Swerve Strickland is heading back to the independent scene for a rare appearance ahead of AEW Full Gear.

The former AEW World Champion will face Ninja Mack at Fourth Rope’s Heelmatic event on Thursday, November 12. The promotion, founded by rapper Westside Gunn, is teaming up with record label Mass Appeal to stage the show at New York City’s Melrose Ballroom.

Strickland versus Ninja Mack is the first match announced for the event. Mack has built an international reputation through appearances for Japanese promotions NOAH and NJPW, alongside several outings for Ring of Honor in 2022 and 2023.

The booking marks Strickland’s first match outside the AEW umbrella since his 2024 meeting with Amazing Red at House of Glory.

It also kicks off a busy few days for Strickland. Two days later, he will team with Austin Creed and Kofi at Full Gear in Phoenix, Arizona. The trio will challenge Hangman Page, Brody King and Bandido as they attempt to regain the AEW Trios Championship.

Fourth Rope brings together two of Strickland’s biggest interests: wrestling and hip-hop. He has released his own music and recently appeared on On The Radar Radio, although he told Billboard that wrestling remains his greatest passion. Even winning a Grammy would not mean more to him than his AEW World Championship reign.

Speaking to Billboard, Strickland praised Westside Gunn and Wale for investing in wrestling and helping strengthen its relationship with hip-hop.

“Wale and Westside [Gunn] were really the first ones to put their blood, sweat and tears and real money into wrestling. Shout-out to Westside with 4th Rope and continuing to do it. [Shout-out] WaleMania after all these years. Those guys were the forefathers of hip-hop and wrestling culture because they were really in it. I performed at WaleMania.”

Strickland also said he wants that relationship to create more opportunities for wrestlers within the music world.

“I won’t say this is the pinnacle of it, but this is very much a peak. I’d definitely say we need to see the wrestlers in the hip-hop world now. There’s always that wall. We’ll let them in, but I don’t see these guys [bringing us] on stage with them or I don’t see these guys on red carpets with them. I don’t see them at Vibe, BET Awards or Billboard. We gotta see them at their own concerts and tours.”

What do you think of Swerve Strickland facing Ninja Mack, and who else would you like to see him wrestle on the independent scene? Let us know in the comments.