Swerve Strickland Discusses Shelton Benjamin’s Arrival in AEW

At AEW WrestleDream, Swerve Strickland turned down MVP’s offer but took a moment to praise Shelton Benjamin, MVP’s long-time partner, before the two engaged in a heated exchange. With a matchup between Strickland and Benjamin on the horizon, Strickland expressed his excitement about facing off against a wrestler he has long admired.

“It’s pretty surreal,” Strickland shared during the WrestleDream post-show media scrum. “Honestly, over the last year, I’ve been stepping into the ring with my childhood heroes. I had matches with RVD, Jeff Hardy, and Bryan Danielson at Wembley. These are the guys I’ve studied since I was a kid.” He continued, “With Shelton, we’ve faced off before, but to do it on this new stage is exciting. AEW does an incredible job of bringing in these legends and revitalizing their careers. With Shelton, it’s going to be a true gift for the AEW fans.”

Benjamin made his AEW debut on the fifth-anniversary episode of “AEW Dynamite,” re-establishing his partnership with MVP. The two were previously part of the Hurt Business faction alongside Cedric Alexander and Bobby Lashley in WWE, and it’s expected that a version of this group will continue in AEW. While Lashley has reportedly signed a deal with the promotion, it remains uncertain when he will appear on screen alongside his former teammates. However, Strickland has made it clear that if Lashley does show up on AEW, he won’t be aligned with MVP and his crew.