Report: When Roderick Strong Left WWE Revealed

On the April 26 episode of AEW Dynamite, Roderick Strong made a surprise debut, coming to the aid of former Undisputed Elite ally Adam Cole. This came as a huge shock to not just the in-arena crowd but to everyone watching at home too, because in a rarity, there had been no inclination from anyone that Strong was even out of his WWE contract.

Since it is now clear that he is no longer in WWE, with AEW being announced as his new full-time home, news has emerged on when he left WWE and how AEW managed to keep his debut a surprise.

PWInsider Elite have reported that Strong’s WWE contract came to an end last November, though due to WWE not publicly announcing departures from their developmental brand and due to this being a contract expiration rather than a release, it wasn’t known to many, with the consensus being that he just wasn’t getting used on NXT programming.

The report went on to say that Strong and AEW had been in contact for a little while, and that his return was planned for this episode in Florida to lessen the chance of Strong being spotted arriving at the show, since it is where he resides.

Strong will make his in-ring debut on the May 3 episode of Dynamite, teaming up with Adam Cole, Orange Cassidy & Bandido to take on the Jericho Appreciation Society.