Former WWE star to show up at AEW Full Gear 2025 and cost Samoa Joe? Exploring the possibility

Samoa Joe is set for a hellicious showdown at AEW Full Gear 2025 with high-stakes implications. However, a former WWE superstar might return and side with his foe, costing Joe a huge opportunity.

The aforementioned star, a former World Champion, is Swerve Strickland. He has been out of action with a torn meniscus and was last seen at Forbidden Door 2025 pay-per-view, where he failed to dethrone Kazuchika Okada for the Unified title.

A recent report stated that Swerve Strickland is expected to return to the Jacksonville-based promotion soon. Should that be true, there is a possibility that Tony Khan and his regime might plan it for their Full Gear 2025 pay-per-view to make it memorable. At the same event, Samoa Joe is set to challenge 'Hangman' Adam Page for his AEW World Championship inside a Steel Cage.

Moreover, it is expected that Joe's Opps members, Katsuyori Shibata and Powerhouse Hobbs, will interfere in the match despite the confines of the steel structure. This could see Strickland return during the match and neutralize the threat of The Opps, allowing The Hangman to retain his title against Joe, much like he did at the WrestleDream 2025 pay-per-view.

Tony Khan spoke about Swerve Strickland's return to AEW

AEW President and CEO Tony Khan provided an update on Swerve Strickland's return to the company. He said that Strickland's road to recovery was on a good pace and he would return sooner rather than later.

"With Swerve [Strickland], it’s a shorter timetable. I can’t say exactly when because I’m not a doctor and I don’t want to put words in his mouth, but based on the conversations I’ve had, even today, I think he’s on a good pace and Swerve [will be back] sooner rather than later," Khan said. [H/T - Newsweek]

Should the Mogul be medically cleared by Full Gear 2025, it would be a memorable sight to witness his resurgence back to All Elite Wrestling.

Edited by N.S Walia