"I Knew It Would Make People Uneasy": Swerve Strickland Speaks Out On Needle Spot In AEW Match

AEW star Swerve Strickland has discussed his divisive steel cage match against Adam Page at All Out 2024, which went viral online after he was stabbed with a hypodermic needle.

Just under a year from their violent Texas Death Match at Full Gear 2023, the two former World Champions met once more in a cage match that was not sanctioned by AEW. Given their violent past and what they were both capable of, fans expected violence, a lot of bloodshed and some graphic spots. However, few expected that both men would go as far as they did, even by AEW’s standards.

On top of barbed wire and a cinder block being used, the uncomfortable closing sequence began when Page pulled a needle from his boot and stabbed Strickland through the cheek in a spot that is very rarely used in American wrestling, especially when it is televised. With many people having a fear of needles, the mission to make fans feel a certain way about the match was certainly accomplished.

When asked about the spot by Chris Van Vliet, Strickland spoke about being stabbed by Page, and that it was designed to shock people:

“It was just something that I don’t think has been seen on American soil, television-wise, in a major promotion like that in a while, because it’s something that’s like, why would you do that? Why would anybody do that? Good, that’s why I’m doing it.”

It was then brought up that a lot of people are scared of just the sight of a needle, which Strickland responded that was again by design:

“That’s the point. If you’re sitting at home, you’re already getting uneasy, which we have so many little, small things that make people uneasy. I knew a syringe would make people feel uneasy. [It went through your cheek] Yeah, all the way through. I think I still have the needle.”

Swerve Strickland Responds To Backlash Of Needle Spot

Unsurprisingly, the reaction to the graphic spot was talked about online one way or another, with some praising the shock factor while others condemned it for being unsafe and too far. Addressing the criticism, Strickland said that fans were talking about it either way, and that he and Page had taken it so far that they neded to push things over the edge:

“[People said] “That’s dumb.” “Why would you do that?” Well you’re talking about it, it’s the moment, and I wouldn’t do that with anybody else. Right there, unsanctioned cage with Hangman, like, somebody that, like, I was just already depleted because I got power bombed on a cinder block right before that. So I’m like, it’s just punishment. We’ve already took it so far. He already burned down my house. Where else further do you go with someone that you hate? And it was just like he hates me that much to just do something like that. That came out of his boot, he had that. So that was something he just wanted to just punish me with.”

The needle stabbing was not the end of the match, though, as the final shot saw Page blast Strickland in the head with a chair, forcing the referee to bring the carnage to an end. Comparing it to the climax of a movie, Strickland stated that it was similar to a movie villain receiving their comeuppance with a final shot:

“It felt like I got punched in the head from two fists. It was like from two different sides of the skull. Honestly, it was very John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, end of a movie, pow, you’re dead. It’s just as simple as that, there’s nobody coming to help you. We’re off in the middle of nowhere. You’ve gone so far as doing bad things. From doing bad things to earn the success. It’s going to catch up to you, and that’s what happened to my character. I’ve done all these bad things, invaded people’s homes, kidnapped people, beaten an 18-year-old kid up to a bloody pulp in this ring where his dad passed away, done horrible things, just despicable things, all for my own glory and all my own success. I did it for selfish reasons. I made history but it was ultimately for the wrong things. It’s like the character at the end of a movie, a drug movie, you’re doing horrible things to make it to the empire. We’re rooting for you because deep down, we understand why you’re doing it, but ultimately, you’re ruining the community. You’re hurting people, innocent people. There are people that are getting hurt from the things that you’re doing that you don’t even know about. So there’s all these residual effects from what you’re doing as well. Dude, it’s just so much bad karma. It’s got to come back to you. And that’s basically what it was.”