Swerve Strickland made his long-awaited return to the ring on May 15, and he did it in a way that immediately shifted attention toward his upcoming clash with Bandido. The moment came right after Bandido successfully defended the ROH World Championship against Blake Christian at Supercard of Honor.
As Bandido celebrated his victory, the situation quickly changed. Strickland appeared from behind and launched a sudden attack, catching the champion off guard. He dropped Bandido with a House Call, then followed it up with another for emphasis. The assault did not stop there. Strickland brought a chair into the ring, set it up, and delivered a devastating vertebreaker onto it, leaving Bandido laid out.
This marked Strickland’s first in-ring appearance in months. His last match took place in March on AEW Dynamite, where he came up short against Kenny Omega. That loss played a role in shaping the AEW World Championship picture, as Omega used the victory to secure a title opportunity against MJF at Dynasty.
In the weeks leading up to this return, AEW had been airing vignette segments focused on Strickland. These clips presented him causing chaos in a setting inspired by Bandido’s Old West persona, building tension between the two without direct physical contact. That build now has a clear payoff.
It has already been confirmed that Strickland and Bandido will meet at AEW Double or Nothing. Their match will take place in the opening round of the Men’s Owen Hart Cup tournament, adding stakes beyond personal rivalry.
While both have crossed paths in AEW before, they have rarely shared the ring. Their only AEW match together came in 2023 during the 21-Man Blackjack Battle Royal for the International Championship, which was won by Orange Cassidy. Outside of AEW, they have competed on opposite sides in tag matches, but their only singles encounter dates back to 2018, when Strickland defeated Bandido at an OTT event in Dublin.
Now, with momentum and intensity on his side, Strickland has made it clear that he is not returning quietly. His actions have set the tone for what could be one of the most talked-about matches in the Owen Hart Cup tournament.
Swerve Strickland Returns and Attacks Bandido at ROH Supercard of Honor