Case File No. 54: Swerve Strickland

 

Photo Source: aew.com.

Today, I uncover the file of Swerve Strickland, who is known as "The Most Dangerous Man in AEW," and current Trios Champions with The New Level. He made AEW history, becoming the first "Black" World Champion, and is the third Triple Crown Champion. I highly doubt if his first World Title reign is his last--it shouldn't be, anyway. He's way too talented not to have multiple World Title reigns over the course of time, as well as eventually becoming a Grand Slam Champion.

HT: 6-1 WT: 240

Promotion: AEW

Credentials:

AEW World Champion (1)

AEW Tag Team Champion (1)

AEW Trios Champion (current)

Strengths:

-Well-rounded performer

-Can wrestle any style and in any kind of match

-Exceptional ring awareness

-Very agile and athletic

-Solid mic skills/promos

-Great connection with the audience

Weaknesses:

-His intensity can sometimes cause him to lose focus

Final Analysis:

Swerve is a complete package as a performer. He's exceptional in the ring; he has a combination of power, speed, crazy agility and athleticism, and he can wrestle any kind of match. There's no match that's out of his depth. His mic skills and promos are solid--I think he's one of the best talkers in AEW--and he knows how to connect with the crowd as a face or heel, and he's very good at blurring the lines between the two.

I don't see any glaring weaknesses. There is one thing I noticed, and honestly, I think I'm being nit-picky with this one. While his intensity is one of his strengths, it can also be a weaknesses, and it will cause him to temporarily lose focus sometimes, particularly when it comes to his rivalry with Adam Page.

I heard about Swerve about three years ago, and I finally got a chance to see him in '24, and not many wrestlers nowadays impress me, but I was immediately impressed with what I saw. To me, Swerve is the best wrestler in AEW, and if his character continues to trend in the right direction, and I can definitely see him mentioned in the upper echelon with the others who are considered iconic. 

While I'm no longer an avid watcher of wrestling, Swerve is the reason why I started watching AEW consistently. I don't say this about too many wrestlers nowadays, but he's one of the few I think is undeniable.

Case File No. 53: Bandido

 

Photo Source: threads.com.

Today, I take a look at the "Most Wanted" Bandido, currently in his second reign as Ring of Honor World Champion.

HT: 5-7 WT: 211

Promotion: ROH/AEW

Credentials:

ROH World Champion (2x, current)

AEW Tag Team Champion (1)

AEW Trios Champion (1)

Strengths:

-Well-rounded wrestler

-Stronger than he appears

-Very good ring awareness

-Extremely agile and athletic

-Charismatic

-Strong connection with the fans

Weaknesses:

-Too much celebrating at times

-Not the biggest wrestler

-Mic skills/promos could be better

Final Analysis:

Bandido is a well-rounded wrestler who displays a combination of technical wrestling, strength, high risk moves, striking, and can wrestle hardcore style when he wants to. One of the things that really stands out to me is his strength; he's stronger than he looks. He has very good awareness of where he is in the ring. He has freakish agility and athleticism, and he's a fan favorite.

While his charisma is one of his strong points, the downside to it is he can get carried away with it (i.e., the excessive dancing/celebrating), and it gives his opponents more time to recover. His lack of size can be taken advantage of by bigger wrestlers. Although the crowd engagement makes up for some of it, I think his mic skills and promos could be better.

Bandido is one of the biggest fan favorites in ROH and AEW. In my opinion, he's closest I've seen to Eddie Guerrero in terms of in-ring versatility and charisma. The only differences I see is Eddie also used submission moves when he wanted to--I don't see Bandido use submission moves often--and Eddie was better on the mic. It probably won't be any time soon, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him one day become AEW World Champion.

Case File No. 52: Joe Burrow

 

Photo Source: sporting news.com.

Today, I take a look at Joe Burrow. If he can shake the injuries that has plagued him the last few seasons, I see him as a future league MVP and Super Bowl Champion.

