Swerve Strickland Becomes First African American AEW World Champion at AEW Dynasty

Swerve Strickland made history on Sunday night by defeating Samoa Joe to become the first African American AEW World Champion at the AEW Dynasty pay-per-view event in St. Louis, Missouri.

Strickland hit his signature Swerve Stomp finisher from the top turnbuckle to pin Joe and capture the title in the main event match.

This marks Strickland's first singles championship in AEW and his first world title since holding the AEW World Tag Team Championship with Keith Lee in 2022. The hard-fought victory over Joe, who had held the AEW World Championship for 113 days, signifies the culmination of Strickland's path to the top of AEW after debuting with the company last year.

In an emotional post-match press conference, Strickland spoke about the significance of his accomplishment. "I wanted to be the first Black AEW World Champion to show people that they can achieve their goals regardless of their skin color," Strickland said. He credited WWE star Kofi Kingston's historic WWE Championship win at WrestleMania 35 in 2019 as a major inspiration.

"Seeing my friend Kofi Kingston achieve that milestone, it was one of the biggest inspirational things that's ever happened in wrestling history. It was so motivating and inspiring to me," Strickland explained. "I want to do it multiple times. I want to recreate a feeling like that for the next generation."

Strickland emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities to progress in the wrestling industry. He thanked his manager Prince Nana and AEW President Tony Khan for supporting him and providing chances to succeed. "Progress is not just about somebody giving you an opportunity. It's about what you do with that opportunity to make something uniquely your own," Strickland stated.

Why this matters: Swerve Strickland's historic AEW World Championship victory represents a significant milestone for diversity and representation in professional wrestling. As the first African American to hold AEW's top title, Strickland's win has the potential to inspire a new generation of black wrestlers to pursue their dreams in the industry.

Strickland's journey to the AEW World Championship was not an easy one. He had to make numerous sacrifices, including missing important family events, to chase his wrestling ambitions. Strickland also took risks by venturing into the singles division after his successful tag team run. But those risks ultimately paid off with his emotional title victory at AEW Dynasty, a moment that Strickland believes will allow him to "pave the way for future wrestlers who have similar ambitions, regardless of their background."

Key Takeaways

• Swerve Strickland became the first African American AEW World Champion.
• Strickland defeated Samoa Joe to win the title at AEW Dynasty.
• Strickland's victory was inspired by Kofi Kingston's historic WWE title win.
• Strickland emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities to progress in wrestling.
• Strickland's historic win represents a significant milestone for diversity in wrestling.