Since sensored motors weren't made to run primarily in reverse, all brand name RC manufacturers design transmissions and setups to have the motor run in the "correct" way.

You can't swap wires on a sensored motor. The sensor tells the ESC where the rotor is and the ESC fires the next phase to get it to rotate. When you swap wires. The ESC thinks it's firing the correct phase, but because moved the wire it's firing the wrong phase.

First if you want reverse, make sure the ESC is set to the mode that allows it. I'm pretty sure the default is forward and brake only. Also I think this ESC wants the transmitter to have channel 2/throttle in the reverse setting. Then go through the calibration steps.