Former AEW champion expected to make swift return from injury

Swerve Strickland was last seen in an AEW ring when he lost to Kazuchika Okada at Forbidden Door. Shortly after the event, Strickland underwent surgery for a torn meniscus. He reportedly had been working with the injury for a significant period of time.

Unfortunately for AEW, Strickland wasn't the only member of the roster to take some time off. Will Ospreay has also been off TV since Forbidden Door and is expected to miss a prolonged period as he recovers from a spinal issue. MJF is also absent due to Hollywood obligations, and Adam Copeland is away to film the third season of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians."

That talent drain has had a noticeable effect on AEW's creative plans and programming. The creative team has struggled to find the right balance between storylines and in-ring production, with the overall product suffering as a result. Tony Khan needs some of his stars back.

Tony Khan expects Swerve Strickland to make return soon

During a recent news conference, Khan told the media he doesn't expect Strickland to be sidelined for much longer. 

“I definitely think Swerve will be back long before Kota Ibushi," Khan said, as reported by Fightful. "Swerve was dealing with a serious injury, but not a long-term outlook. Swerve will hopefully come back relatively soon. It’s not the kind of situation where you expect him to be out for a year or more."

The sooner AEW can get Strickland back on TV, the better. There are numerous storylines available to him, all of which could help elevate the current product. Outside of Samoa Joe, he's also the most logical contender for a shot at Hangman Adam Page and the AEW world championship. 

Regardless of how soon Strickland returns, there is a lesson for AEW to learn here. For the second time in two years, Khan's promotion has been hit by injuries and absences from its top stars, and while the roster is deep, there is a gulf between the mid-card and main-event scene.

AEW must find a way of bridging that gap and putting more talent in a position to challenge at the top end of the roster. That's the only way the company will avoid the current lulls when injuries and external commitments ultimately arise. 

Fortunately, the company is still young, and given the strides it's made in recent years, it shouldn't be long until that issue is addressed. AEW has risen to every challenge thrown its way, so this time should be no different.