The sudden passing of AEW star Pac is something that fans, wrestlers, and everyone in between are still attempting to come to terms with. Everyone grieves in their own way and at different speeds, but for those in the AEW locker room like Swerve Strickland, moving forward after such a devastating loss can be extremely difficult.Strickland was asked how he has been holding up during a recent interview on "The Takedown on Sports Illustrated," and the current AEW World Trios Champion revealed that what's been helping him and some others around him has been something as simple as being open and honest about his emotions."How I was dealing with it was just like communicating, not staying quiet about it you know?" Strickland said. "I don't mean like talking on social media, [I mean] talking with your people, your peers, your friends and everything. Opening up, let them know how you're feeling about those things, about like what you're feeling internally you know? Open up, express those things, let it out with your friends."Strickland said that he heard about the news through Darby Allin who called him to confirm Pac's passing, which led to Strickland immediately calling both his and Pac's good friend Ricochet to make sure he had someone to open up to. Strickland wasn't the only person making phone calls in the immediate aftermath of Pac's death as communication has been one of the things that has helped the AEW locker room through this difficult period. "I think that was probably the most important and more powerful thing that us as a locker room in AEW did with one another."Everyone in AEW honored Pac's career and life with a special tribute episode of "AEW Dynamite" on September 30, with Strickland providing a personal tribute to Pac during the broadcast. He and The New Level also laid their AEW World Trios Championships on the mat with one of Pac's signature towels over them in honor of the late Englishman spending more time with the trios titles than anyone in AEW history.
For as much sadness and sorrow that comes with the passing of someone as beloved as Pac, there is something therapeutic about sharing fun stories and anecdotes to keep ones memory alive and celebrate their life. That's what many people have done with Pac since his death, including Swerve Strickland, who stated that the one memory that he always goes back to when he wants to think of a happy time with Pac was actually the first time he met him."I wouldn't even say I met him, I was just like amazed by him,"Strickland said. "2011, it was like the Dragon Gate USA double header with CZW in the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, and it was Pac versus Brodie Lee, and it's so surreal and like almost eerie to know that they're both not here with us anymore. But that was the first time like I seen like that style of wrestling."Strickland went on to congratulate both men on such an amazing match, but it wasn't until years later when he crossed paths with Brodie Lee again, this time at the WWE Performance Center, where he found out that Lee's match with Pac was the one that got Lee signed with WWE. As for Pac, Strickland would always remind him of that bout and how much it meant to him whenever he got the chance. "I always told Pac about that match. I was like 'Yo man, that match was like...it blew my mind at the time,' and he's like 'Oh really? Thank you brother, thank you man, appreciate it.'"Strickland rounded off by saying that the last time he shared the ring with Pac was in the Trios Roulette Royal at AEW All In London 2026, and that he will always hold that moment close to him going forward.Please credit "The Takedown on Sports Illustrated" when using quotes from this article, and give a H/Tto Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
