— DEFY Wrestling (@defyNW) May 11, 2024

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As he thanked the DEFY allegiant, Strickland also looked back on the promotion’s first-ever show in January 2017, which was headlined by a GFW NEXGEN Championship match between himself and Cody Rhodes. In the years following, Strickland established himself as a regular fixture for DEFY while claiming three reigns as the DEFY World Champion. And much like Rhodes, Strickland noted that he is now a world champion in one of wrestling’s biggest companies.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit DEFY Wrestling with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.