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Position: Quarterback

HT: 6-4 WT: 215

Credentials:

2x Comeback Player of the Year

3x Pro Bowl

Heisman Trophy (2019)

CFP National Champion (2019)

Strengths:

-Great pocket poise

-Exceptional from the pocket

-Respected team leader

-Great arm

-Accurate with very good timing and anticipation

-Enough mobility to make plays with his feet

Weaknesses:

-Extends the play for too long sometimes

-Can have too much confidence in his arm

-Has been dealing with injuries the past few seasons

Final Analysis:

Joe is the unquestioned leader of this team, who has full command of the huddle. He's primarily a pocket passer who has decent mobility. He has exceptional pocket presence, and usually throws with very good accuracy, timing, anticipation, and has the arm to make all the throws. 

I think his ability to extend plays is a strength and a weakness. While it has been helpful at times, he has taken a beating for most of his career, and while the offensive line has been a big part of that, the another part of it is Joe holding the ball or extending the play for too long at times. Like most quarterbacks with great arm strength, there are times where he can be too confident in his arm, and force throws that aren't there, but the other side to that is sometimes he's able to make those throws.

Although he has been dealing with significant injuries the past few seasons, when healthy, Joe is definitely a Top Three quarterback, in my opinion, and the Cincinnati Bengals will go as far as he will take them.

Case File No. 51: Megan Bayne

 

Megan Bayne hoists opponent on her shoulders. Photo Credit: Ricky Havlik.

Today, I uncover the case file of the "Megasus" Megan Bayne, who is one-half of the Divine Dominion, and a future Women's Champion, in my opinion.

HT: 5-11

Promotion: AEW

Credentials:

AEW Women's Tag Team Champion (1)

Strengths:

-Powerhouse with occasional high risk moves

-Imposes her will

-Agile and athletic

-Mic skills/promos are improving

-Improving as a performer overall

Weaknesses:

-Continue to work on selling moves

-Looks languid in her movements at times

-Not the most charismatic

Final Analysis:

Megan is a primarily a powerhouse who occasionally takes high risk moves. She imposes her will and dominates most opponents. She's agile and athletic for her size. Her mic skills and promos aren't great, but I think she's better in this area than some may think. She's not charismatic on the mic; she's very, very thorough when she speaks, but if one pays attention to what she's saying, her delivery is actually not bad.

Her selling of moves is getting better, but I think it's still an area that needs improving. It's not as bad as it was when I first saw her, but she still looks languid in her movements at times. I think her lack of charisma makes some find her boring, but the Catch-22 in this case is I think her personality of a dominating figure (versus a flamboyant one) suits her better.

Megan has made her imposing presence felt since arriving in AEW. Aside from a few things she needs to touch up on, I think she's a future Women's Champion. Actually, I thought she would've won the belt by now.

Case File No. 50: Maya World

 

Photo Source: wrestlinginc.com.

It has been three years since I started my Eye for Talent page, and I didn't even realize it until I went back and looked at my very first post recently. Not only that, this post marks the 50th athlete I've covered since starting this page, and looking at what she's accomplished lately, I think it's fitting that I take a look at the file of TBS Champion, Maya World.

HT: 5-4

Promotion: AEW/ROH

Credentials:

AEW TBS Champion 

Strengths:

-Vastly improving

-Adaptable

-Jack-of-all-trades, for the most part

-Has good crowd engagement

Weaknesses:

-Undersized

-Sometimes lacks hustle in her movements

Final Analysis:

Maya is vastly improving as a performer overall. She still have a ways to go, but it looks like she's getting better every match. Seeing how she has handled recent adversity shows me that she can adapt to any situation, and I won't disclose it here, most people would've understood if she decided to take time off, but she chose to use it as a source of motivation.

She's a jack-of-all-trades, for the most part, in terms of her wrestling style. I see some brawling and striking, some high risk moves, along with some throws. I haven't seen her use submission moves very often. She gets a good reaction from the crowd when she appears and performs.

She's undersized--I saw a website that have her listed at 5-4, but she looks a little shorter than that--which can be an issue when facing bigger opponents, and she sometimes lacks hustle when moving in the ring. I understand one shouldn't go full throttle from start to finish, that's not what I'm saying, but she has moments where she looks as if she's going on a casual stroll when moving around in the ring. From what I've heard of her promos, she's okay, but I would like to hear her talk more to get a more thorough evaluation.

