Roderick Strong

Strong in March 2016

###

Eau Claire, Wisconsin,
United States

**Chris Lindsey** (born July 26, 1983) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, **Roderick Strong**. Strong is best known for his 13-year tenure with Ring of Honor.

He initially debuted as The Jester on the Floridian independent circuit, before quickly changing his name to Roderick Strong. He worked for IPW Hardcore and NWA Florida, before debuting for ROH in September 2003. In mid-2004, Strong joined forces with Alex Shelley, Austin Aries, and Jack Evans, collectively known as Generation Next. As part of Generation Next, Strong won the ROH World Tag Team Championship with Aries. Strong later turned on Aries, forming a new faction, the No Remorse Corps with Davey Richards and Rocky Romero. During this time, he was also competing for ROH's sister promotion, FIP, and debuted for PWG. Strong has also toured Japan with Dragon Gate and Pro Wrestling Noah and had a brief stint in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2005.

In ROH, Strong is a one-time World Champion, a two-time Television Champion and a one-time World Tag Team Champion, making him the promotion's second Triple Crown Champion. In FIP, he has won the World Heavyweight Championship three times, and the FIP Tag Team Championship once with Erick Stevens and once with Rich Swann. In PWG, he is a former one-time PWG World Champion and a three-time World Tag Team Champion, having held the title with Davey Richards, Pac, and Jack Evans with each reign respectively. In addition, he is the only wrestler to win PWG's annual Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament with two different partners (PAC in 2007 and Evans in 2008).

## Early life

Lindsey was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, but relocated to Florida at a young age. Following a troubled childhood, Lindsey graduated from Riverview High School, where he played American football. He went on to attend the University of South Florida on an academic scholarship. Lindsey majored in Business for two years before dropping out.

## Professional wrestling career

In the autumn of 1994, Lindsey's father, a former collegiate wrestler, began training as a wrestler under Jim Neidhart. After Lindsey attended several training sessions and met Harry Smith, a third generation wrestler, he decided to become a wrestler. Lindsey was trained by his father, Neidhart and a number of other wrestlers in Tampa, Florida and debuted in 2000 as The Jester on the Floridian independent circuit for the RWA.

### Independent Professional Wrestling (2003)

Strong wrestled his first match for the Independent Professional Wrestling promotion, competing in a twenty-man cruiserweight Battle royal. He was initially one-third of a stable known as "Risk Factor" with The Kamikaze Kid and Kid Lethal before he formed a tag team with his trainee and kayfabe brother, Sedrick Strong. The Strong Brothers defeated Wrongful Death (Naphtali and Dagon Briggs) for the IPW Tag Team Championship on June 28, 2002 in St. Petersburg, Florida. They held the title until September 20, when they lost to Naturally Marvelous (Scoot Andrews and Mike Sullivan) in a steel cage match in which Roderick suffered a concussion.

After Sedrick cost the Strong Brothers a number of matches, Roderick turned heel on February 8, 2003, betraying Sedrick and aligning himself with the Alliance of Defiance, a dominant heel stable.

### New Japan Pro Wrestling (2014-2016)

Along with the rest of the ROH roster, Roderick Strong was involved with the Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling collaborated events War of the Worlds, held on May 12 and 13; and Global Wars held on May 15 and 16. At the first War of the Worlds event, Strong won his match with NJPW wrestler Kushida, but lost his match at the second event to NJPW mainstay Hiroshi Tanahashi, considered one of the top three stars of New Japan. He appeared at both Global Wars events; on the first night, he teamed with the Briscoes and War Machine (Hanson and Ray Rowe) to defeat Bullet Club (A. J. Styles (then IWGP Heavyweight Champion), Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, and the Young Bucks). On the second night, he lost to Shinsuke Nakamura, another one of the top three stars of NJPW. After the ROH/NJPW events, Strong garnered high praise from wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, reporting that both Tanahashi and Nakamura were giving him "rave reviews".

Following the ROH/NJPW events, Strong set his sights on the ROH World Championship. At Best in the World, Strong defeated Michael Elgin and Moose in a three-way match to become the number one contender to the ROH World Championship. Strong received his title match at Death Before Dishonor XIII, challenging Jay Lethal (also the ROH World Television Champion), but was unsuccessful as the match went to a 60-minute time-limit draw. After failing to capture the title, Roderick Strong began campaigning for a match against IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada, the only one of the top three NJPW talents (alongside Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura) he had yet to wrestle. Okada accepted the challenge, setting the two up for a match at Field of Honor, where Okada was victorious. Strong finally received a rematch with Lethal for the ROH World Championship on the August 21 episode of ROH Wrestling, but was defeated. Strong continued to be unsuccessful in his endevaours, as he lost a number one contenders match at All Star Extravaganza VII, losing to A. J. Styles in a four-way match (along with Adam Cole and Michael Elgin).
Despite his recent misfortunes, Strong continued to feud with Jay Lethal, where he was announced as being the partner of A. J. Styles and ACH in a "Champions vs. All-Stars" elimination match at Glory By Honor XIV against Lethal and ROH World Tag Team Champions The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Michael Bennett). In the lead-up to the match, Strong earned a match for Jay Lethal's ROH World Television Championship on the first night of Glory By Honor XIV on October 23. Strong was successful in the match, capturing the TV title for the second time. Being a champion, Strong was placed on the Champions team with Lethal and the Kingdom against the new All-Stars team (after Styles and ACH had both been injured the previous night), turning the six-man tag team match into an eight-man tag team match. Strong's team was victorious, with Strong and Lethal being the only two remaining in the match. After the match, Strong had a stare-down with both Styles and Lethal.

