Chris Lindsey, professionally known as Roderick Strong, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment, performing in their developmental territory NXT. Prior to pursuing a career in wrestling, Lindsey earned an American football scholarship to the University of South Florida, where he majored in Business for two years before putting his academic pursuits on hold.
Lindsey's journey into professional wrestling began in the autumn of 1994, when his father, a former collegiate wrestler, started training under Jim Neidhart. After attending several training sessions and meeting Harry Smith, a second-generation wrestler, Lindsey decided to follow in his father's footsteps and become a wrestler. He was trained by Neidhart and other wrestlers in Tampa, Florida, and made his debut in 2001 on the Florida independent circuit as Roderick Strong.
Strong's early career was marked by a series of matches with his brother Sedrick, but their partnership ultimately came to an end when Strong turned heel on February 8, 2003, betraying his brother and aligning himself with the Alliance of Defiance, a dominant heel stable. This move led to a number of high-profile matches, including a triple threat match at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, where Strong and his new allies, Authors of Pain and The Undisputed Era, faced off against Strong's former team, the Strong Brothers.
At NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, Strong made a shocking turn, attacking his former ally, Pete Dunne, and helping his new teammate, Kyle O'Reilly, secure the win. This marked the first time Strong had turned heel in his career, and he went on to join The Undisputed Era, with whom he defended the NXT Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania Access.
In addition to his in-ring accomplishments, Strong has also competed in major events, including the Greatest Royal Rumble, where he entered at number 34 and eliminated Rhyno before being eliminated by Baron Corbin. Throughout his career, Strong has established himself as a formidable competitor, known for his technical grappling skills and ability to adapt to any situation.
