AEW Dynasty 2024: 10 Nightmares That Could Come True

5. Samoa Joe Crushes Swerve Strickland

AEW Dynasty Tony Khan CM Punk
AEW

Nobody wants to see an emotional Swerve Strickland on Dynamite next week, at least not for the wrong reasons. If Swerve shows up as pictured above and cuts an heartfelt promo about failing to capture the AEW World Title, then it’s a long road back. Things would be even worse if Samoa Joe is booked to run straight over the top of Strickland in short order.

Look, this World Title match isn’t Dynasty’s priority. Joe is a placeholder as champ, and everyone knows it. If top brass aren’t ready to take the belt from him this weekend, then he’ll start to chip away at a potential headliner’s credibility. It’s vital that Swerve gets to look like the man against Joe, because he’s the future.

AEW would be committing creative suicide by trying to copy what WWE did with Cody Rhodes between WrestleManias 39 and 40. Those were unique circumstances, and it’s fair to say Swerve putting on the puppy dog eyes after failing to seize his moment won’t carry as much weight.

Again, the company must be careful here.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.