Stephon Strickland

Biography

Stephon Strickland, better known as Swerve Strickland, is an American professional wrestler and rapper who began his career in 2008 and quickly established himself as one of the top names on the independent scene as Shane Strickland. After standout runs in Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), Major League Wrestling (MLW), EVOLVE Wrestling (EVOLVE), DEFY Wrestling (DEFY), Pro Championship Wrestling ULTRA (PCW ULTRA), and Lucha Underground as the masked Killshot, he signed with WWE in 2019 as Isaiah "Swerve" Scott. There, he led Hit Row, captured the NXT North American Championship, and became a fan favorite before his release in 2021. Swerve signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2022 and immediately made an impact, first winning the AEW World Tag Team Championship alongside Keith Lee before breaking out as a singles star. His rivalry with Hangman Adam Page is widely regarded as one of AEW's greatest feuds, and his victory over Samoa Joe to win the AEW World Championship marked the biggest moment of his career. He has also earned praise for a string of acclaimed matches with Will Ospreay, Bryan Danielson, and Kenny Omega, helping him reach No. 2 in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 for 2024.