Swerve Strickland is set to undergo surgery for a torn meniscus this Wednesday, August 27th. The procedure addresses an injury that has been a long-standing issue for the former champion.
The surgery follows Strickland’s AEW Unified Championship match against Kazuchika Okada at Forbidden Door, where a post-match attack provided a storyline reason for his upcoming hiatus. After defeating Strickland, Okada trapped his knee between the ring post and steel steps before striking it with a chair.
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While the on-screen assault wrote Strickland off television, it targeted a legitimate torn meniscus that he has been dealing with since 2019. The injury originally occurred during his time training at the WWE Performance Center and was reportedly aggravated by his demanding in-ring style after never fully healing.
AEW had recently incorporated the injury into its programming, with commentary on the August 13th episode of Dynamite noting his knee issues. Behind the scenes, the company utilized the medical staff of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars to manage the condition in an effort to avoid surgery. When those measures proved insufficient, internal discussions shifted to planning for his extended absence, with reports indicating he could be sidelined for several months.
The post-match segment at Forbidden Door also featured the return of Wardlow, who aligned himself with Okada and The Don Callis Family after the assault on Strickland. On Monday morning, Strickland alluded to a potential character shift upon his return, posting a message on social media that read, “It was time to start gatekeeping wrestling again.”
READ MORE: Former AEW Champion Could Be Close To Returning After Long Absence
