Matt Hardy makes bold prediction for AEW Revolution

Swerve Strickland will compete for the AEW World Championship on Sunday. He faces reigning champion Samoa Joe and fellow challenger 'Hangman' Adam Page in a triple threat match. 

During a recent episode of his "The Extreme Life Of" podcast, veteran wrestler Matt Hardy explained why it is time for Strickland to be crowned champion.

H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

“I’m gonna have to say, I think it’s time to pull the trigger on Swerve," Hardy said. "That is what I would say. Is that what’s gonna happen? I don’t know. There’s no spoilers, I don’t know. I am not in the loop. I haven’t been around TV, I haven’t talked to anybody. I don’t want to know. I would rather be genuinely surprised. As I said before, I think it’s Swerve. I just think it’s the right time. I think if they’re gonna pull the trigger on Swerve, I think now’s the time to do it."

Strickland has rapidly become a fan favorite in AEW. The long-running storyline with Page has been one of the hottest topics within the fanbase. Strickland has become fun to cheer for. His abrasive style and arrogant charisma have seen him become a face of the company. 

If Tony Khan aims to keep building Strickland's stock, positioning him as champion is wise. It would guarantee additional TV time. It would ensure he's showing up on both flagship shows, Dynamite and Collision. And it would open the door to exploring a new set of storylines. AEW may prefer being a sports-based production, but having compelling stories is a significant part of a legitimate growth strategy. 

Strickland has been building up to this opportunity. AEW has positioned him to be a champion. Now, they need to execute one of their better stories. Otherwise, they could face backlash in the coming days, especially if the match is viewed as a letdown.