Swerve Strickland wasn’t happy about losing his championship at AEW WrestleDream on October 17, 2026, and he made sure everyone knew it. After dropping the AEW World Trios Championships to Hangman Adam Page and Brodido, Strickland refused to hand over the title belt and instead dropped it onto the ring canvas before walking away.
The incident happened after Strickland and The New Level, consisting of Austin Creed and Kofi, lost their AEW World Trios Championships to Page, Brody King and Bandido in a Two-Out-of-Three Falls Match.
The champions got off to a strong start, with Kofi securing the first fall after working together with Creed to put Bandido away. However, the challengers weren’t going down that easily.
Page, King and Bandido fought their way back into the match, eventually tying things up when Bandido connected with a low 450 splash on Strickland to secure the second fall.
That set up a wild final stretch, with all six competitors exchanging big moves and near falls. Page and Strickland also continued their personal rivalry throughout the match, trading strikes and going after each other whenever they had the opportunity.
The finish came when Strickland attempted to put Bandido away with Big Pressure. Bandido managed to counter the move into a pinfall, securing the third and deciding fall to crown Page and Brodido the new AEW World Trios Champions.
However, the drama didn’t end when the bell rang. As the new champions celebrated their victory, Strickland wasn’t interested in showing any respect to the men who had just beaten his team. Rather than handing over the championship belt, he dropped it onto the canvas and walked away.
It was a clear sign that Strickland wasn’t taking the loss well, especially considering his ongoing issues with Hangman Page. The two have spent years trying to get the better of each other, and losing another championship to Page only adds to their heated history.
For Page and Brodido, the victory also marked a return to the top of AEW’s trios division. They previously lost the championships to Strickland and The New Level at All In London, making WrestleDream their opportunity to finally get some payback.
Now Page, King and Bandido are champions again, but Strickland’s reaction suggests he isn’t ready to accept how things ended. Whether that frustration leads to another confrontation with Page remains to be seen.
What do you think about Swerve Strickland dropping the championship belt instead of handing it over after losing at AEW WrestleDream? Was it simply frustration over the loss, or is AEW setting up another chapter in his rivalry with Hangman Page? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
