If we said Chris Lindsey was one of the most underrated wrestlers in the world, most fans probably wouldn't know who we were referring to. However, if we stated that Roderick Strong was one of the most underrated wrestlers in the world, they'd collectively nod their heads in agreement.
Strong's seventeen-year career has seen some of the highest of highs. He has won tournaments, captured championships, and at the age of 33, he is now part of WWE's NXT brand.
When you see him in the ring, he may appear fairly unassuming. However, along with his expertise and refined striking ability, he has grown to showcase how much personality he has out of the ring, and not just in it. At 5' 10” and 200 lbs, Strong has made the most of his ability. He is crafty, skilled and intelligent.
He wouldn't have lasted as long in this profession if he didn't continue to evolve. His recent match at NXT Takeover: Chicago against Eric Young only further demonstrated what many already knew about his ability.
Without any further ado, here are five things you probably didn't know about WWE NXT superstar Roderick Strong.
#5 He was the Jester
In the embryonic stages of their careers, professional wrestlers need to experiment before they can find a footing in the business. In the case of Strong, he first assumed a persona known as ‘The Jester'. When he was asked about how it came to happen, he said, ‘I was just f**king around, I was just a kid.'
As the Jester, he protected his actual identity because he was about 17 or 18 years of age at the time, and the mask concealed his youth. It was experimental, and at the time, it sounded right to him as he sat on the other side of the King's throne. This early incarnation of Strong was fun loving and something that both adults and their kids could enjoy.
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#4 He became friends with Harry Smith as a child
Former WWE and NOAH tag team champion Harry Smith befriended Chris Lindsey (before he became Roderick Strong) as a child. They were around the same age when they met. Strong's father was a college wrestler who began training under former WWE tag team champion Jim ‘The Anvil' Neidhart.
While his father was training, a 12-year-old Strong began attending the sessions as well. It was while he was there that he met the son of the late British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith, and decided that he wanted to become a wrestler.
Neidhart began training Strong as well. Smith, relatively close in age to Strong, was encouraged to start training as well. “I was 12 at the time, and I believe Harry was 10 at the time, and I was the first guy that he wrestled around with”, said Strong.
#3 He was once part of an alliance with a current member of the WWE’s Cruiserweight division
Strong debuted as Austin Aries' surprise tag team partner in the Dusty Rhodes Classic tournament. His arrival suggested that both the singles and tag team ranks were set to receive a shot in the arm.
However, an injury to A Double in the tournament meant the team was quickly eliminated and that both men went in another direction. Strong was then pushed as a singles competitor and as one of the most important characters on NXT.
However, when Aries and Strong were both in Ring of Honor, they worked together as part of Generation Next, along with Alex Shelley and Jack Evans. When both men were in TNA, the promotion was able to capitalise on the success the team had while in ROH and brought them together there as well, along with Shelley. Here, they both were all these years later, this time having the opportunity to be a part of WWE. One has to wonder if they could cross paths again on Raw.
#2 He has competed in all three major North American promotions.
AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Eric Young. In his travels, he has had the opportunity to compete for a number of different independent promotions, such as Pro Wrestling Guerilla and Evolve.
He has performed for all of the major promotions in North America. Strong has competed for TNA, helping develop their X-division while he was there. He was a triple crown winner in Ring of Honor, capturing the promotion's world, television and tag team championships.
He had long been recognised as Mr ROH for his commitment to the promotion and his long tenure with the company. Strong is now a major part of WWE's NXT brand and appears primed to be pushed to greater heights.
#1 He was part of a whole new Mount Rushmore.
Mount Rushmore was meant to enshrine the four greatest Presidents in the history of the United States. In wrestling, a faction once known as Mount Rushmore came together to form an alliance that believed they represented the best of the best in wrestling circles. That faction included Adam Cole, Kevin Steen (Owens) and the Young Bucks.
When Steen departed, a new Mount Rushmore was created, known in Pro Wrestling Guerilla as Mount Rushmore 2.0. This group featured some from the original incarnation with a couple of changes. Cole and the Young Bucks remained, but Super Dragon and Strong were added.
To include Strong among the best of the best is quite the compliment, and today fans can easily say that is where he belongs.
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