AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland teases official sneaker release

Over the weekend, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) hosted AEW Dynasty, a new addition to their growing Pay-per-view schedule. The event occurred live in St. Louis, with a hot and rowdy crowd in attendance for the entire show. The night was filled with history-making moments in the wrestling world, but none quite matched the significance of the company successfully crowning their first-ever African-American World Champion in fan-favorite Swerve Strickland.

In the company's 5-year history, they have crowned only 8 World Champions, including top names in the industry such as Chris Jericho, CM Punk, and Kenny Omega. With Swerve joining this illustrious group, fans are eagerly anticipating what he and the company have planned for his reign. Alongside his championship duties, Swerve appears to be expanding into other ventures within the wrestling realm.

Swerve officially signed with AEW in March 2022 after a brief stint in WWE's NXT developmental brand and a short run on the main roster as part of SmackDown. Fans have observed a significant change in the level of talent presented in AEW and the current World Champion. Strickland has always been recognized for his work rate and potential to become a top star in the industry. His recent increase in size and storytelling in feuds with rivals like Hangman Adam Page and former champion Samoa Joe has shown he is evolving to the next level. Since joining AEW, Strickland has set his sights on becoming the first Black World Champion, a goal he truly deserves, paving the way and setting an example for his peers.

Swerve Strickland's championship win is a result of his hard work coming full-circle.

As Strickland continues gaining recognition for his wrestling ring performances, he has also been focused on reaching a wider audience to promote the brand. In addition to participating in news station interviews and throwing out the first pitch at baseball games, Swerve has ventured into the world of podcasting and music in his personal life. Recently, at the AEW Dynasty media scrum, it was announced that the champion has expanded into the footwear market, unveiling his "Pressure 1s" during his championship match against Samoa Joe and presenting them as a gift to All Elite Wrestling CEO and GM Tony Khan.

Looking to feature a black high top style with white detailing and a green sole on the bottom, the Pressure 1s by Swerve have the potential to be a hit among both wrestling fans and casual sneakerheads. In presenting the shoes, Swerve thanked their collaborators, citing the team that has previously created shoes for high-profile athletes such as LeBron James, Jay Z, Odell Beckham Jr., and Steph Curry. Swerve also took his time at the post-PPV scrum to shout out his friend, WWE Superstar Kofi Kingston, who himself won the WWE World Title at the WrestleMania 35 event in 2019.

The new sneakers from Swerve do not have a set release date or price point yet. However, as they are fully produced by Swerve, Under the Laces will make sure to keep fans informed and be the first to announce their release date.