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Rodererick Strong

Christopher Lindsey (born July 26, 1983), better known by his ring name Roderick Strong, is an American professional wrestler signed to (AEW), where he competes as a member of the stable The Undisputed Kingdom. Standing at 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) and weighing 200 lb (91 kg), Strong is renowned for his technical prowess, high-impact strikes, and signature move, the End of Heartache. Born in , and often billed from , he debuted professionally in 2000 on the independent circuit in , initially performing as The Jester. Strong rose to prominence in (ROH) from 2003 to 2016, establishing himself as a top singles competitor and winning the once, the twice, and multiple tag team titles as part of teams like The Decade and Knights of the Roundtable. During this period, he also competed in promotions such as (TNA, 2005–2006), where he briefly held the , and (PWG), capturing the once. His tenure in ROH earned him the moniker "Mr. ROH" due to his consistent main event status and defensive reigns. In September 2016, Strong signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and was assigned to the NXT brand, where he achieved significant success, including winning the once, the once, and the twice as part of (with ). After requesting his release in May 2022, which was granted following the expiration of his contract, Strong became a free agent. He made his AEW debut on April 26, 2023, during an episode of , aligning with longtime friend and later joining the faction. In AEW, he captured the once in 2024 and remains an active competitor as of November 2025, recently involved in high-profile feuds leading to events like Blood & Guts.

Background

Early life

Christopher Lindsey, better known by his ring name Roderick Strong, was born on July 26, 1983, in . His family relocated to during his youth, settling in the . Lindsey experienced a challenging childhood marked by family difficulties. He graduated from Riverview High School in , where he excelled in as a student-athlete. Academically talented, Lindsey earned a to the , where he majored in . He attended the university for two years before leaving to focus on his burgeoning interest in .

Personal life

Roderick Strong became engaged to , a fellow , in December 2015. The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Troy Veniamin Lindsey, on April 24, 2017. Strong and Shafir, who both compete in , share a professional background in the wrestling industry, with Shafir known for her expertise and in-ring performances alongside Strong's technical style. Strong and Shafir married on November 7, 2018, in Orlando, Florida. The family resides in Tampa, Florida, where Strong has long been based, with no reported relocations despite career moves between promotions.

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (2000–2005)

Roderick Strong, whose real name is Christopher Lindsey, began his professional wrestling training at the age of 13 in Tampa, Florida. His father, a former collegiate wrestler, enrolled in training sessions under Jim Neidhart, and Lindsey joined him at the facility, where he received instruction from Neidhart and other veterans including The Warlord and Prince Iaukea. This early exposure to the industry, starting around 1994 when his father began training, provided Lindsey with a foundational understanding of wrestling techniques and the professional environment. Strong made his in-ring debut in 2000 on the independent circuit, initially performing as The Jester for the Roller Jam Wrestling Association (RWA). He quickly transitioned to the Roderick Strong, under which he competed in his first notable match for Independent Professional Wrestling (IPW) on July 15, 2000, in a 20-man at the IPW Summer Sizzler event. Establishing a reputation as a technical wrestler emphasizing mat-based , submissions, and athletic maneuvers, Strong frequently showcased a hard-hitting style that highlighted his strength and precision despite his compact frame. Throughout the early 2000s, Strong built his career across several independent promotions, including IPW Hardcore, where he teamed with his brother Sedrick Strong in competition, NWA , and . In IPW, he engaged in high-profile bouts and captured the IPW Unified Championship, defending it against local talents to solidify his standing in the scene. His appearances in from 2004 onward featured intense matches against established stars, such as a hard-fought loss to on September 17, 2004, which demonstrated his ability to compete against heavier opponents through technical prowess and resilience. These experiences honed his skills and versatility on the indie circuit. By 2003, Strong expanded his opportunities by debuting in , though he continued indie bookings through 2005. A key highlight came in late 2005 when he teamed with to win the tournament, earning a shot at the and underscoring his rising prominence in the wrestling landscape.

