Summary

Swerve Strickland says his recent absence from AEW Dynamite is not a mystery, at least from his point of view.

After briefly posting and deleting a message earlier in the week about not being on television, Strickland followed up with a video message saying AEW management has been keeping him away from Dynamite. He claimed the decision is about protecting Bandido from what he wants to do once he gets back in the ring.

Strickland said he has still been working for the company in other ways, including off-site promo work and ambassador appearances. He specifically thanked Tony Khan for sending him to represent AEW and WBD, including his appearance announcing a Jacksonville Jaguars draft pick with Roger Goodell.

Quote from Swerve Strickland

"What’s going on, everybody? This is Swerve Strickland here, former AEW World Champion, and I’m just gonna get some things off my chest and address what I said on Twitter earlier this week about asking questions about me being on television. So actually, you know what? As you can see, everybody, I’m not at AEW right now. I’m not at AEW Dynamite tonight in Asheville, North Carolina. I’m here at home because of AEW management. They want to keep me away from TV. I’ve been shooting the last couple promos that you see off site. I haven’t been at AEW TV. AEW management is responsible for that. Shout out Tony Khan, thank you for having me doing some ambassador work for WBD. Thank you for sending me to the NFL draft to do the Jacksonville Jaguars fourth round pick with Roger Goodell and everybody. I appreciate that, but you’re keeping me away from doing my freaking job, and that’s getting in the ring and hurting people. The longer I’m away from the ring, the longer I’m away from championship gold, and you are keeping me away from doing what I do best, and that’s hurting people, and that’s why they’re banning me from AEW Dynamite, because they’re afraid of what I’m going to do to Bandido. They’re afraid of what I’m gonna do to the rest of the people on the staff in the locker room of All Elite Wrestling, going all the way back to what I did to Kenny Omega earlier this year, I’m a danger to AEW Dynamite, and now AEW Dynamite is gonna be keeping me away until further notice. They’re gonna play games with my career. Like I said, I want power and I want it all."

What this means for Swerve Strickland and Bandido

Strickland directly tied his absence from Dynamite to Bandido, which gives AEW fans a clearer explanation for why he has been off weekly television while still appearing in company-related content. If that issue is the real driver on screen, Bandido now sits at the center of Strickland's next obvious feud direction.

It also keeps Strickland active in the broader AEW picture even while he is away from the arena. Between this promo and his recent comments about younger wrestlers chasing virality before craft, AEW has not let him disappear completely, even if he says he is being held back from doing what he does best.

Sources

Swerve Strickland via X