After being injured during the Survival of the Fittest tournament, Strong issued an open challenge for the upcoming Final Battle pay-per-view event, which was accepted by Bobby Fish, who had defeated him in a match on September 12. On December 18, the first night of the event, Strong retained the title against Fish. During the match Strong submitted to Fish, but the referee did not see, and the match continued. Strong once more turned heel after hitting Fish with a Sick Kick to win. The following night, Strong solidified his heel turn by defeating ECW alumni Stevie Richards.

Heading into 2016, Roderick Strong continued to feud with Bobby Fish, where the two were scheduled for a rematch for Strong's TV Championship at ROH's 14th Anniversary event on February 26. However Strong lost the ROH World Television Championship to New Japan Pro Wrestling's Tomohiro Ishii at the ROH/NJPW co-produced Honor Rising: Japan 2016 event in Tokyo's Korakuen Hall. He then went on to be pinned by Ishii in a three-way match at ROH 14th Anniversary, which also involved Fish. Strong was then defeated May 8 by Dalton Castle who became the new number-one contender to the TV title.

On June 22, 2016, ROH announced that Strong would be leaving the promotion following the June 25 television tapings. June 24 at Best in the World '16 Roderick Strong lost to Mark Briscoe after a pair of fisherman suplex drivers/brainbusters. The following day, June 25, his last day at ROH, Strong was defeated again by Dalton Castle, who had just lost his TV title challenge against Bobby Fish at Best in the World. Although taped in June it did not air until July 15th.

### Dragon Gate (2005–2009)

Strong has made several tours of Japan, starting in December 2005 with Dragon Gate.

### Pro Wrestling Noah (2009–2013)

Since 2009 he has worked for Pro Wrestling Noah, where, in July 2013, he and Slex entered in the NTV G+ Cup Junior Heavyweight Tag League for the vacant GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. However, the team won only two points and failed to advance in the tournament.

## Personal life

Lindsey got married to mixed martial artist Marina Shafir in December 2015.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *CX '02* (Crucifix cutter) - rarely used
	+ *CX '03* (Straight jacket Gory neckbreaker) - Innovated; rarely used
	+ *Death by Roderick* (Fireman's carry double knee gutbuster)
	+ *End of Heartache* / *Strong Breaker* (Vertical suplex lifted and dropped into a double knee backbreaker)
	+ *Gibson Driver* (Kneeling double underhook powerbomb) – adopted from James Gibson
	+ Inverted cloverleaf, sometimes with bodyscissors - rarely used
	+ Jumping high knee − late 2015–present (ROH)
	+ *Sick Kick* (Running single leg dropkick)
	+ *Strong Hold* (Elevated Boston crab while kneeling on the opponent's back or a straight jacket)
* **Signature moves**
	+ Backhand chop
	+ *Cloud 9* (Belly-to-back facebuster)
	+ Discus elbow smash
	+ Lariat takedown
	+ Multiple backbreaker variations
		- Argentine, sometimes while dropping to a kneeling position
		- Canadian, sometimes while dropping to a seated position
		- Capture suplex onto the knee
		- Double underhook
		- Half nelson
		- Pendulum, sometimes onto the top turnbuckle
		- *Power-Breaker* (Powerbomb onto the knee)
	+ Multiple kick variations
		- Calf
		- Drop
		- Rope-aided enzuigiri
		- Slingshot baseball slide
	+ Multiple suplex variations
		- Belly-to-back, sometimes onto the ring apron
		- *Crash Landing* (Standing rolling release)
		- Double underhook
		- Super
	+ Multiple rib breakers
	+ Olympic slam
* **With Jack Evans**
	+ **Double team finishing moves**
		- *Ode to the Bulldogs* / *Skipping a Generation* (Strong has one opponent in a backbreaker rack and as the other opponent is behind Strong, Evans performs a diving double foot stomp on the opponent's chest in the backbreaker rack then jumps off the opponent's chest and then performs a diving splash, diving senton or a corkscrew moonsault onto the other opponent, as Strong hits a sitout backbreaker drop using momentum from the diving double foot stomp)
	+ **Double team signature moves**
		- Strong flips Evans by his leg to assist him into doing an assisted standing corkscrew 450° splash
		- Strong performs a vertical suplex on Evans where at the apex of the suplex Strong releases the suplex and Evans uses the altitude and rotation to perform a 450° splash onto the downed opponent
		- Multiple powerbomb / moonsault combination variations
			* Strong lifts Evans into a powerbomb and flips him into a moonsault double stomp to an opponent's back, while being trapped between the top turnbuckle and second rope
			* Strong lifts Evans into a powerbomb and flips him into a moonsault onto the fallen opponent
			* Strong lifts Evans up with a military press and throws him onto a cornered opponent
* **Nicknames**
	+ "The Messiah of the Backbreaker"
	+ "Mr. Ring of Honor/ROH"
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "The End of Heartache" by Killswitch Engage