Ring of Honor (2003–2016)

Roderick Strong debuted in in September 2003, quickly establishing himself as a prominent competitor in the promotion's early years. On May 22, 2004, at the Generation Next event, Strong co-founded the stable Generation Next alongside , , and Jack Evans, positioning the group as arrogant young upstarts who dominated ROH storylines through aggressive tactics and high-profile victories. As part of Generation Next, Strong captured the with Aries, solidifying the faction's influence until internal tensions led to its dissolution in late 2006. In early , Strong transitioned to a new alliance, turning on to form the No Remorse Corps with and at the Fifth Year Festival: NYC event on February 16. The group emphasized technical prowess and hardcore elements, engaging in intense rivalries that elevated Strong's status as a singles competitor while competing in both tag and individual matches across ROH tours. Strong's championship success in ROH included two reigns with the . He first won the title on March 31, 2012, at Showdown in the Sun by defeating , holding it for 90 days before losing it to on June 29, 2012. His second reign began on October 23, 2015, again defeating Lethal at a TV taping in , and lasted 119 days until he dropped it to on February 19, 2016. Additionally, Strong achieved his pinnacle as ROH World Champion on September 11, 2010, at Glory by Honor IX, defeating Tyler Black in the main event to end Black's reign; he held the title for 189 days before losing it to Eddie Edwards on March 19, 2011. Throughout his ROH tenure, Strong was involved in several marquee feuds that highlighted his technical and high-flying style. He clashed with Kevin Steen in a heated during 2008, culminating in a singles match at Take No Prisoners where Steen emerged victorious, amid broader tensions over ROH's top spots. Strong also feuded extensively with the , particularly in contexts during his Generation Next and No Remorse Corps days, leading to brutal and street fight matches that tested his resilience. In 2014–2015, as expanded its influence into ROH, Strong engaged in high-stakes confrontations with the stable, including defenses against members like and , which added international flavor to his veteran status. After nearly 13 years with ROH, Strong departed the promotion in June 2016 following TV tapings in , to sign with WWE's NXT brand.

Full Impact Pro (2004–2015)

Roderick Strong debuted in (FIP) on September 24, 2004, during the promotion's World Heavyweight Championship tournament, where he fell to in the opening round. Strong secured his first FIP World Heavyweight Championship on November 10, 2006, defeating in a title versus career match in . This reign lasted a promotion-record 415 days, ending on December 30, 2007, when he lost the title to via countout during a crossover event in . During this dominant run, Strong defended the championship against a variety of top competitors, including high-profile bouts against wrestlers like and in inter-promotional settings. Strong regained the FIP World Heavyweight Championship for his second reign on February 16, 2008, defeating by countout in , holding the title for 154 days before dropping it to on July 19, 2008. In addition to his singles success, Strong captured the FIP Tag Team Championship twice during his FIP tenure: first on December 20, 2008, partnering with to defeat The YRR (Sal Rinauro and ) in , for a 287-day reign; and second on December 6, 2013, teaming with to beat The (Harlem and Lancelot Bravado) in , holding the belts for 147 days. Strong returned to FIP in 2015, winning the vacant FIP World Heavyweight Championship for a third and final time on February 20, 2015, by defeating Trent Baretta in a no disqualification match in , . His 57-day reign concluded on April 18, 2015, in a losing effort to at an event in , after which Strong retired from the promotion. This marked the end of his 11-year association with FIP, amid concurrent commitments in .

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2005–2006)

