Swerve Strickland disappeared from AEW television for over a month following his loss to Kenny Omega earlier this year — and now he’s finally revealing what was keeping him away from Dynamite.
Strickland eventually returned during the April 29, 2026 edition of AEW Dynamite in a video package centered around the return of Bandido. The segment quickly shifted focus once Strickland appeared holding a lighter before burning a “Most Wanted” poster featuring Bandido’s face, making it crystal clear that the returning luchador had instantly become his next target.
Now, fans know what Swerve was actually doing during his television absence. While speaking to Inside the Ring, Strickland revealed he spent part of his hiatus filming promotional material connected to DC Comics and Warner Bros. According to Swerve, his real-life fandom for DC eventually helped open the door for the opportunity itself.
“Yeah, I was just filming some promotional stuff for DC, Warner Bros., which is crazy because I kind of got inserted into the DC universe in a sense because of my fandom for it.”
Strickland then explained how AEW’s earlier DC crossover collaboration ended up pairing him specifically with Green Lantern — something he says made perfect sense because of their shared military backgrounds.
“When we did the DC comic collaboration, they paired me up with Green Lantern—we have a military background, so I’m like, oh, that works.”
Swerve later confirmed that the DC-related work wasn’t the only thing occupying his schedule while away from AEW television. According to him, he was also handling music-related projects and appearances surrounding the NFL Draft as well.
“So that’s what I was doing, basically, and some other music things. I also did the NFL Draft as well.”
This adds more context to Strickland’s absence after fans spent weeks wondering why one of AEW’s top stars suddenly vanished following the Kenny Omega loss. Instead of quietly sitting at home during the break, Swerve was clearly expanding his mainstream profile outside wrestling while still preparing for his eventual AEW return.
Bottom line — Swerve Strickland didn’t spend his AEW hiatus disappearing from the spotlight. Between DC and Warner Bros. projects, music work, and NFL Draft appearances, he was building his profile outside wrestling while waiting to make his return. And now that he’s back on Dynamite, it already looks like Bandido is next on his list.
What do you think about Swerve Strickland getting involved with DC and Warner Bros. during his AEW hiatus? Drop your thoughts below and let us know.
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