Roderick Strong returns to WWE NXT as part of Diamond Mine
Roderick Strong returned to NXT tonight as part of the brand’s newest faction.
After several weeks of teaser videos, it was revealed that the Diamond Mine would be opening on tonight’s NXT. The show ended with Strong, Tyler Rust, and Hideki Suzuki appearing in Diamond Mine tracksuits as Strong attacked Kushida. Malcolm Bivens appeared with Strong, Rust, and Suzuki as Diamond Mine’s manager.
Kushida lost to Kyle O’Reilly in the main event of tonight’s NXT. Adam Cole then tried to attack O’Reilly after the match. With the brawl between O’Reilly and Cole leaving Kushida alone in the ring, he was then attacked by Strong. Bivens threw Kushida’s NXT Cruiserweight Champion on top of him after the attack. Bivens declared that this is Diamond Mine.
Tonight was Strong’s first appearance on NXT since an angle where he resigned from the brand this April. Strong handed in his resignation following the implosion of Undisputed Era.
Suzuki is a former star for Big Japan Pro Wrestling. It was announced in April that he had joined the WWE Performance Center as a coach. Tonight was Suzuki’s NXT debut, but he wasn’t identified by name.
Rust’s appearance tonight was the first time he’s been on NXT since March.
The teaser videos leading into Diamond Mine’s debut showed unidentified athletes working out at an MMA gym with phrases like “Pressure Makes Diamonds” appearing on the screen.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.