AEW STAR WARNS RICOCHET OF HURDLES TO SUCCESS WITH COMPANY
Swerve Strickland has emerged as a true star in professional wrestling since switching to AEW. He has developed a strong fanbase and has proven himself time and time again with some stellar in-ring performances. His ascension to AEW World Champion proves that free-agent additions can build a career with Tony Khan's brand if they put the work in.
"Competition’s stiff in AEW, and there’s also a different type of ladder to climb in a lot of different ways here," Strickland said during an appearance on "The Battleground Podcast." "It doesn’t necessarily make it easier. There are difficulties on both sides of things, and you’ve gotta adapt. ... A lot of people have tried to adapt, and they couldn’t do it. That goes to show you the type of locker room, the type of talent, the type of energy, the type of workload that comes into AEW.”
Strickland's comments came during a discussion about Ricochet's potential arrival in AEW. The former WWE talent is currently a free agent and widely expected to land with Khan's company in the coming months. He will instantly have multiple storylines available to help get him over with fans.
Nevertheless, Strickland's comments are an excellent reminder for any wrestler who has their eyes set on AEW. The company isn't the startup it once was, but rather the second-largest professional wrestling organization in the world, with an elite roster of men's and women's talent. There is no guarantee of success when joining the company, mainly due to its bloated roster.
AEW is building some serious momentum at present. Its TV ratings are starting to rise after a tough start to the year and its in-arena attendance is finally picking back up. Strickland's championship run has contributed to its momentum. He has earned his spot as a top star within the company. If Ricochet wants to do the same, he can expect a lot of hard work in the future.
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