In September 2005, Roderick Strong signed a contract with (TNA), marking his entry into the promotion's roster. His debut came at the Unbreakable pay-per-view event on September 11, where he lost to by pinfall. Shortly thereafter, on the September 27 taping of TNA Impact!—which aired as the promotion's first episode on Spike TV—Strong competed in the opening match, falling to A.J. Styles by pinfall. Throughout late 2005 and early 2006, Strong primarily served as enhancement talent on TNA's weekly TNA Xplosion program and pay-per-view events, often highlighting established stars in singles and multi-person bouts. Notable appearances included a submission loss to Samoa Joe on the December 13, 2005, episode of Impact!, as well as tag team defeats alongside Alex Shelley against teams featuring Styles and Sonjay Dutt on October 25, 2005, and at Turning Point on December 11, 2005. He also participated in an eight-person elimination tag match at Genesis on November 13, 2005, teaming with Shelley, Christopher Daniels, and Joe to defeat Austin Aries, Chris Sabin, Matt Bentley, and Dutt, though Strong was eliminated during the bout. In 2006, Strong aligned with Aries and Shelley in multi-man matches, securing a victory in a six-person tag team contest against Sabin, Bentley, and Dutt at Final Resolution on January 15, but suffering losses in subsequent Impact! tapings and at Against All Odds on February 12, including another singles defeat to Styles on February 14. Strong's TNA tenure ended amid tensions, including a suspension following the Against All Odds event for arriving late due to a prior commitment to Ring of Honor. He returned briefly in April 2006 for a single match on Impact! but was released by the promotion on June 28, 2006, reportedly due to creative differences and his preference to concentrate on independent wrestling opportunities. Following his departure from TNA, Strong refocused his efforts on Ring of Honor.

International tours (2005–2013)

Roderick Strong's first excursion to occurred in December 2005 with Dragon Gate, where he participated in the King of Gate tournament. During the event, Strong teamed with Jack Evans to defeat CIMA and "Karaoke Machine" Genki Horiguchi in an opening round match on December 24, showcasing his ability to adapt to Dragon Gate's fast-paced, high-flying style. This tour marked the beginning of Strong's regular appearances in Japanese promotions, allowing him to compete against prominent talents like Masato Yoshino and in subsequent events. Strong continued touring with Dragon Gate through 2009, accumulating experience in multi-man and singles bouts that honed his technical proficiency and striking ability against Japan's junior heavyweight division. In 2007, he joined Ring of Honor's international expansion to for the Live in Tokyo event on July 16, where he faced in a "Fight Without Honor" match, losing via submission but earning praise for his resilient performance in the no-disqualification environment. These early tours emphasized Strong's versatility, as he navigated cultural differences in wrestling presentation and crowd expectations while building his reputation abroad. From 2009 onward, Strong's international efforts centered on , where he made annual tours until 2013, often teaming with fellow American wrestlers to challenge established Noah juniors. Notable encounters included a 2009 match alongside against KENTA and , highlighting Strong's role in intense, hard-hitting exchanges that blended American strong-style with Noah's junior heavyweight athleticism. In 2010, he partnered with Eddie Edwards to face KENTA and , delivering a competitive bout that underscored his growing comfort with Noah's dynamics and submission-based offense. Strong's final major international tour came in 2013 with Noah, where he teamed with Slex in the NTV G+ Cup Junior Heavyweight Tag League, competing in Block B against teams like Daisuke Harada and Hitoshi Kumano, whom they defeated on July 21. Although the duo fell short in the tournament, losing to Yoshinari Ogawa and Zack Sabre Jr. among others, the excursion solidified Strong's international credentials before he prioritized opportunities in larger American promotions.

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (2005–2016; 2023)

