Roderick Strong is honored to be the AEW International Champion.
At AEW Dynasty, Roderick Strong defeated Orange Cassidy to win the AEW International Championship. Cassidy was renowned for the work he did to elevate the title, as he defended it on a regular basis in both of his title reigns.
Speaking on AEW Unrestricted, Roderick Strong was asked about what beating Cassidy and holding the title meant to him.
"I want to say it’s an honor, but obviously, that seems strange to say, but it honestly is. This is the title that, immediately when it came about, that was something I’ve had my eye on, even when I wasn’t with the company. So to have the opportunity to face someone like Orange Cassidy, as talented as he is, kind of surreal at the moment. People were talking to me about that, just how amazing that pay-per-view was overall and just the fact that it was a spotlight opportunity, and I took advantage of it, so it was awesome," Strong said.
Strong was then asked to comment on what the title and being a champion in AEW meant to him. He emphasized that it has meant the world to him. Strong noted that he wanted to make people earn title shots, and that's exactly what he has done.
"It’s meant the world to me, and something that was important to me after I won it, or before I won it, when I knew I was gonna win it, was the fact that I was gonna make people earn their opportunities to face me. I appreciate what Orange did for a lot of people, but like everything in my career, I had to take the long path. So I’m gonna make people take the long path. You see how often people quit, and they’re not willing to really sacrifice. They say they will, but when they’re in that situation, they won’t. So to me, this means. next to my wife and my son, it means everything," Strong said.
At AEW Double or Nothing, Roderick Strong will defend the AEW International Championship against Will Ospreay.
Fightful will have coverage of AEW Double or Nothing as it airs on May 26, as well as a post-show podcast on our YouTube channel.
