Swerve Strickland has explained how he adapts his approach for every big match.
Since joining AEW in 2022, Swerve Strickland has become one of the top stars in the promotion. The star solidified himself as part of the main event scene with acclaimed matches against the likes of Bryan Danielson, Will Ospreay, and ‘Hangman’ Adam Page.
In a new interview with Simon Miller, Strickland has opened up about how he changes his approach for big matches, saying it has become “instinctual” for him.
“I would definitely say it’s always instinctual. The opponent always changes up my approach to certain things. It changes up my approach to how I’m going to look, how I’m going to do the promos going in, the lead-ups, the TV, the match itself. It’s not even just about the ability, it’s about the motive. Why am I going these routes with these different opponents?”
As well as thinking about his motivations, Swerve also adapts his intensity for each feud, depending on the potential outcomes.
“The Young Bucks: we had something on the line as far as the EVP status, and me and Will Ospreay not being able to challenge for the title for a year. The time, the year before, that All In with Bryan Danielson’s career on the line, my World Championship. So, those stakes always change how I’m going to approach a match and fans feel that every kick out is, could be the last they’ll ever see of this person, or see him in that light. So, that changes a lot of the intensity that I bring.
“It changes the mindset of the opponent, and I always like to showcase those things to the fans. The fans see that Swerve is thinking and of something, he’s planning something, and Danielson is a different approach to the Bucks, which the Bucks is a different approach to Sting and Darby (Allin), I think that’s the fun of pro wrestling.”
“I Never Looked To Do Bigger And Better” – Swerve Strickland
In November, Swerve Strickland returned to AEW at Full Gear after a nearly three-month absence to have surgery on a torn meniscus. Fans immediately noticed that the star had bulked up considerably; however, he says it wasn’t necessarily a case of “bigger and better,” something that also extends to his creative process.
“As far as the evolution, it was like I never looked to do bigger and better. I just looked to do different and more unique. Because you can get into your head very big time as a performer, as an athlete about, ‘Oh, we got to do better. We got to do bigger. We got to do bigger and better than last time.’
“Sometimes you’ll stunt the growth of the creative process and the performance itself. Fans will sniff out that you’re trying to outperform something. But if you just stay true and authentic, it has to come from (my heart) for me. If it’s not coming from here, then it shows.”
Swerve Strickland will battle Kenny Omega for the second time on the March 25th edition of Dynamite. The match will see Strickland put his Number 1 Contender status ont he line against Omega’s position as an AEW EVP.
H/T to F4WOnline for the above transcription.
