Swerve Strickland has shared high praise for Buddy Matthews, labeling him one of the best all-around talents in the industry. During an appearance on the Battleground Podcast, Strickland noted that he is eagerly awaiting Matthews’ return to the ring as a potential first-time opponent. Matthews has been sidelined since February 2025 due to a persistent ankle injury that eventually required surgical intervention.
“Honestly, I’m waiting for probably one of the best talents, like, all around in the business to come back,” Strickland said. “Hopefully he’s healthy and hopefully he can do even better than what he was giving before — Buddy Matthews, shout out to him. He’s one of those guys that’s just like a dawg in the ring. I think me and him could do some great work, and I look forward to seeing him back doing his own thing.”
Buddy Matthews’ Long Recovery Process
The injury to Matthews occurred on February 15, 2025, at the AEW Grand Slam Australia event during his entrance for a match against Kazuchika Okada. Despite competing in the match for over 13 minutes, the injury—initially diagnosed as a partial ligament tear and cartilage damage—did not heal properly. In August 2025, Matthews underwent surgery to repair the damage and has since been dealing with lingering nerve issues and numbness throughout his recovery.
Strickland acknowledged the value Matthews brings to the promotion, stating, “I think he has a lot to offer in the wrestling world, and I would like to see him back healthy again.” Before the injury, Matthews was a staple of the AEW tag team and trios divisions as a member of the House of Black. While that faction disbanded following Aleister Black’s return to WWE, Matthews remained aligned with Brody King prior to being forced out of action.
Strickland is set to face Brody King this Sunday, March 15, 2026, at AEW Revolution live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The feud between the two picked up on the February 25 episode of Dynamite when Strickland attacked Kenny Omega for referring to King as “The Most Dangerous Man in AEW.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit the Battleground Podcast with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
