AEW President Tony Khan has provided an update on the status of former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland. Strickland has been away from the ring since the Forbidden Door 2025 event, where he unsuccessfully challenged Kazuchika Okada for the AEW Unified Championship. He has been recovering from a torn meniscus, an injury that required surgery in August. During the media call for the AEW WrestleDream pay-per-view, Khan offered a positive outlook on Strickland’s recovery and a potential timeline for his return.
A Good Recovery Pace
Tony Khan confirmed that he and AEW management are keeping a close watch on Strickland’s recovery process. Based on his direct conversations with the star, Khan is optimistic about when fans can expect to see him back in an AEW ring.
Khan stated that he understands Strickland is on a good recovery pace and that the star will be back “relatively soon.” He further addressed the potential length of the absence, stating that he “didn’t think Strickland would be out past the one-year mark.”
A Main Event Player
Strickland’s injury came at a difficult time for AEW, as it occurred around the same time as an injury that has also kept Will Ospreay off of television. Before being sidelined, Strickland had solidified himself as a key main event star for the company. His rise began in 2024 with a rivalry against Adam Page, which propelled him to the AEW World Championship.
He continued his hot streak into 2025, with feuds against Jon Moxley and The Death Riders, as well as a rivalry with Will Ospreay. He also teamed with Ospreay at the All In Texas event to take on The Young Bucks in a classic tag team match.
While an exact return date for Swerve Strickland has not yet been announced, his eventual return will provide a boost to the AEW main event scene. We wish him a speedy recovery.Â
Click here to listen to the call.
