AND NEW! Roderick Strong is the new AEW International Champion.
Strong beat Orange Cassidy for the title at AEW Revolution, picking up the win after hitting the End of Heartache.
After the match, Kyle O’Reilly made his on-air return. He appeared in the ring and applauded Strong for the win, but refused to accept a t-shirt as an invite into Undisputed Kingdom. This is O’Reilly’s first on-air appearance since losing an AEW Interim World Title #1 Contendership to Jon Moxley on June 8, 2022.
Setting a standard
Strong recently spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard about his own health, and O’Reilly’s. Strong said O’Reilly was doing great and believed he’ll be back sooner than later.
“He’s doing great,” Roderick Strong said. “I think it’s just a matter of getting in the right headspace and training and just building that confidence back up. But I think he’ll be back sooner than later. I mean, hopefully, before the summer. That’d be awesome.”
As far as the challenge against Orange Cassidy went, Strong said he had a lot of respect for his opponent.
I’m excited about it because it’s really got me motivated for this match with Orange Cassidy because he’s someone that I have a lot of respect for. And the type of champion and the amount of title defenses, the different style opponents.
“He really has set a standard that I think is hot, and that is what I want to do but on another level. So that’s why that is the title that I wanted to go after because that is the workhorse title, the blue-collar title. Every week you got to go out there and do your thing, and there’s an expectation, and that’s what I want,” he added. “That is the pressure I want, and to have the time to get my feet wet and get comfortable in AEW and then now be able to open it up and have more opportunities to wrestle is big for me.”
Results
AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Roderick Strong (with Undisputed Kingdom)
Strong charges Cassidy, who rolls him up for an early pin attempt. He goes for another pin attempt. Strong drills Cassidy’s injured ribs and takes the fight to him at ringside. He suplexes Cassidy onto the barricade. Cassidy dives onto Strong and hits a diving crossbody. Strong slams him rib-first onto the mat. He grounds Cassidy and continues to hone in on his ribs. Cassidy rallies and slams Strong head-first into the turnbuckle several times. Strong slams Cassidy back-first onto the turnbuckles, sending him crashing to the floor.
Strong maintains the advantage. Cassidy tries to rally, but Strong dumps him with a rib-breaker. Cassidy counters the End of Heartache into a Stunner, but Strong hits another back-breaker. Strong traps Cassidy in a double-legged Boston Crab. He transitions into the Strong-hold, but Cassidy escapes and floors him with a DDT. Cassidy hits a diving DDT. He stomps Strong. Strong hits a knee strike, but Cassidy nails him with a stiff shot. Strong gets his foot on the rope after Cassidy hits the Beach Break.
Strong blocks the Orange Punch and hits the End of Heartache for the win.
Winner and new AEW International Championship: Roderick Strong
Strong celebrates with the Undisputed Kingdom after the bell. Kyle O’Reilly sneaks into the ring and embraces Strong. He gets handed an Undisputed Kingdom shirt, but he refuses it. O’Reilly whispers something to Strong and leaves.
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