In the world of professional wrestling, and any other profession for that matter, family members will try to help each other out whenever possible. Former AEW World Tag Team Champion Swerve Strickland also feels that having his cousin, Will Washington, in AEW benefits him a lot.
While speaking to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Strickland mentioned that Will Washington knows what Swerve Strickland is capable of and thus will be the one speaking on his behalf.
“The best thing about it, [having Will Washington part of AEW] he knows my capabilities too. So can put stuff together that he knows that I can… He’s like, ‘No. Swerve is capable of this. Give him that.’ And to go in a room and just to be like, ‘This is what we have.’ And then… I… At this point, I have a good relationship with Tony Khan enough to… He knows where my abilities lie and stuff. But also you want to make sure you reassure him. And you want to reassure the other talent that, ‘Yeah, this guy’s capable of this. He can do this. He’s willing to do this.’ And I don’t have to go in there and show face all the time to defend that. Because I want to be like, ‘I need to just focus on my work. My job. And my body…’
“So I don’t have to go in there and do that. Will sticks up for me as a talent to reassure that, ‘Yes. He’s comfortable with this. And yes he can go above and beyond and deliver this. What you’re asking for, as a promoter, as a booker, as a boss, he is capable of this. And he wants to do this.’ So that helps so much. But at the same time, I got to still go out there and perform.”
Swerve Strickland explains why there are people in every profession to be the voice of the talent
Strickland wants to make sure that people understand that he is not politicking his way to the top.
“It’s one thing to just be like, some people can say like, ‘Oh they’re getting these opportunities cuz so and so.’ Speaking of so and so, everybody has in all walks of every type of profession whether it be pro wrestling, media, sports, whatever. There’s always somebody in the room talking for said talent. Anywhere you go. And in the NBA there’s somebody talking to the owner about the talent to reassure that this guy is the guy that we need to put on the banner, on the wall, on the side of the bus. In the city, on a shaving commercial or anything like that…
“So don’t try to misconstrue like, ‘Oh this is pro wrestling politics or anything like that. No. This is business politics. It happens everywhere. But guess what, Dak Prescott can be in whatever sleep commercial, a mattress commercial. He still has to go out there and throw touchdowns and get the teams to the Playoffs. That’s why these guys get these positions.”
Swerve Strickland wants to be the Quarterback of AEW
The leader of the Mogul Affiliates does not want to be the only one at the top, he wants to work hard along with other top stars for the success of AEW.
“And like I said, I go on any platform, anywhere, I’ll say I want to be the Pat Mahomes of AEW. Hence, Dynasty is coming up. That’s what I want to be. The Dynasty Player. I want to be the guy as the Quarterback. Throw me in, I’ll throw a Touchdown. And now we’re adding an Okada in there. An Ospreay coming in. Yeah! I want… These are the teammates I want to have on the field with me. These are the guys I want to build a dynasty with. That’s the team. It’s not like me being the top, being the individual talent. No. I want my team with me. I just want to Quarterback that team. Right now Joe’s playing Quarterback. But I’m coming up close. Hey, I’m Willy Beaman bro,” Swerve Strickland said.
Can Strickland be the flag bearer for AEW?