Swerve Strickland has spent enough time around the AEW World Championship scene to recognize what it takes to carry the promotion’s top prize. A former titleholder himself, Strickland has been positioned among the central figures of AEW’s men’s roster for much of his run, evolving from his early alliance with Keith Lee into one of the company’s most prominent singles performers.
That perspective made his recent discussion about possible future AEW World Champions especially notable. Asked to identify talent he believed could eventually hold the company’s premier championship, Strickland first reflected on an answer that had come to him immediately only a few months earlier: PAC.
“I had this question. A couple of months ago. I was talking to a friend and it was PAC honestly. And at the time that was like my go to answer. Instantly.”
Strickland’s comments carry added emotional weight in light of PAC’s passing. PAC had long been regarded as one of the most accomplished and versatile performers in AEW, with a reputation built on high-level singles matches, championship success in other divisions, and an intensity that consistently made him feel like a credible threat against any opponent. While the AEW World Championship was not part of his resume, Strickland’s immediate selection illustrates how highly he viewed PAC’s ceiling within the company.
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The former champion did not stop with PAC. Strickland named a group of current male roster members he believes could one day reach AEW’s mountaintop: Andrade, Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher and Ricochet. He also singled out Megan Bayne on the women’s side, making clear that he sees her as an especially straightforward future championship-level talent.
“Andrade. I think we have a couple now which is good. We have Andrade. Kevin Knight. Kyle Fletcher. And I think Ricochet honestly. And on the women’s side I’ll say Megan Bayne. Easily. Yeah for sure.”
Strickland’s list reflects AEW’s depth at the top of the card
There is no shortage of established names around the AEW World Championship picture, but Strickland’s choices point to a wider conversation about the promotion’s next wave of potential headliners. Each name he raised brings a different profile, in-ring identity and path toward the main-event level.
Andrade has the kind of experience and presence that make him an obvious contender in a discussion of prospective world champions. His ability to work a physical, polished singles style and project confidence gives him a natural fit in high-profile programs. Strickland’s mention of Andrade also reflects the importance of performers who can move immediately into major matches without needing their credibility built from the ground up.
Kevin Knight represents a different kind of possibility. His athleticism and speed have made him stand out, and Strickland’s inclusion of him suggests that he sees more than just spectacular movement in Knight’s future. A world champion must be able to command attention in defining moments, withstand pressure in major matches and continue developing a connection with the audience. Strickland’s answer indicates that he believes Knight has the potential to grow into that complete role.
Kyle Fletcher has similarly become a name associated with upward momentum. The demands of AEW’s singles environment are considerable, particularly for a performer trying to break through a roster filled with proven main-event talent. Fletcher’s place on Strickland’s list is a significant vote of confidence, because it places him in a group that includes both veteran-level performers and athletes with enormous upside.
Ricochet was another name that came quickly to Strickland’s mind. His inclusion is notable because Ricochet’s reputation as a performer has long rested on his explosive athleticism and ability to deliver memorable moments under pressure. Strickland’s assessment, however, was not limited to what Ricochet can do bell to bell. By identifying him as a potential AEW World Champion, Strickland placed him in the conversation of wrestlers capable of leading the company’s biggest programs.
Megan Bayne earns an emphatic endorsement
When the conversation shifted to the women’s division, Strickland’s answer was Megan Bayne, and he delivered it with no hesitation. “Easily” and “for sure” made the strength of his endorsement unmistakable.
While the AEW World Championship discussion centers on the men’s title, Strickland’s decision to include Bayne underscores the broader point behind the question: AEW has talent across its roster that can develop into the faces of their respective divisions. Bayne’s name stood apart because Strickland did not present it as one possibility among several. Instead, he identified her as the clear choice from the women’s side.
That type of endorsement matters coming from a former world champion. Strickland understands the scrutiny that comes with being positioned as a leading star. Championship-level expectations are not only about producing in-ring performances. They also involve carrying major promotional segments, sustaining rivalries, handling the spotlight and making audiences believe that the stakes of a match are as important as the company says they are.
None of Strickland’s selections guarantee a title reign, of course. AEW’s championship direction can change quickly, and the route to the top is rarely straightforward. Injuries, rivalries, alliances, tournament opportunities and the emergence of other contenders can reshape the title picture at any point. Still, his comments offer a clear glimpse into how one of AEW’s former top champions views the talent around him.
PAC remains the answer that came first
Even with a list that included Andrade, Knight, Fletcher, Ricochet and Bayne, PAC remained the centerpiece of Strickland’s response. He described PAC as his automatic answer when the subject came up months earlier, before moving on to the names he sees as future champions today.
The sentiment speaks to PAC’s standing among his peers. In a company with an exceptionally deep pool of wrestlers, being a colleague’s instinctive choice for a future world champion is meaningful. It suggests that Strickland saw PAC as someone who possessed the in-ring capability, intensity and overall credibility needed to stand at the very center of AEW.
For Strickland, the conversation was not simply about predicting who may win gold. It was also an acknowledgment of the standards required to be considered for that level. His list included performers at different stages of their AEW journeys, but the common thread was the belief that they could become defining figures when the opportunity arrives.
Full Gear Texas Deathmatch awaits Strickland
Strickland’s comments come as he prepares for a major confrontation at AEW Full Gear. Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Strickland and The New Level will face Hangman Page and Brodido in a Texas Deathmatch.
The stipulation ensures that the issue will be settled under one of wrestling’s most punishing formats. Texas Deathmatches are built around endurance, brutality and the willingness to keep fighting beyond the point where a conventional match would be over. With Strickland sharing a side with The New Level and Page joining Brodido, the Full Gear bout is positioned as a significant chapter in the conflict.
Strickland has never been a stranger to high-stakes environments, whether competing in championship matches or navigating deeply personal rivalries. Full Gear now presents another opportunity for him to make an impact, this time in a setting where resilience may matter as much as strategy.
As AEW moves forward, the world title scene will continue to invite debate over who is next in line to become a defining champion. Strickland has offered his own assessment, honoring PAC as the name that immediately came to mind while identifying Andrade, Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Ricochet and Megan Bayne as talents he believes have championship futures. Before any of those possibilities unfold, however, Strickland’s immediate focus is clear: surviving a Texas Deathmatch at Full Gear.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.