AEW star Swerve Strickland is officially on the road to recovery. The former AEW World Champion has undergone successful surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee, an injury he has been working through for several years.
Swerve Strickland’s Successful Knee Surgery
The news confirms previous reports that Strickland would be taking time off to have the long-standing issue corrected. He is now beginning the recovery process, and the duration of his absence is still not known.
The injury is one that Strickland has been dealing with since 2019, dating back to his time at the WWE Performance Center. He had been receiving treatment from the Jacksonville Jaguars’ medical team in recent weeks, but the decision was ultimately made for him to have the surgery.
Storyline Exit For Swerve Strickland
AEW used Strickland’s real-life injury into its storylines to write him off of television. The angle took place at the Forbidden Door pay-per-view this past Sunday, following his loss for the AEW Unified Championship against Kazuchika Okada.
After the match, Okada and the Don Callis Family attacked Swerve’s injured knee, trapping it between the ring post and the steel steps before striking it with a chair. The segment also featured the surprise return of Wardlow, who revealed himself to be the newest member of the Don Callis Family by attacking Swerve’s manager, Prince Nana. We wish him a speedy recovery.
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— Swerve-Strickland.Com (@SwerveSCOM) August 27, 2025


