better spot on AEW’s roster.

On November 4, 2021, B-Fab was released from her WWE contract, marking a significant shift in her faction. This was a shock, because the Hit Row faction had just received main roster call-ups. Just two weeks later, on November 18, Swerve Strickland, along with Ashante Thee Adonis and AJ Francis (who wrestled as Top Dolla), also found themselves on the chopping block. While WWE eventually brought back B-Fab and later Ashante and Top Dolla, Strickland had already secured an AEW contract by the time Triple H took the reins of WWE and expressed interest in bringing him back. In a twist of fate, Top Dolla was eventually released again and has since joined TNA Wrestling as AJ Francis.

Meanwhile, Swerve Strickland has emerged as a top talent in AEW over the past year. He began his ascent with a notable rivalry against Hangman Page, continued to shine during the Continental Classic, and culminated his journey by winning the AEW World Title and defending it in the main event of AEW All In.

Bryan Danielson, who notably ended Swerve’s championship reign, extended his own career with that match, as a loss would have pushed him toward retirement. In an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Danielson had nothing but praise for Strickland, subtly throwing shade at WWE in the process.

“Swerve was perfect at All In. I mean, he’s incredible. He just signed a new contract with AEW—and that’s one of the benefits of having two mainstream wrestling companies in the United States. WWE didn’t see value in him, and they let him go. When Swerve came here, he said he was going to become AEW champion—and he did.”

Bryan Danielson continued, questioning how WWE could overlook such talent: “You watch him and ask, ‘Who would ever let go of this guy?’ He just wasn’t given the opportunity to be his best self.”

The AEW World Champion’s comments reflect a broader truth about the wrestling landscape, because some wrestlers thrive in WWE, while others find their calling elsewhere. “There are people who will thrive in both places; there are people who will be underutilized,” he explained. “That’s the benefit of having two major companies in the United States. If someone doesn’t see value in you, you can try somewhere else.”

Bryan Danielson went on to commend Strickland’s professionalism, stating, “He is the most professional of the professionals. Him, Claudio, [Samoa] Joe—anything you need them to do, they do it without hesitation.”

Swerve Strickland signed with AEW right after his 90-day non-compete clause expired in March 2022. He signed a contract extension with AEW on the day of All In, further solidifying his place in the company. That deal was also said to be a very lucrative one.

Meanwhile, Bryan Danielson hasn’t appeared on AEW television since AEW All Out, where he was famously suffocated with a plastic bag by Jon Moxley. His absence leaves fans eager for his return, but for now, the spotlight shines brightly on Swerve Strickland and the path he forged after WWE underestimated his potential.

What’s your take on Swerve Strickland signing a new AEW contract? Did WWE drop the ball when it comes to letting him go? Let us know what you think in the comments section!