Swerve Strickland breaks silence on backlash to his match against Hangman Page at AEW All Out 2024
The sixth annual AEW All Out pay-per-view was headlined by a brutal Lights Out Steel Cage match between Swerve Strickland and Adam Page. While praised by many, criticism against the match began almost immediately. Swerve has now issued a statement on the backlash.
Hangman Page defeated Swerve in the Lights Out Unsanctioned Steel Cage main event of All Out 2024. The near-thirty-two-minute match featured a table, chairs, a staple gun, barbed wire, cinderblocks, and other weapons. The finish saw Page rip Strickland's grill from his mouth, jab him in the mouth with a needle, and then smash a chair into his head for the knockout win. The match was a trending topic on social media with significant praise, but seemingly more criticism from fans.
The Realest took to X today to issue a statement on the fan backlash from All Out. Strickland touted the nature of the match and shared a few photos.
"(UN-SANC-TIONED) What did you expect? Go where others won't go," Swerve Strickland wrote with the photos below.
All Out marked the fourth singles bout between Strickland and Page. Swerve defeated Page at WrestleDream 2023, then in a Texas Death Match at Full Gear 2023. They fought to a thirty-minute time limit draw on Dynamite in February, and now Page has secured a win at All Out.
Swerve Strickland AEW status update
Swerve Strickland just took two major losses in a row. He dropped the AEW World Championship to Bryan Danielson in the All In main event, then was defeated by Adam Page in the Lights Out Steel Cage main event of All Out.
Strickland is reportedly taking some time away from the ring now that All Out is over, according to Wrestling Observer Radio. It remains to be seen how long he will be out, but WrestleDream on October 12 is taking place in his hometown of Tacoma, Washington.
Strickland recently signed a new multi-year contract with AEW, which has also brought on significant criticism from some in the wrestling world. AEW officials reportedly knew of his request for time off when the new deal was finalized.