Swerve Strickland is champion of the world.
Strickland beat Samoa Joe at the inaugural All Elite Wrestling (AEW) Dynasty to win the championship, becoming the first African American World Champion in AEW history, NY Post reports.
He entered the arena in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday night looking like he came straight from Wakanda–decked out in Black Panther-inspired garb for his grand entrance, paying homage to the first Marvel film to star a Black superhero. In the end, he hit a second Swerve Stomp off the top rope for the pin and the win, and in doing so, Strickland became AEW’s first Black World Champion, their 11th overall World champion, and eighth unique World Champion.
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Shane “Swerve” Strickland was born in Tacoma, Washington, and raised in Frankfurt, Germany. He became a professional wrestler at 18 years old. The new world champion said he wants African American youth to know that if he can do it, so can they.
“I think this one moment sends many messages to everybody. Primarily, it’s possible. It can be done, but it’s not easy,” Strickland, 33, said in an interview with 411 Media. “When it’s our moment, we have to take it. That’s the message I’ve been wanting to send.”
Cover Photo: Swerve Strickland Becomes First Ever Black Champion In AEW Wrestling / Photo credit: NY Post