Swerve Strickland Reveals Torn Meniscus Dated Back to 2019, Explains Decision to Undergo Surgery After AEW All In Texas

Swerve Strickland has shed light on the knee surgery he underwent following AEW All In Texas, and the timeline behind the injury is striking — he had been competing on a torn meniscus for roughly six years before finally going under the knife.

In a new interview with Forbes, Strickland opened up about choosing to address the injury at that particular point in his career. Days before the procedure, he had publicly disclosed that the damage to his meniscus originally occurred back in 2019, meaning he pushed through the bulk of his AEW run — including his reign as AEW World Champion — with the issue unresolved.

The decision to finally pursue surgery came in the aftermath of All In Texas, one of AEW’s marquee events of the past year. While the source material doesn’t detail the specific conversations or medical factors that led to that timing, Strickland’s willingness to discuss the injury publicly suggests he’s comfortable being transparent with fans about the physical toll the business takes.

Competing through a torn meniscus for that length of time is no small thing — it’s a load-bearing structure in the knee that affects lateral movement, cutting, and impact absorption, all critical for an in-ring performer at Strickland’s level. That he was able to perform at a championship level throughout that stretch speaks to both his physical conditioning and his tolerance for pain.

Strickland has not yet provided a firm timetable for his return to action, but with the surgery now behind him, the expectation is that he’ll come back healthier than he’s been in years.