Swerve Strickland Believes Passion Is What Makes Pro Wrestling Stand Out From Other Live Sporting Events

Swerve Strickland discusses what separates professional wrestling from other live sporting events.

Swerve Strickland discusses what separates professional wrestling from other live sporting events.

For many, pro wrestling is a spectacle like no other as it blends the worlds of sport and entertainment in promotions all over the world. For AEW, one of their top stars remains Swerve Strickland, and for the former AEW World Champion, he has one reason why wrestling stands out from other live sporting events.

While speaking to KOMO News in a new interview, Strickland was asked what makes wrestling stand out against other live sporting events, stating his belief that passion, from both the performers and fans, is the answer.

“It’s the passion, not only just in the performers, but in the fan base. Like, when you go in, you’re encapsulated with the atmosphere. I’ve had friends of mine that haven’t watched wrestling ever, who haven’t watched wrestling in years, who have been a fan of another product, many products for so long, and they come to our shows, I sit’em front row, or I sit’em, no matter where they sit, the fans, truly encapsulate what it would feel like to be in a pro wrestling environment. You feel a part of it. It’s not just like you’re just spectating and just watching something happen. You really feel like you are a part of it. A lot of them feel inspired. They want to go out and do it on their own. Like, hey, don’t even invite me. I will go to whatever is out there, and it inspires them to bring other people, bring their kids along, bring their wives and husbands and family members, and it brings them in. I feel like that’s the beautiful thing, and then, you also get invested in the people in the ring. You’re seeing a lot of innovation going on. You know, a lot of times, like, in media, people are afraid to push those boundaries or push those certain buttons. Well, we’re encouraged to do that in All Elite Wrestling. I don’t get to where I’m at without that. You don’t get a lot of the new superstars of our era without that, pushing those buttons. I feel like for the longest time in our industry, especially in pro wrestling, we’ve been afraid to do that. With Tony Khan, he encourages it, you know? Certain boundaries we can’t go. But even still, you never know. That might change as well, and I encourage everybody in our roster and the industry of professional wrestling and media to do.”

For the full advertised card for tonight’s episode of AEW Collision, you can find that here.

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