Cedric Alexander vs. Roderick Strong
The streamers are barely cleared for the ring as Cedric sprints down the ramp and attacks Strong, brawling to the outside. We get a suicide dive to the outside, and a "crash and burn" from Kevin Kelly. Roddy takes a cheap shot at the roll back in the ring. He locks Cedric in the tree of woe and hits not one, not two, but three running dropkicks to the face. The referee gets Alexander out of the ropes and Strong immediately goes into a side headlock to the control the pace. Cedirc battles back briefly, but is caught with a dropkick, and back they go into the rest hold.
Roddy transitions into an abdominal stretch, but Cedric counters out of it with a nice arm drag combo, followed by a 540 kick to the side of the head! Michinoku Driver – 1…2…Strong kicks out. Cedric tries for a fireman's carry but Strong wriggles out of it and nails a backbreaker for a nearfall. Alexander with a roll-up out of nowhere, but Strong kicks out and hits him with the kitchen sink knee lift. They fight to the top turnbuckle with Roddy in control, and he's able to pull off a superplex for a very close nearfall. Strong is not happy that he can't put away his much younger opponent.
The Strong Hold is locked in the center of the ring. Alexander pulls himself to the ropes and transitions into a roll-up for a two-count. Roddy starts the trash talking now, but Cedric actually spits in his face. Strong snaps and plants him with a series of knees and elbows, followed by a big spinning kick. Alexander with a surprise kick out of nowhere, following up with a springboard kick! 1..2…no! He leaps to the top rope, but Strong catches him with a backbreaker. Roddy sets up for a Sick Kick, but Cedric counters with a backbreaker of his own. 1…2…No! Cedric with a small package – 1…2…3! Big upset!
Winner: Cedric Alexander
KILLAM: There we go! Like I said, once they started in with the story-driven matches business would pick up and the crowd would get behind the in-ring action. Great match. Great story. Cedric had to win, and I've enjoyed following his rise from the tag team break-up, to trying to "make it" as a singles guy.
-After the match the Decade hits the ring and attacks Cedric Alexander. Strong hits him with a Sick Kick while BJ and Jacobs set up four chairs in the middle of the ring. Strong puts him through all of the chairs, as Kevin Kelly freaks out and demands the truck cut to some footage.