Maya has come a long way since I first saw her in the Indies and developmental promotions a couple of years ago. I can tell Athena has been working with her. She just needs to continue to get more experience in the ring and on the mic. Although Mercedes Moné is her biggest inspiration for becoming a wrestler, I'm starting to see shades of Trish Stratus when I watch her in the ring, except Maya is slightly more athletic.

Case File No. 49: Derik Queen

 

Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images.

Today, I look into the file of Pelicans center/power forward Derik Queen. After getting off to a slow start, at one point in  the season, he looked like a Rookie of the Year candidate until his benching a few months before the end of the season, but looked strong again before the season ended.

Team: New Orleans Pelicans

Position: Center/Power Forward

HT: 6-9 WT: 250

Credentials:

First-team All- Big 10 (2025)

Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2025)

Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2025)

NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2026)

Strengths:

-Good ball handler

-Deceptive when moving with the ball

-Very good passer with good court vision

-Can score in multiple ways

-Has range on his jump shot

-Good rebounder

-Versatile player offensively who fills up a stat sheet

Weaknesses:

-Languid movement, especially on defense

-Looks uninterested and lackadaisical at times

-Show more hustle  defensively

-Undersized center

Final Analysis:

For the most part, Derik had a promising rookie season. He's versatile as a scorer; he can score from the inside and outside, and attacking the basket. He handles the ball well for a big man, and he's a very good passer with timing and anticipation with good court vision.

He has a deceptive way of moving with the ball. In other words, when you look at him, he doesn't look like the type that will get by you, it looks easy to keep him in front of you, but if you blink, the next you know, he's going to the rim to score. He usually filled up the stat sheet across the board when given minutes.

He looks uninterested and lackadaisical at times, especially on the defensive end. There were times where he didn't hustle consistently, and looked as if he was just going through the motions. Although he will get a block or two occasionally--he averaged a shade under a block per game this season--he's not an intimidating shot blocker. From my understanding, this is what led to his benching later in the season. 

Derik's play has drawn comparisons to Nikola Jokic; he has admitted that Nikola is one of the players that he patterns his game after. I can see why those comparisons would be made in terms of being a good ball handler and passer for his position, his versatility as a scorer, and his subtle way of moving with the ball, but he reminds me more of (his team mate) Zion Williamson with more range, but not as explosive. 

Speaking of which, with he and Zion both being undersized, this can cause matchup problems on the defensive end. I think he would better off either as a power forward alongside a better center or as a center alongside a bigger (i.e. taller) power forward.

I also keep in mind that this was his rookie year, so there were going to be some growing pains, but overall, I think he has tons of upside. I definitely see All-NBA potential if he continues to develop and clean up a few things.

Case File No. 48: Mike Santana

 

Photo Source: aol.com.

Today, I uncover the case file of TNA wrestler Mike Santana. He's currently the TNA World Champion in his second reign.

HT: 5-11 WT: 230

Promotion: TNA

Credentials:

TNA World Champion (2x, current)

TNA Tag Team Champion (4x)

Strengths:

-Versatile in-ring performer

-Combination of speed, power, and agility

-Has fan/crowd engagement

-Has some charisma/personality

Weaknesses:

-Too much street life rhetoric on the mic/promos

-Has his moments on the mic, but overall, it could be better

Final Analysis:

Overall, Mike is nearly a complete package. In the ring, he shows a combination of speed, power, grappling, brawling, and high flying ability. He has some charisma and personality; it's not larger-than-life, and it doesn't have to be. What he does works for him. He's a draw with the fans; he has their engagement whether as a face or heel.

He have his moments on the mic, but overall, I'm not a fan of his mic skills. I think he peddles the street life narrative too much in his promos, however, that type of gimmick typically gets over with most fans, so, it is what it is, as that saying goes.

Mike has found a home in TNA, where he has transitioned from a tag team wrestler to main event status, becoming currently on their best wrestlers on the roster. He reminds me of a younger Eddie Kingston, except Mike is faster and more athletic, and I think Eddie is better on the mic. They have a similar wrestling style, and they both do too much with the street life/depression rhetoric. I'm not sure if that's what Mike was going for, but he reminds me a lot of Kingston.