## Championships and accomplishments

* **Pro Wrestling Illustrated**
	+ PWI ranked him #**13** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2011 and 2016
* **Ring of Honor**
	+ ROH World Championship (1 time)
	+ ROH World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Austin Aries
	+ ROH World Television Championship (2 times)
	+ Survival of the Fittest (2005)
	+ Honor Gauntlet (2010)
	+ Toronto Gauntlet (2010)
	+ Second Triple Crown Champion
* **Wrestling Observer Newsletter**
	+ Most Improved Wrestler (2005)

## References

1. ↑ Forman, R. 2006-02-24. Outside The Ring: Roderick Strong . Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Milner, J.. Roderick Strong . *Slam! Sports*. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Wojcik, A. 2003-02-08. Interview with Roderick & Sedrick Strong . Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
4. ↑ Westcott, B. (2003). Independent Professional Wrestling (Florida) Tag Team Title History . Solie.org. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
5. ↑ Wojcik, A. 2003-06-14. Interview with Roderick Strong . Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `WON052515`
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Meltzer, Dave 2015-10-24. Jay Lethal drops ROH TV Title to Roderick Strong . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2015-10-24.
8. ↑ Honor Rising:Japan 2016  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-02-19.
9. ↑ Caldwell, James 2016-02-19. ROH "Honor Rising" in Japan – new ROH TV champion . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2016-02-19.
10. ↑ ROH announces departure of Roderick Strong . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter* (2016-06-22). Retrieved on 2016-06-23.
11. ↑ Meltzer, Dave 2015-12-25. Daily Update: Poll for McGregor's next foe, Trish Stratus to get award. . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2015-12-25.
12. ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 12.12 12.13 12.14 Online World of Wrestling profile . *Online World of Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2009-09-10.
13. ↑ Honor vs. S.C.U.M.: McNEILL previews ROH's 11th Anniversary internet pay-per-view! .
14. ↑ Is Your Body Ready? . Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved on 2013-06-17.
15. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `FinalBattle2012`
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 ROH News: Spoiler-free preview of ROH's Driven PPV .
17. ↑ 10/1 & 10/2 PWG in Burbank, Calif.: Results from Battle of L.A. tourney – Low Ki vs. Chris Hero final; Danielson, Nigel, Aries, Strong, Necro .
18. ↑ Guerre Sans Frontières Results . Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved on 2009-09-10.
19. ↑ St-Pierre, Jake 2013-12-11. Guerrilla Reviewfare: PWG Matt Rushmore . 411MANIA. Retrieved on 2015-04-04.
20. ↑ Carrier, Steve 2014-12-21. Ring of Honor Television Results – December 20th, 2014 . RingsideNews. Retrieved on 2015-04-04.
21. ↑ Fontaine, Paul 2014-05-31. Ring Of Honor TV Report: Roderick Strong vs. ACH, Mike Bennett vs. Jay Briscoe . Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved on 2015-01-07.
22. ↑ Metzger, Mike 2014-05-05. METZGER'S ROH TV RESULTS 5/3: Elgin vs. Romero main event, Ciampa vs. Strong, hype for "War of the Worlds" iPPV . Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved on 2015-01-07.
23. ↑ "Lethal vs Strong 3". *Ring of Honor*. 20 November 2015. 35 minutes in. Known as the messiah of the backbreaker in his early career
24. ↑ Namako, Jason 2013-04-18. Ring of Honor Newswire for April 17, 2013 . WrestleView. Retrieved on 2013-04-21.
25. ↑ CAGEMATCH Themes .
26. ↑ "PWI 500": 1–100 . *Pro Wrestling Illustrated* (2011-08-09). Retrieved on 2011-08-09.
27. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016 . *The Internet Wrestling Database*. Retrieved on 2016-09-01.
28. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `GlorybyHonorIX`
29. ↑ Ring Of Honor World Tag Team Championship history . Ring of Honor. Retrieved on 2010-04-05.
30. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `ROHTV`

## External links

* Ring of Honor profile
* New Japan Pro Wrestling profile
* Online World of Wrestling profile