Swerve Strickland joined WWE in 2019 and was part of NXT. He also appeared on 205 Live, where he faced Drew Gulak for the Cruiserweight Championship. Strickland, then known as Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, became a key figure in NXT. He led the group Hit Row before their release in November 2021.
In a VladTV interview, Strickland discussed his WWE run. He talked about working with Triple H, saying they didn’t connect well. He also felt misled at the WWE Performance Center. Strickland recalled a moment that made him question his treatment. After months at the PC, he was booked for 205 Live against Gulak. The match went 18 minutes, and the crowd cheered for him. Despite losing, he received praise from top stars like Charlotte Flair and Samoa Joe.
Returning to the PC, he was frustrated. Trainers tried teaching him basics, like arm drags, despite his strong performance. He felt he had already proven himself in front of thousands. This clash in expectations led to tension with Triple H.
It was kind of too brash, it was too over-thinking, and there’s where I kind of clashed with Triple H, as far as we didn’t gel. I really gelled with Shawn Michaels… he was just an advocate, and he as a partner to Triple H because he was more hands on with the talent.
Swerve Strickland on Triple H and Shawn Michaels
Strickland later signed with AEW in March 2022. There, he became a top star and won the AEW World Championship in 2024. He credited Shawn Michaels, not Triple H, for helping him grow as a performer during his WWE days.
Swerve Strickland gave a shout out to Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns’ greatness is undeniable. As one of WWE’s top stars, he has earned widespread recognition. Even former AEW Champion Swerve Strickland recently praised him, shedding light on their backstage bond.
During an interview with DJ Vlad on YouTube, Strickland reflected on his WWE career as Isaiah ‘Swerve’ Scott. Though his time there didn’t go as planned, he shared a positive connection with Reigns.
Strickland revealed he once sought advice from Reigns, who gave him tips on improving his in-ring presence. Grateful for the guidance, Strickland even gave a shoutout to Reigns, calling him by his real name, “Joe.”
“I was actually talking to Roman and he was like giving me good advice on how to be perceived in the ring, he gave me great game on that. So shout out to Joe for that.”
Swerve Strickland about Roman Reigns
Clearly, Strickland applied Reigns’ advice well. Since leaving WWE, he has excelled in AEW, becoming a weekly standout and a double champion. Despite the WWE-AEW rivalry, his respect for Reigns shows camaraderie transcends company lines.