Roderick Strong made his (PWG) debut on February 12, 2005, at the event "An Inch of Blood" in a losing effort against Ricky Reyes. Over the next several years, Strong established himself as a key figure in PWG's division, capturing the on three occasions. His first reign came on November 17, 2006, partnering with to defeat and B-Boy at "The Curse of Guerrilla Island," though they lost the titles the following day to the same opponents in a rematch. Strong then teamed with to win the Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament (DDT4) on May 20, 2007, at DDT4 Night 2, defeating El Generico and in the finals to claim the championships, holding them for 70 days until dropping them to The British Lords ( and ) on July 29, 2007. His third tag title run occurred with Jack Evans, whom he partnered with to win DDT4 again on May 18, 2008, at DDT4 Night 2, beating The Age of the Fall ( and Tyler Black) for the belts and retaining them for 49 days before vacating due to Evans' injury. Strong's tag team success extended to further tournament participation, including reaching the finals of DDT4 2009 on May 22 alongside , where they fell to in a highly acclaimed match noted for its intensity and the Bucks' controversial superkicks that drew significant crowd heat. This encounter ignited a notable feud with , leading to multiple high-profile clashes, including a at PWG Ten on January 12, 2013, involving the Dojo Bros incarnation of Strong and Eddie Edwards challenging for the Bucks' titles. Strong also engaged in a heated rivalry with Kevin Steen, marked by brutal encounters such as their No Holds Barred match at PWG "Fear" on December 10, 2011, where Steen emerged victorious, and subsequent bouts that highlighted Strong's technical prowess against Steen's power-based style during PWG's 2011-2012 landscape. Transitioning to singles competition, Strong captured the PWG World Championship on December 12, 2014, at "Black Cole Sun," defeating Kyle O'Reilly in a Guerrilla Warfare match via a chair-assisted End of Heartache for the pinfall. He defended the title against prominent challengers including Ricochet, Trevor Lee, and Marty Scurll, maintaining the championship for 449 days in one of PWG's longest reigns until relinquishing it to Zack Sabre Jr. on March 5, 2016, at "Lemmy" in a No Disqualification match. Strong's final regular appearance in PWG came shortly after at "Mystery Vortex V" on February 24, 2016, losing to Chris Hero in his farewell bout before signing with WWE. Strong returned to PWG for a one-night appearance on August 13, 2023, at the promotion's 20th anniversary event "PWG Twenty: Mystery Vortex," where he defeated Michael Oku in a 19-minute singles match, showcasing his enduring technical skill and receiving a strong ovation from the Reseda audience.

WWE (2016–2022)

In January 2016, Roderick Strong signed a developmental contract with WWE, transitioning from his long tenure in Ring of Honor to the NXT brand. He made his televised NXT debut on the October 19, 2016, episode, teaming with Austin Aries to defeat Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic in the first round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Strong quickly established himself as a top singles competitor, securing victories over Elias Samson on the December 14, 2016, episode of NXT and Andrade "Cien" Almas at NXT TakeOver: San Antonio on January 28, 2017. His early run included high-profile challenges for the NXT Championship, losing to Bobby Roode on the July 19, 2017, episode and to Drew McIntyre at NXT TakeOver: Hartford on August 19, 2017. On April 7, 2018, at : New Orleans, Strong turned heel by aligning with , , and to form the dominant stable , marking a pivotal shift in his NXT career. As part of the group, Strong contributed to 's first reign, which began when O'Reilly and Fish captured the titles from on August 19, 2017, at : Brooklyn III; following Fish's injury, Strong partnered with O'Reilly, with WWE recognizing the continuation of the reign from April 11, 2018, until their loss to the War Raiders on January 26, 2019, at : Phoenix—a combined tenure exceeding 500 days for the stable. recaptured the on February 16, 2020, at : Portland, when O'Reilly and Strong defeated the , holding the titles for a second reign of 211 days until dropping them to MSK on June 7, 2021, at : In Your House. Strong's individual accolades peaked during this period with his sole NXT North American Championship reign, won on September 18, 2019, by defeating the on NXT television, making the first stable to hold all men's NXT titles simultaneously. He defended the title successfully against competitors including Isaiah "Swerve" Scott and before losing it to Keith Lee on the January 22, 2020, episode of NXT after 126 days. The faction's dominance extended to WarGames matches, including a victory over , , , and Pat McAfee's team on December 6, 2020, at : WarGames. disbanded in early 2021 following internal tensions, culminating in Cole's betrayal of on the March 17, 2021, episode of NXT. Following the group's dissolution, Strong formed the Diamond Mine stable on the June 22, 2021, episode of NXT, recruiting manager Malcolm Bivens, the (Julius and Brutus), and Ivy Nile, with the faction emphasizing strength and athleticism inspired by Strong's veteran leadership. Diamond Mine achieved early success in multi-man matches but faced internal strife, including a brief inclusion of (later revealed as Damon Kemp). Strong captured the on the September 21, 2021, episode of NXT 2.0 by defeating Kushida, marking his first title in the division after a 105-day reign that included defenses against and . He lost the title to on the January 4, 2022, episode of NXT in a unification match with the North American Championship. Despite his accomplishments in NXT, Strong received limited opportunities on the main roster, appearing sporadically without significant pushes, which contributed to frustrations during WWE's NXT 2.0 rebranding. He requested his release in spring 2022, which was initially denied, but WWE quietly allowed his contract to expire, officially parting ways on November 30, 2022, after over six years with the company. His final televised match occurred on the August 16, 2022, episode of NXT, teaming with the in a loss to the D'Angelo Family.

