Roderick Strong Returns To Independent Wrestling
Roderick Strong has returned to the indy wrestling scene
After shockingly joining All Elite Wrestling in April 2023, Roderick Strong has marked his return to the independent wrestling scene, with Strong picking up a victory on the indies on June 18.
A former Ring of Honor World Champion, Strong marked his return to the indies with a win over Kevin Blackwood at Prestige Wrestling's Black Sunshine event in LA’s Globe Theater - the current home venue of Pro Wrestling Guerrilla.
Strong’s appearance for Prestige Wrestling marked his first indie date since wrestling for Evolve in June 2019, although Evolve was in a working relationship with WWE at the time, where Strong was an integral part of NXT.
Prior to joining NXT in 2016, Strong’s last truly independent date was in July 2016, when the ‘Messiah of the Backbreaker’ pulled double duty at PWG Thirteen, losing to then PWG World Champion Zack Sabre Jr., and later defeating Timothy Thatcher.
A former PWG World Champion, and ROH Triple Crown winner, Strong left the Indies for a six-year stint with WWE NXT, winning the NXT Cruiserweight, North American, and Tag Team Championships during his time with the ‘Black & Gold’ brand.
