All Elite Wrestling has become no stranger to backstage controversy over the past few years, with stories of disagreements between talent seemingly leaking out at least every few months, but speaking on Barstool's “Wrasslin'” podcast ahead of AEW All In, Swerve Strickland said that the locker room is on good terms and that the stories have been exaggerated.
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“I definitely think everything's been exploited and exaggerated. A lot of things have definitely been exaggerated,” Strickland said. “To me, it all seems perfectly calculated. Right before a pay-per-view, right before a big moment, something always comes up. There's always kind of altercations going on in the locker room. I'm sure that's universal in the workplace.”
The difference, Strickland said, is that in most workplaces, interpersonal dramas aren't posted online for people to gossip about — and the emotions that rage behind the scenes are a result of people being passionate about their jobs, he said.
“I'd rather have people concerned and upset about something than not being concerned at all,” Strickland continued.
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Though he doesn't mind talking about what goes on behind the scenes, Strickland was adamant that what really matters is the product the company delivers for its fans. As long as the company keeps growing, he'll be happy.
Today's AEW All In Zero Hour pre-show featured a notable moment for Strickland as he signed his latest AEW contract live on air. Hours later, Strickland was defeated by Bryan Danielson in the main event of AEW All In, bringing his AEW World Championship reign to an end.