A former two-time AEW champion has caught attention ahead of this week’s Dynamite by dropping a major CM Punk reference.

The star in question is none other than Swerve Strickland. A former AEW World Champion and Tag Team Champion, Strickland has established himself as one of the top stars in All Elite Wrestling since joining the promotion in 2022. The Mogul has been trying to win back the World Championship, and while his efforts haven’t yet earned him a title shot, they have led to a rivalry with Kenny Omega. Last month, Strickland faced The Cleaner in a singles match for the first time and defeated him, after which he turned heel by viciously attacking him.

Meanwhile, the New Flavor has not forgotten his World Title ambitions and hinted at them by posting a collage of past champions on his Instagram Stories just hours ahead of this week’s Dynamite. Interestingly, he included WWE superstar and current World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk in the collage. The Second City Saint had held AEW’s top prize a few times in 2022, back when he was with Tony Khan’s promotion.

Check out the Mogul’s Instagram Story below:

AEW star Swerve Strickland recently clapped back at major fan claim against him

On the Feb 18 edition of Dynamite, Swerve Strickland defeated Kenny Omega in singles action and assaulted him after, turning heel in the process. The following week on the flagship show, the Mogul addressed the crowd, explained his actions, and declared himself the most dangerous man in Tony Khan’s promotion. This didn’t sit well with a fan who spoke out on X and doubted the Mogul’s claims. The post caught Strickland’s attention, and he asked the fan to come see him so he could prove it.

“Come see me then… I can show you,” Strickland wrote on X

It will be interesting to see what Tony Khan has planned next for the New Flavor as All Elite Wrestling approaches its next major pay-per-view, Revolution 2026.