Dutch Mantell praises former SmackDown Superstar's match on AEW Rampage (Exclusive)
Dutch Mantell was impressed by Shane "Swerve" Strickland and Tony Nese's match from this week's episode of AEW Rampage.
Tony Schiavone introduced Strickland as All Elite Wrestling's latest acquisition on his debut at Revolution 2022. On the following episode of AEW Dynamite, Nese officially challenged Shane Strickland to a match on Rampage.
The two performers put forth a tremendous main event, with Strickland winning his debut match in a hard-hitting contest. One among the many viewers who were impressed with the bout was Dutch Mantell, who shared his take on the latest episode of Sportskeeda's Smack Talk.
The former WWE manager stated that both Nese and Strickland gelled well in the ring. Mantell added that he wanted to see more from Tony Nese and Shane Strickland and that a storyline should be developed around them.
"They were good, I have seen Nese before, they were good together. Now they need a story. A guy can actually be a cr***y worker if he's got a good story. People may not remember what you said or did, but they will remember what they made you feel. The more the people like somebody, the easier it is to get the heel hot. Because now they want to see the babyface comeback. Because if they really like a babyface and a heel attacks him, it's almost like you have attacked a member of the family. Of course, that's what you're looking for, every match can't be that way," said Dutch Mantell. (From 1:14:48 - 1:16:22)
Check out the full episode of Smack Talk in the video below:
Shane "Swerve" Strickland can achieve big things in AEW
Despite not being as massive as some of AEW's recent signings, it can be argued that Strickland is one of the most vital acquisitions the company has made. The former SmackDown Superstar is immensely talented in the ring and possesses incredible range as a character.
And @swerveconfident captures his first #AEW victory in his impressive debut! What a night of action it's been on #AEWRampage on TNT! See you next week at #AEWDynamite LIVE in San Antonio! https://t.co/rgukHU8KDz
Shane Strickland's work as the leader of Hit Row in WWE was highly-lauded, and the stable was on the verge of success before their sudden release. Though one shouldn't expect him to feature straight away in marquee storylines, it's safe to say Strickland could become a game-changer for AEW in the coming years with his skills.
Were you also impressed with Shane "Swerve" Strickland's debut outing on this week's AEW Rampage? Sound off in the comments section below.
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