4 ways Swerve Strickland can retaliate to Bobby Lashley's attack on AEW Dynamite
The latest episode of AEW Dynamite witnessed the much-anticipated debut of Bobby Lashley. Following weeks of speculation, The All Mighty finally made his first appearance in the Tony Khan-led company to confront Swerve Strickland.
Following his massive victory against Shelton Benjamin in the main event, The Killshot found himself face-to-face with The Dominator. Bobby Lashley did not wait to fire the first shot as he immediately laid out a war-torn Swerve Strickland in the squared circle. Prince Nana also felt the wrath of the heel group, as he was attacked by MVP.
The Realest One would be yearning for payback after being left for dead on the latest episode of AEW Dynamite. There are some interesting scenarios that could see the former AEW World Champion get even with The Hurt Syndicate. In this article, we look at four ways Swerve Strickland could retaliate to Bobby Lashley's attack on AEW Dynamite.
#4. Swerve Strickland manipulates Shelton Benjamin into betraying Bobby Lashley
Shelton Benjamin has been on a roll in the past few weeks. The Gold Standard delivered dominant performances against the likes of Lio Rush and Sammy Guevara before Swerve Strickland eventually ended his undefeated streak. However, Benjamin may have to take a backseat now that Bobby Lashley has been unveiled as the leader of The Hurt Syndicate.
A world-class talent like Shelton Benjamin would not be too thrilled about playing second fiddle to The Dominator. Swerve Strickland could take notice of Benjamin's insecurity and compel him to turn his back on Bobby Lashley. Breaking up The Hurt Syndicate might be the best way for The Killshot to settle his scores with The All Mighty.
In a recent virtual signing, Bobby Lashley revealed that he was not too thrilled about The Gold Standard battling Lio Rush on Dynamite. Lashley called Rush a certified star, while also disclosing that he was unhappy about Shelton Benjamin targeting his former manager.
The 49-year-old veteran would be agitated about Lashley rooting for one of his recent opponents. Swerve Strickland could help Benjamin break away from The Hurt Syndicate, reminding him why he could be as good a leader as The All Mighty.
#3. Swerve Strickland unites with other babyfaces to counter The Hurt Syndicate
The Hurt Syndicate has now officially begun its business in AEW. The heel group could emerge as a major threat to the other babyfaces on the roster in the upcoming weeks. As dominant as he has been this year, Swerve Strickland may require outside help to counter the threat of Bobby Lashley's faction.
The Killshot could align with other top babyfaces to wage war against The Hurt Syndicate. Strickland could possibly join forces with Ricochet, who was recently approached by MVP to join the heel group. As one of AEW's most beloved stars, The One and Only is likely to reject the membership offer to The Hurt Syndicate.
Other renowned babyfaces like Private Party could also emerge as trustworthy allies for Strickland. If the former AEW World Champion hopes to put an end to Lashley's tyranny, he must find a way to counter The All Mighty's numbers advantage.
#2. Swerve Strickland takes out MVP
Interestingly, MVP and Prince Nana have been two of the focal points in the ongoing feud between Swerve Strickland and The Hurt Syndicate. The two managers have done a great job of making this rivalry feel more personal.
On the latest episode of Dynamite, MVP launched a brutal attack on Prince Nana. The Franchise Playa combined with Shelton Benjamin to inflict damage on Nana, before leaving the beloved manager lifeless in the ring. Considering the affection he has for Prince Nana, Swerve Strickland would be yearning to make MVP pay for his actions.
The Realest One could bring out his remorseless side and assault MVP the next time the duo cross paths. The former AEW World Champion could brutalize the 51-year-old veteran for laying his hands on his manager. It would be a perfect way for Strickland to send a message to Bobby Lashley, making him realize how much of a threat he can be.
#1. Swerve Strickland could cost Bobby Lashley his debut match in AEW
Before their eventual in-ring showdown, Swerve Strickland must do something out of the box to grab the attention of Bobby Lashley. The Realest One needs to hurt The Almighty on a psychological level to gain the upper hand in their rivalry.
An effective way for Swerve to get on the nerves of Lashley would be to deny him a victory in his debut AEW match. The Dominator could battle a mid-card babyface in the upcoming weeks to prepare himself for his match against Swerve Strickland in the future.
However, Swerve could cause a distraction for Lashley from the ringside, costing him a crucial win in his debut match. The Killshot could blindside The Almighty behind the referee's back, allowing his opponent to capitalize and escape with an upset victory.
A loss in his first bout in All Elite Wrestling would certainly draw the ire of Bobby Lashley. Meanwhile, it would be a sweet payback for Swerve Strickland after being laid out by The Dominator on Dynamite.