Within the 2010s, independent wrestling experienced a boom period, fueled by a wave of performers who labored to create strong fanbases outside of WWE. The argument can easily be made that this directly led to the creation of AEW in 2019. In line with AEW’s Swerve Strickland, who was undeniably an element of that wave of talent, the indie scene has taken successful since then.
“The perfect wrestling you were seeing [wasn’t] in stadiums – they were in these little clubs,” Strickland said on 92.3 LA’s “The Cruz Show.” “Since it was all us at the identical time and we were all rock stars in that era. Ricochet was like – ‘Oh, he’s on the cardboard? I’ll this indie show. And it’s 50 bucks, across the corner.’ That type of is dying now – that indie star.”
Strickland also named Bryan Danielson, Kenny Omega, Penta, the Young Bucks, and several other others as examples of the variety of star he was talking about. Danielson helped put Ring of Honor on the map within the 2000s before signing with WWE and becoming Daniel Bryan within the early a part of the 2010s, while Omega, the Bucks, and Penta followed in Danielson’s wake. All would eventually find yourself in AEW, though Penta has now joined WWE and Danielson has retired.
As for Matt and Nick Jackson, Strickland noted that the Young Bucks were selling merchandise in Hot Topic stores at malls across america, all while working as independent wrestlers. Strickland doesn’t think that would occur again in the present wrestling climate.
“You possibly can make a six-figure salary on the independents,” Strickland continued. “There [were] only a few that would do it, nevertheless it could possibly be done.”
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