You know, this guy has had a decently big name on the indies for quite some time now. I'd argue that his ROH Title matches against Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan) all the way back in 2005 was when he first really got over with independent wrestling fans and became respected for his work in the ring. His tag work with Jack Evans before then was well respected too, but it wasn't until those matches with Bryan where people really began to admire his work.
If you look at the roster from Ring of Honor in that time period though, nearly all those guys went on to achieve greater success, whether it be in WWE, TNA, Japan, or Mexico. Roderick Strong though, while getting many try-outs and opportunities with WWE and TNA, was never offered a full contract with either company. And he's never been a hot commodity internationally. So he's stayed on the American indies all this time and while he's remained a respected wrestler by the fans, he never truly became an "indy darling," as people like to say.
He was gifted an ROH Title run back in 2010 and held the thing for about six months, but who gave a shit? I sure as hell didn't. In fact, I think most people consider that time period to be the worst in ROH history. Strong was only given the belt out of his loyalty to the company; although is it really loyalty when no one is offering you anything to leave?
It sounds like I'm trashing the guy... I'm not. There was a period where I was a fan, and then there was a very long period where I got sick of him. Heel turns, babyface turns... it was all the same stuff. He was just there, and bland at every turn. Some cool moves in the ring didn't make up for how generic his character was.
I'm creating this thread now though to say that Roddy has finally, essentially out of nowhere, come into his own and is BETTER THAN EVER. It shocks me just how good he is right now.
When he first won the PWG Title, I was bummed because I thought it was only given to him out of loyalty, much like the ROH Title run in 2010, and also due to certain wrestlers not being able to compete in PWG anymore because of their contracts with ROH. But shockingly, his title reign has been fantastic thus far. He truly has been a great, great heel. His character in ROH still leaves a little to be desired, but if you watch PWG, I think you would be as amazed as me the strides Roddy has made in such a short period of time. And even in ROH, Roddy is delivering his best matches in YEARS with that company. I can't wait for his match with Nakamure next week, and I'm sure he's going to steal the show in the Triple Threat match tonight.
You can still take pop shots at Roddy, criticizing his promos and bitching about certain things in his offensive arsenal in the ring, but I just don't see how one can objectively look at this guy and not see the improvements he's made recently. I've known of this guy for well over 10 years now, and just now do I see a fantastic wrestler. It's truly mind-blowing to me. I could even make the argument that he's the wrestler of the year for 2015 thus far. Great matches everywhere you look, by far the best shape he's ever been in, becoming a very entertaining character (there's seriously no one who plays a douchebag better, lol).... I never thought I'd see the day.
My point is that you should never write a pro wrestler completely off. You never know when they will come into their own. Always keep an open mind with these guys. They can turn the corner at any minute and instantly become a favorite of yours, which Roderick Strong has certainly done for me.
[YOUTUBE]2eAGxiA4p2Q[/YOUTUBE]
If you look at the roster from Ring of Honor in that time period though, nearly all those guys went on to achieve greater success, whether it be in WWE, TNA, Japan, or Mexico. Roderick Strong though, while getting many try-outs and opportunities with WWE and TNA, was never offered a full contract with either company. And he's never been a hot commodity internationally. So he's stayed on the American indies all this time and while he's remained a respected wrestler by the fans, he never truly became an "indy darling," as people like to say.
He was gifted an ROH Title run back in 2010 and held the thing for about six months, but who gave a shit? I sure as hell didn't. In fact, I think most people consider that time period to be the worst in ROH history. Strong was only given the belt out of his loyalty to the company; although is it really loyalty when no one is offering you anything to leave?
It sounds like I'm trashing the guy... I'm not. There was a period where I was a fan, and then there was a very long period where I got sick of him. Heel turns, babyface turns... it was all the same stuff. He was just there, and bland at every turn. Some cool moves in the ring didn't make up for how generic his character was.
I'm creating this thread now though to say that Roddy has finally, essentially out of nowhere, come into his own and is BETTER THAN EVER. It shocks me just how good he is right now.
When he first won the PWG Title, I was bummed because I thought it was only given to him out of loyalty, much like the ROH Title run in 2010, and also due to certain wrestlers not being able to compete in PWG anymore because of their contracts with ROH. But shockingly, his title reign has been fantastic thus far. He truly has been a great, great heel. His character in ROH still leaves a little to be desired, but if you watch PWG, I think you would be as amazed as me the strides Roddy has made in such a short period of time. And even in ROH, Roddy is delivering his best matches in YEARS with that company. I can't wait for his match with Nakamure next week, and I'm sure he's going to steal the show in the Triple Threat match tonight.
You can still take pop shots at Roddy, criticizing his promos and bitching about certain things in his offensive arsenal in the ring, but I just don't see how one can objectively look at this guy and not see the improvements he's made recently. I've known of this guy for well over 10 years now, and just now do I see a fantastic wrestler. It's truly mind-blowing to me. I could even make the argument that he's the wrestler of the year for 2015 thus far. Great matches everywhere you look, by far the best shape he's ever been in, becoming a very entertaining character (there's seriously no one who plays a douchebag better, lol).... I never thought I'd see the day.
My point is that you should never write a pro wrestler completely off. You never know when they will come into their own. Always keep an open mind with these guys. They can turn the corner at any minute and instantly become a favorite of yours, which Roderick Strong has certainly done for me.
[YOUTUBE]2eAGxiA4p2Q[/YOUTUBE]
