Dutch Mantell lashes out at Tony Khan and AEW for offering new contract to top star - "Has he drawn any money?"

The AEW roster is loaded with several top names, from Chris Jericho to Adam Copeland, Saraya, Will Ospreay, and FTR, among others. A new contract for one of the biggest All Elite stars has been a hot topic of discussion with many fans and wrestlers weighing in. Dutch Mantell is now offering his expertise on the matter.

Swerve Strickland had wrestled for eleven years when he joined WWE in 2019. He joined All Elite Wrestling 109 days after his WWE release in November 2021. The now-33-year-old reportedly signed a five-year contract last month, said to be close to AEW's big-money deals for Mercedes Moné and Kazuchika Okada, but not close to WWE pay for names like Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, and Cody Rhodes. A report claimed WWE wasn't thrilled with Swerve's new pay because they believe it's bad for business as it hurts market value.

The former Zeb Colter is agreeing with WWE this time. On a recent episode of Story Time with Dutch, Mantell was asked what he thinks of Swerve's deal, and the narrative that AEW is raising market values. The 52-year industry veteran declared Strickland to be not worth the $2 million - $3 million that his co-host estimated, which is much lower than the rumored pay for AEW's current TBS Champion and Continental Champion:

"I'm agreeing with WWE on this one. Swerve Strickland is not worth $2 or $3 million, he's just not. If you just think... you look at him, and what's outstanding about him? Has he drawn any money, anywhere? WWE had him, along with that other big heavy-set guy [Top Dolla], and they got rid of them. So, WWE didn't see anything in [Swerve]," Dutch Mantell said. [From 1:23:51 to 1:24:24]

Strickland dropped the AEW World Championship to Bryan Danielson in the All In main event on August 25. He will face Adam Page tomorrow at All Out in the Unsanctioned Lights Out Steel Cage Match, rumored to headline the show.

Special editions of AEW Rampage and Collision tonight

All Elite Wrestling will present special All Out go-home editions of Rampage and Collision tonight, live tonight from the NOW Arena near Chicago. Collision will air at 8pm ET, then Rampage at 10pm.

Officials have not announced any Rampage matches for tonight. Below is the current Collision lineup:

Hikaru Shida vs. Deonna Purrazzo
All Out Continental Championship Four-Way Qualifier: Konosuke Takeshita vs. The Beast Mortos
All Out Continental Championship Four-Way Qualifier: Orange Cassidy vs. Bryan Keith
All Out Continental Championship Four-Way Qualifier: Mark Briscoe vs. Lance Archer
Bryan Danielson, PAC, Wheeler Yuta, Claudio Castagnoli vs. Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, The Young Bucks

The winners of tonight's All Out qualifiers will advance to the Four-Way at Saturday's big pay-per-view. Kazuchika Okada will put the Continental Championship on the line in that match.