All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor (2023–present)

Roderick Strong signed a multi-year contract with (AEW) in April 2023, making his in-ring debut on the April 26 episode of Dynamite, where he assisted long-time ally in a match against Bandido. As part of the deal, Strong also began appearing in AEW's sister promotion (ROH), marking his return to the brand after his initial run from 2003 to 2016. In late 2023, Strong joined forces with , , Mike Bennett, and Wardlow to form the stable, which drew inspiration from his previous WWE faction but focused on dominating AEW and ROH divisions. The group quickly established itself as a dominant unit, with Strong serving as a key enforcer in and multi-man matches across both promotions. later joined the stable in 2024, expanding its influence before internal tensions arose in early 2025. Strong captured the on March 3, 2024, at , defeating two-time champion in a hard-fought main event, ending Cassidy's second reign after 145 days. He defended the title successfully against challengers like and before dropping it to on May 26, 2024, at , for a total reign of 84 days. This victory marked Strong's first championship in AEW and highlighted his technical prowess and endurance in the promotion's midcard division. Throughout 2023 and 2024, Strong pursued the , earning a title shot against at on July 26, 2024, after defeating competitors in a contender's match, though he ultimately fell short in the bout. His efforts underscored the Undisputed Kingdom's cross-promotional ambitions, blending AEW storylines with ROH's historic title scene. In April 2025, following creative shifts and the departure of Wardlow from the group, the rebranded as The Paragon, consisting of Strong, , and , emphasizing a more calculated, elite approach to challenging top stars. The stable positioned itself as a threat to established factions like The Death Riders, with Strong playing a pivotal role in multi-man skirmishes. At AEW on July 12, 2025, in , Strong competed in the Men's Casino Gauntlet match for a future opportunity but was eliminated when MJF pinned him after interference from . Later that year, Strong represented The Paragon in the ongoing Blood & Guts feud against The Death Riders, facing in a decisive advantage match on the November 8, 2025, episode of Collision to determine momentum heading into the November 12 event. At the event, Strong teamed with , , , and to defeat The Death Riders (, , , , and Daniel Garcia) in a Blood & Guts match, with O'Reilly forcing Moxley to submit. On October 19, 2025, Strong made a one-off return to the independent scene at Pro-Wrestling's Super Battle event in , defeating former ROH rival in a 15-minute singles match that reignited their early-2000s feud. This appearance showcased Strong's continued appeal on the indies while maintaining his full-time commitment to AEW and ROH.

