WWE Was ‘Tight-Lipped’ About Roderick Strong’s Status For Months

Roderick Strong made his AEW debut this week, and that was quite unexpected. The pro wrestling world is now looking at another fresh addition to the AEW roster, but there’s a lot more to that story.

Click here for our complete coverage of AEW Dynamite this week.

Sean Sapp noted behind Fightful’s paywall that WWE has been “tight-lipped” about Roderick Strong’s status for several months. It has been that long since his last NXT appearance, where he was a part of the disbanding Diamond Mine angle.

Roderick Strong appeared on AEW’s Dynamite. The former WWE wrestler came to the aid of his Undisputed Era ally, Adam Cole. Strong had been absent from WWE TV for several months, and the company had been tight-lipped about his status. There were reports that WWE had considered having him coach through the rest of his deal, but it’s unclear if that pitch ever made it to him.

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It was also noted that Roderick Strong re-signed with WWE in 2021. At the time, “WWE had big plans for him to be the centerpiece of a revamped NXT Cruiserweight division.” That is when Triple H lost control of the 205 Live brand, and all of those plans were changed around.

Roderick Strong requested his release from WWE in 2022, but it was initially denied. The outlet went on to say that several members of the locker room believed that Roderick Strong’s contract was up this year.

WWE talent we spoke to revealed that they believed his contract was set to run until the following year, but this information has not been officially confirmed. Recently, 2K was instructed to remove Roderick Strong from their wrestling game. WWE talent we spoke to said they had not received any updates from the company regarding Strong’s status, and he had not been seen at the WWE Performance Center for some time. However, sources close to Strong stated that he was doing well physically and was cleared to wrestle.

It was also noted that, “many wrestlers in AEW were pleasantly surprised by Strong’s debut, as he is well-liked in the industry. The move to AEW could provide Strong with new opportunities and a fresh start. The wrestling world will undoubtedly be watching to see what Strong’s future holds and how his story will unfold in AEW.” Obviously, Roderick Strong will have a lot of eyes on him.

Tony Khan has been able to sign all 4 members of the Undisputed Era at this point. Of course, Bobby Fish has already departed, but Roddy Strong’s addition to the roster could be a big deal for them.

What’s your take on adding Roderick Strong to the situation in AEW? Do you think he will move the needle? Sound off in the comments!