Swerve Strickland has sparked speculation about his potential return to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) ahead of the Full Gear 2025 event. The former World Champion recently shared a photo on social media referencing his brutal Texas Death Match against Hangman Page at Full Gear 2023. This matchup was part of a intense rivalry between the two wrestlers that began in late 2023 and involved a series of personal and violent confrontations.
Their feud started with a singles match at WrestleDream, where Strickland emerged victorious. However, things took a dark turn when Strickland broke into Page’s house and stood over his son’s crib to deliver an ominous promo. The rivalry culminated in the aforementioned Texas Death Match at Full Gear 2023, which Strickland won after Hangman Page passed out due to being hung with a steel chain.
Currently, Hangman Page is the AEW Men’s World Champion and is scheduled to defend his title against Samoa Joe in a Steel Cage match at Full Gear 2025. Ahead of the event, Strickland posted a photograph from his 2023 match against Page on social media, captioning it “Full Gear.” This has led to speculation that Strickland may be planning to return to AEW at the upcoming pay-per-view event.
Strickland has been recovering from a torn meniscus, which required surgery in August. His last appearance in AEW was at Forbidden Door 2025, where he faced Kazuchika Okada for the AEW Unified Championship but was unsuccessful in his attempt to win the title. After the match, Okada launched a post-match attack on Strickland, targeting his injured leg. The incident also saw the return of Wardlow, who attacked Strickland’s manager, Prince Nana.
It remains to be seen whether Strickland will make his AEW comeback at Full Gear 2025. The event is expected to be closely watched, given the current dynamics in the wrestling world and the potential for Strickland’s return to shake things up. With Hangman Page set to defend his title against Samoa Joe, the addition of Strickland to the mix could add an extra layer of complexity to the storyline.