AEW Wrestler Swerve Strickland Draws Parallels Between Wrestling and Music

Swerve Strickland has not limited himself to the wrestling ring; he is also building a name in the music industry. Performing under the moniker "Sw3rve The Realest", he has released two albums so far: "You Couldn't Be Me" in 2023 and "Motion Sickness" in 2024.

As one of the standout talents in AEW, Strickland finds parallels between wrestling and music that fuel his passion for both fields. Speaking on "Insight with Chris Van Vliet", he stated, The world is an oyster at this point. I want my music on the freaking Time's Square building, you know what I mean? Advertised and stuff like that. I want to compete with billboards.

When asked whether wrestling or music takes precedence in his career, Strickland responded, I feel like they're one and the same now. I've done so much with wrestling that kind of got me in the door with music in a lot of different ways.

Addressing critics, he admitted that he still has room to grow, but that this motivates him to push further. I like the fact that I don't know everything. I chase the fact that I don't know everything. I chase the fact that I haven't achieved everything, because that's the chase!

Strickland elaborated on how his approach connects both crafts, saying that he often discovers techniques that work across wrestling and music. He emphasized that timing and rhythm are essential in both, from footwork in the ring to musical beats.

For quotes from this interview, credit "Insight with Chris Van Vliet" with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Analysis: Swerve Strickland’s Dual Career Momentum

Swerve Strickland is not only a rising star in AEW but is steadily carving out a space in the music industry under the name "Sw3rve The Realest". With two albums released—"You Couldn't Be Me" in 2023 and "Motion Sickness" in 2024—he is positioning himself as a multi-disciplinary performer.

Strickland draws clear parallels between wrestling and music, citing timing, rhythm, and performance as overlapping skills. He has expressed ambitions to expand his music’s visibility through high-profile promotion, such as billboards in Times Square, signaling a strategic approach to building his brand.

He treats both careers as interconnected, acknowledging that wrestling opened doors for his music while also motivating him to continue learning and growing. Strickland’s focus on the "chase" of improvement reflects a deliberate mindset that fuels both his in-ring and musical pursuits.

Ultimately, his career trajectory demonstrates that athletes can successfully leverage their platform to diversify into other creative fields while maintaining authenticity in both arenas.

Sources:

• AEW's Swerve Strickland Compares Wrestling To Music