Jon Moxley defeated Swerve Strickland to retain the AEW World Title at Dynasty thanks to interference by the returning Young Bucks. (AEW)
In a post-show promo Swerve had a lot things to say: “I know there are some upset fans leaving for the doors and to your cars to go home. And I understand. I feel for you right now. If you can calmly just wait, share these last couple minutes with me. ’cause I don’t know if I’ll ever be back in this world Championship contender moment after the EVPs are back. We don’t know, but that’s why you continue to watch our program, All Elite Wrestling, because this is, we’re the best freaking wrestling and tonight, you just saw the absolute best compete for the AEW World Championship right in front of your very eyes. 13, very long years ago, I took my career to the next level by traveling all the way up from Lancaster, Pennsylvania all the way to this great city right here, Philadelphia and that’s where my career really skyrocketed. So this is a full circle moment. Getting to compete for the AEW World Championship on Pay-Per-View in front of the same people that didn’t know who I was. I had a dollar and a dream, and this is what came of it being here with you people right now tonight. Not only that, my family, my children, my two girls got to sit here, front row and really watch me compete for the World championship. My niece, my nephew, Brian, Zoe, Aaliyah, Naya, Michelle, Brian. These people took care of me. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here right now. So I just wanted to have a moment with you guys. As much as this is a moment for me and my family, and much as this is a moment for me and my new family that I’ve just grown to love over the last three years, Prince Freaking Nana. When I talk about representation, I mean it every single fucking time I speak on it. This kid right here that you supported for these last 12, 13 years, in one year, headlined Five Main event pay-per-views. I don’t just speak about representation, I go out there and prove the fucking thing, and I only make it as far as because of you people right here chanting whose house? Every single city, every single arena, every stadium, whether it’s the United States or if it’s in London, in front of 50 thousand, 80 thousand, I don’t care if it’s 200. I always want to hear y’all chant ‘Who’s House.’ Thank you for being here. Thank you for the merchandise. Get home safely. And one last thing just for my own amusement… fuck Booker T.”
If you’re wondering what that’s about Booker T talked about Swerve here: “I had an offer to be on Vlad TV before as well and I turned it down. They called me back and they offered me money to go on Vlad TV and I turned it down because I was not going to go on Vlad TV and be exploited. I wasn’t going to go on Vlad TV and have him make me look like a fool in front of the world, I was not going to do that. I wasn’t going to go on Vlad TV and say anything negative towards any black man that’s ever been in this business because I know how hard it is for all of us. I’ve been the first one saying it, any brother getting his bag, I’m all in 100%. I told Swerve Strickland to his face how disappointed I am in him as a young brother because all I did for Swerve Strickland was put him over and put him on a pedestal as being one of the best out there, that he deserves to being the AEW Champion. For him to say something like that about me – I don’t know if these guys think racism stopped in 1990 when I got in the business, but it didn’t. You may not hear about a lot of racial issues with Booker T because I handled racial issues handfirst. I opened doors, I broke down barriers for people like Swerve Strickland. Swerve Strickland would perhaps not even be here if it wasn’t for me. I have to apologize for nothing that I’ve done in this business because I’ve gone out there and I have literally represented in the ring and out of the ring from day one all the way to this day in 2025. You speak on Vince McMahon and him saying the N-word, you want me to be angry black man in the company. You want me to not open doors and make spaces for people like you, that’s what you want me to do. Swerve Strickland, I hope you’re never gonna be in the movies, I hope you’re never gonna be on a movie set because you might hear somebody say the N-word and if you’ve got a problem with it, they’re gonna tell your ass to get the hell out of here, this is a movie, alright? I’m upset because more importantly I’m disappointed in Swerve Strickland because what I told him – I’ll repeat it just like I repeated it to him, you got played. You got played bro. You got played. You let that man play you and pitch you against me and me against you. I don’t know how many stories you’ve ever heard about that on Vlad TV, but there’s many of them. There’s many stories out there about the black man against the black man because Vlad is pitting them against each other. I don’t know how many people you know that have been locked up from the federal perspective by going on Vlad TV. I don’t know what the hell you’re doing on Vlad TV first of all. What have you done to be on Vlad TV? That’s just my opinion on that. As far as Swerve Strickland – and me having the energy, the voracity, I got all that. I’m still six foot three inches tall, 230 pounds of stomping, grave damn digging, destruction Jack.”
Drew McIntyre talks about Brock Lesnar: “No, but that’s the thing. You tell yourself that, but sometimes with certain guys, you think, oh, like when I wrestled Brock Lesnar, like for the title, he’s looks like you’ve taken a gorilla and shaved it. Also hey, this guy, if he chooses to, can murder basically everyone on the planet, except three people. Like I’ve been in the ring with them and I’ve thought this person could destroy me or finish me off if they wanted to? Mark Henry is one. He was the world’s strongest man, was his character. He was, I think technically is on paper, legitimately strongest man of all time. When he held me up, I was like, oh my goodness, this guy is pretty strong, and he flicked his wrist and I flew over his head and landed on my feet behind him. What just happened? I was like, are you okay? Can you do it? Because I thought he’d throw his arms. Most of us throw our arms to throw somebody behind us. He flicked his wrist and I just glided over his head and landed on my feet. The Big Show is another guy. When I was younger, he grabbed me and I thought, oh my goodness, he could just take me out. But the good thing with those guys, I could just run away with someone like Brock Lesnar. He’s faster than you. He’s stronger than you. He’s got more technique. No matter… like who you are aside to say legitimately a few people in the world, like he’s going to get you and have his way with you, whoever he wants to do.”
Cody Rhodes teases the idea of going Hollywood: “I’d love to get out there, there’s some fun projects coming up. I’d love to get out there and tell stories that way for sure and grow. I love pro wrestling, I always will. To get out there, I love what Rock has done, I love what John has done, and Dave Bautista as well. All of them have gone different routes when approaching Hollywood and I think I might be next to join the fray in all that.”
Here’s the updated card for Raw tonight. (WWE)
- WWE World Tag Team Championships: The War Raiders (c) vs. The New Day
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Bayley
- Dominik Mysterio vs. Penta
- El Grande Americano vs. TBD
- Seth Rollins to appear
- CM Punk and Paul Heyman to appear
- GUNTHER and Jey Uso to appear
- Adam Pearce will address Women’s World title picture
Bryan Danielson was backstage all night at Dynasty. (PWI)
