Swerve Strickland kicked off his first night as AEW world champion with an interview on the latest episode of Collision. He was warmly greeted by the live audience at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida with a chant of “Thank you, Swerve!” The new champion spoke about AEW’s recent events, including Jack Perry’s surprise return and The Elite’s attack on Tony Khan, which he called a “bitch move.”
During the show, Swerve issued an open challenge for a world title match, which was accepted by Claudio Castagnoli. The two superstars put on an incredible match, with a thrilling ending that saw Swerve ultimately retain his title after hitting the House Call. Following the match, the commentators announced that on the upcoming episode of Dynamite on May 1, we would find out who Strickland would be defending his title against at May’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view. It remains to be seen whether Swerve’s comments about The Elite will have immediate consequences or if they are setting the stage for future storylines.
What are your thoughts on Swerve’s first night as AEW world champion? Share your opinions with us Cagesiders.