Championships and accomplishments

World and singles championships

Roderick Strong won the ROH World Championship for the first time on September 11, 2010, defeating Tyler Black in a no disqualification match at Glory by Honor IX in . His 189-day reign featured five successful defenses against prominent opponents, including on November 13, 2010, at Fate of an Angel II, via submission at Final Battle on December 18, 2010, on January 15, 2011, at Only the Strong Survive, and in a no disqualification Barrio Street Fight at the 9th Anniversary Show on February 26, 2011. The title reign concluded on March 19, 2011, when Strong lost to Eddie Edwards at Manhattan Mayhem IV. This accomplishment marked Strong's elevation to main event status in ROH after years of contention. Strong secured the PWG World Championship on December 12, 2014, by defeating Kyle O'Reilly in a Guerrilla Warfare match at Black Cole Sun in Reseda, California. His 449-day reign, one of the longest in PWG history, included seven successful defenses that highlighted his versatility against diverse styles, such as against Tommy End at Kenny Omega's "Kenny Omega" on January 2, 2015, Ricochet at One Hundred on May 22, 2015, Cedric Alexander at DDT4 Night 2 on May 23, 2015, Drew Galloway at Battle of Los Angeles Night 2 on September 4, 2015, Hiroshi Tanahashi at Mystery Vortex on November 21, 2015, and Mark Andrews at All Star Weekend 11 Night 1 on March 4, 2016. The reign ended on March 5, 2016, with a loss to Zack Sabre Jr. at All Star Weekend 11 Night 2. These matches underscored Strong's dominance in PWG's independent scene during a peak period for the promotion. In (FIP), Strong achieved three reigns with the FIP World Heavyweight Championship, establishing himself as a cornerstone of the promotion. His first reign began on November 10, 2006, when he defeated in a title versus career match at 2, lasting 415 days until losing to on December 30, 2007, at ROH . The second reign started on February 16, 2008, after defeating Stevens at RedStreak 2.0, enduring 154 days before losing the title to on July 19, 2008, at Hot Summer Nights. Strong's third and final FIP reign occurred from February 20, 2015, to April 18, 2015, a 57-day run, winning the vacant title by defeating Trent Baretta at and losing to at Everything Burns, featuring defenses that integrated FIP title matches into ROH events for added . These reigns, particularly the extended first one, demonstrated Strong's reliability as a defending champion in the southeastern independent circuit. Strong captured the twice. His initial reign commenced on March 31, 2012, defeating Mike Bennett at Showdown in the Sun Night 2 and lasting 90 days until Matt Hardy pinned him on June 29, 2012, at Best in the World 2012. The second reign, from October 23, 2015, to February 19, 2016—a 119-day period—began with a victory over on ROH TV and included defenses against and , ending via submission to at Honor Rising: Japan 2016 Night 2. These midcard title runs complemented Strong's world title pursuits by emphasizing his workrate in television-focused storylines. In WWE's NXT brand, Strong won the on September 18, 2019, defeating on NXT television in a fatal four-way match also involving and Isaiah "Swerve" Scott. The 126-day reign saw defenses against Swerve Scott on October 9, 2019, at NXT TV, Dominik Dijakovic on November 20, 2019, at NXT TV, and on December 25, 2019, at NXT TV, before losing to Keith Lee on January 22, 2020, at NXT TV. This title solidified Strong's role as a key in NXT's North American division during its inaugural year. Strong claimed the on September 21, 2021, defeating on NXT 2.0. His 105-day reign featured defenses against on October 19, 2021, at NXT TV and Legado del Fantasma's on November 16, 2021, at NXT TV, ending on January 4, 2022, when unified it with the North American . The run highlighted Strong's technical expertise in NXT's revival. Strong's most recent world title came in (AEW), where he defeated on March 3, 2024, at to win the . The 84-day reign included one successful defense against on April 21, 2024, at , along with two title eliminator victories over on April 13, 2024, at Battle of the Belts X and O'Reilly prior to Dynasty. It concluded on May 26, 2024, with a loss to at . This achievement represented Strong's first in AEW, aligning with his stable's momentum. In Independent Wrestling Association East Coast (IWA East Coast), Strong held the IWA East Coast Heavyweight Championship from April 1, 2009, to May 12, 2010, a 406-day reign. He won the title by defeating the previous champion Brandon Thurston (also known as ) at an event in , marking his longest singles title reign at the time and showcasing his dominance in the mid-Atlantic independent scene.

