Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: How did you get into professional wrestling, and why did you want to get into it?

Roderick Strong: My dad started wrestling as a hobby and was being trained by Jim Niedhart. I would come and watch every practice adn then one day jim talked about harry smith (davey smith's ) son being a wrestler and being around my age. so we meet wrestled around and I had a blast and right then i knew it was what i wanted to do.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey:Many fans and people, including myself, consider you to be the man of a thousand backbreakers. Where the hell do you get your offense from? Is it a mixture of watching tapes and just trying things?

Roderick Strong: Yeah, I got my first inovative one from my good friend and student erick stevens, we were just talking about moves and he suggested soemthing and I tried it out and I liked it alot. From there, I just started thinking of any way possible for me to get into a backbreaker.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey:You used to be 1/2 of one of Florida's hottest tag teams, The Strong Brothers. Most fans in the northeast might compare The Strong Brothers to Da Hit Squad, meaning that both teams have split, and one member has recieved more praise and notoriety. Is that comparison fair? How do you compare yourself and the Strong Brothers to Da Hit Squad?

Roderick Strong: I don't think any team can be compared to da hit squad and what they did. But I agree that both teams, one guy decided they wanted to improve and get tot hat next level faster than the other guy. Nothing against sedrick or monsta mack, both great workers.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey:Speaking of The Strong Brothers, why did you guys break up? What was going on in your mind when your partner worked in the 2003 ECWA Super 8? Being his trainer, was there any jealousy because you haven't been in it or were you happy for him?

Roderick Strong: we broke up because our careers were going in two different directions, so we talked and decided it would be best to split up. I was very excited to hear baout him in the super 8, being that i trained him, it was a great honor for him to be in such a tournament.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey:You are an integral part of NWA Florida, even representing them as the NWA FL X-Division Champion. What is it like working in NWA Florida?

Roderick Strong: I love working for NWA florida, they are who i work for in florida and they are the best run company in florida, joe price is an outstanding promoter and all of the workers are amazing people and talents.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey:What are the similarities and differences of the Florida indies compared to the northeast indies? You have recently branched out and started working up here by working in JAPW, 3PW, EWA, CZW and others. Is the Northeast the place to work in the indies?

Roderick Strong: They florida indies are like a watered down version of the northeast, because we have the old school southern style and alot of the younger guys are trying to bring in that crazy out of control high flying take every risk possible style. I love the norhteast, tehre is a ton of great talent and great feds, just having the chance to work with all the great guys up there is the best part.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey:You are set to make your Ring of Honor debut on March 13th. First off, what are your feelings over the RF Scandal? Do you think ROH can rebound? Do you have any personal reservations or doubts about working there now?

Roderick Strong: I personally am not going to comment ont he RF scandal, I think with all the great talent and with gabe and doug still there, it will be just fine. I think it is about one perosn, i don;t think what happen should overshadow the great product, but of course in this world and this business, that will always happen. I just hope everyone out there realizes they still need to support what built ROH and that is the great workers.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey:You used to work in IPW. What are your feelings about that promotion closing and why do you think they needed to get out?

Roderick Strong: I was heartbroken when IPW closed, but that was also an eye opener, that i need to get out there and try to get out of florida and to see the rest of the wrestlign world and shwo them what talent I have. I think closing was the vest for the company it will be missed, but will always be remembered.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey:Likewise, what are your feelings on MLW closing, after working there on January 9th? Is it fair to call Court Bauer a money mark?

Roderick Strong: I was alittle upset MLW closed, i thought they had great talent and a good product. I think court had a vision and it didn;t work out the way he thoguht it was going to, but i wouldn;t call him a money mark.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey:There has been alot of controversy in the Florida area between FIPW and NWA Florida. For most people in the northeast, no one understands what's going on down there. Can you tell us what's going on down there, and what is the end result because of this?

Roderick Strong: It all has been started by the promoter of FIP, he started calling fire marshalls and all that kind fo good stuff that happens with rival promoters. But NWA never said anythign and just htought he would stop, well until he made it personal it wasn't that big of a deal. But once he crossed that line, he upset everyone from office to workers and that was not a good thing. Well the end is FIP was never anything to begin with, so they were just a speed bump for NWA Florida to get over and they have succeeded.

WORD ASSOCIATION

Ron Niemi
- Great guy and promoter. Has helped me out alot.

Joe Price
- great promoter and stand up guy. take care of his boys.

Aaron Royal
- Awesome booker, very very very smart, him and Ron make a GREAT team

Fat Frank
- awesome guy and great booker/promoter, always treats me with respect and takes care of the people working for him.

Ray Sager
- super nice and easy going. works his ass off promoting along with frank and helps get JAPW name out there.

Rob Feinstein
- ........... no comment

Gabe Sapolsky
- such a great mind for booking and is stepping up big time with everything going on.

< Doug Gentry
- stepping up as well with gabe and is a super nice guy.

Jasmin St Claire
- sweetheart and takes care of the guys that work for her.

Blue Meanie
- funny guy and is very easy going and helps run a great promotion.

John Zandig
- Great promoter, great booker, and very nice guy. makes you feel right at home with his company.

Sedrick Strong
- alot of heart

Danny Maff
- I consider him my "big brother" in the business, he has taken care of me and I owe him more than I think I could ever repay him. Most improved over 2003 also has turned himself into one of the top indy guys.

Jimmy Jacobs
- super nice guy and can work, puts people over like a million bucks and never complains a bit.

Samoa Joe
- AMAZING, big, agile and can go with ANYONE

Sonjay Dutt
- he is the man. Have kind of started a fued with him out of the blue all over the place and I am really enjoying it, he brings the best out of you.

Chris Sabin
- great guy and can go. hope to work him sometime soon.

Homicide
- one of the hardest dudes in this business and one of the best there is right now. I have alot of respect for him.

The Shane Twins
- Best big man tag team in the business hands down.

Lex Lovett
- can do almost everything

Jerelle Clark
- watch out for the "630' thats all i got to say

Steve Madison
- knows his oldschool like no other and is bringing that back to FLorida and everywhere else he goes.

Steve Corino
- nice, easy going guy. I have always gotten along with him

Billy Fives
- great guy and watch the kicks!!!!!!

Michael Shane
- nice guy

Scoot Andrews
- has helped me grow in many ways in my career and I can't thank him enough for that.

Naphtali
- CRAZy and old school mixed a MUST see!!!

Sweet Lee XTC
- very easy going and easy to get along with.

Amy Love
- has a ton of potential

Dee Dee Ventura
- one bad B*tch

Vince Russo
- he is who he is. nice guy from what i have seen

Vince McMahon
- the big dog of this whole business.

Bastion Booger
- hahahaha next............

Giant Gonzales
- tall

Declaration of Independents
- great site with great journalists

Roderick Strong
- young guy, working hard for everyhting he gets in this business.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: You recently made your NWA TNA Debut. You teamed with Jimmy Rave, Shark Boy and Jason Cross against Sonjay Dutt, Chris Sabin, Jerry Lynn and Elix Skipper. Those 7 names alone, plus yours, are some of the most talked about wrestlers today on the indy and TNA scene. What was it like working there, and what was it like working with such great talent?

Roderick Strong: it was awesome working there, everyone was so nice. It was an honor to work with those guys, they are all awesome and I hope i get a chance to work all of them one on one.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What are your opinions on ring rats? Are you a fan?

Roderick Strong: no comment and no

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey:What's a normal day in the life of Roderick Strong?

Roderick Strong: I wake up at 9 eat, go to work, hit the gym and then watch tapes until I go to sleep. Just trying to improve at all times.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What is the best angle you were ever part of? What was the worst?

Roderick Strong: Fued with Scoot Andrews and Mike Sullivan and the feudd with short buss those two fueds help me and Sedrick make our names in florida.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: Who are your favorite wrestlers to watch today?

Roderick Strong: homicide, briscoes, aj styles, chris daniels, dan maff, samoa joe, red, alex shelley, sonjay dutt, shawn michaels, there are just so many, I try to watch and learn from everyone.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What are your feelings on the internets role in wrestling?

Roderick Strong: I feel it sometimes has a big influence on soemthing or someone in the business, I have no problems with it though.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What does the future hold for Roderick Strong? Will we be seeing more of you in the northeast?

Roderick Strong: I am not sure what the future holds for me, but I hope to just keep working hard and having the chance to work with such great companies and great workers. As of right now, I will be back in the northeast April 24th after the 3/13 ROH show.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey:What do you want to say to anyone reading this?

Roderick Strong: Check out my website www.strongbrothers.com and thanks to everyone who is supporting me and to everyone giving me a chance to show them what I have to offer this business.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: Thanks for this interview.