Tag team championships

Roderick Strong began his tag team success in the early on the independent circuit, winning the IPW Tag Team Championship once with his brother Sedrick Strong as The Strong Brothers. They captured the titles on June 28, 2002, in , by defeating Wrongful Death ( and Dagon Briggs), holding them for 84 days before losing to The Backseat Boyz ( and ) on September 20, 2002. This early reign marked Strong's initial foray into tag team competition as part of a family unit in Florida's indie scene. In (FIP), Strong secured the FIP Tag Team Championship twice. His first reign came on December 20, 2008, partnering with as part of the No Remorse Corps stable, defeating Kenny King and Jason Blade in ; they held the titles for a record 287 days until dropping them to The Dark City (Jon Davis and Kory Chavis) on October 3, 2009. Strong's second FIP tag title came with on December 6, 2013, defeating The (Lance and Harlem Bravado) at In Full Force in , , maintaining the belts for 147 days in a reign highlighted by defenses against teams like The Premier Athlete Brand. Strong's partnership with in (ROH) yielded the on December 17, 2005, at in , where they defeated The Ring of Glory (Prince Nana and Mitchell Independence) as representatives of Generation Next. Their 273-day reign, the longest in ROH history at the time, featured key defenses including a successful outing against and on February 25, 2006, at the Fourth Anniversary Show, solidifying their dominance before losing the titles to and on September 16, 2006, in . In (PWG), Strong won the three times with different partners, showcasing his versatility. His first brief reign was with on November 17, 2006, at The Curse of Guerrilla Island, defeating and B-Boy, but they lost the titles the next night to The (Joey Ryan and ). Strong then teamed with to win the titles on May 20, 2007, at the Dynamite Duumvirate Title Night 2 in , by defeating The in the finals after earlier victories over The Aerial Assault Leapers and The ; they held for 70 days until dropping them to The British Lions on July 29, 2007. His third PWG tag reign came with Jack Evans on May 18, 2008, at DDT4 Night 2, defeating El Generico and Kevin Steen in the tournament final following wins over The Muscle Men (B-Boy and ) and The , lasting 49 days before a loss to The Age of the Fall ( and ). Strong also captured the PWX Tag Team Championship once with Eddie Edwards as The Dojo Bros on November 30, 2012, defeating The Great Outdoors (Jake Manning and Grizzly Redwood), holding for 119 days in a reign tied to their shared training background and defenses in the Northeast indie circuit. In WWE's NXT brand, Strong achieved tag team success as part of stable. He joined and after their April 7, 2018, victory over at TakeOver: New Orleans for the ; following Fish's injury, Strong officially entered the reign with O'Reilly starting June 16, 2018, after a successful defense against and on the June 13 episode of NXT. The duo retained against notable teams like Moustache Mountain ( and ) at TakeOver: Chicago II on June 16, 2018, and Aleister Black and at TakeOver: Brooklyn IV on August 18, 2018, before losing the titles to Moustache Mountain on January 26, 2019, at TakeOver: , in a 219-day reign for Strong that emphasized the stable's unity.

Tournament wins and awards

Roderick Strong has achieved notable success in tournaments, particularly during his career in the mid-2000s. In 2008, he won the Revolution Strong Style Tournament, defeating in the first round and in the final. The following year, on September 24, 2005, Strong emerged as the winner of Ring of Honor's , a grueling six-man elimination match where he outlasted , , , , and to secure the win. Strong's tag team prowess shone in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla's Dynamite Duumvirate of Doom (DDT4) tournament, a premier independent competition. Teaming with (now Adrian Neville), he captured the 2007 DDT4 on May 20 by defeating the in the finals, also winning the vacant in the process. The next year, on May 18, 2008, Strong partnered with Jack Evans to win the 2008 DDT4, overcoming Kevin Steen and El Generico in the final to claim both the tournament and the PWG tag titles. In addition to tournament triumphs, Strong has received prestigious awards recognizing his in-ring performances. He shared SoCal Uncensored's Match of the Year honor in 2006 for his tag team bout with Jack Evans against and on March 4 at PWG's event. Similarly, in 2013, Strong and Eddie Edwards earned the 2013 SoCal Uncensored Match of the Year for their December 20 clash against the Inner City Machine Guns at PWG All Star Weekend 10 - Night Two. Strong's accomplishments in extend to honorary status as a Triple Crown Champion, achieved by holding the (once), (twice), and (once) across his tenure.

References

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