By Amanda on Wednesday, May 7 2008


Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Blood vessels have been ruptured on chests. Staples were needed to close wounds in the head. Dreams of title victories have been shattered. A head was even shaved clean. These are only a few of the things FIP World Heavyweight Champion Roderick Strong and Erick Stevens have done to each other.

“So far what has happened is nothing,” Stevens said. “This is going to get a whole lot worse. I have to admit something. My hatred for Roderick has grown so intense that when we get into the heat of battle, I’m not sure I can be responsible for what I’m capable of.”

Stevens’ disdain for Strong is deep. Can you blame him? Strong has smashed him with chairs and attacked him. Roderick robbed Stevens of the FIP World Title when Stevens finally returned home to Florida with the belt. Erick never imagined Strong could take anything else from him. Then Strong saved Stevens’ trademark mohawk to take his identity.

“Roderick Strong has changed my career forever,” Stevens said. “He’s changed my whole outlook on life. He’s put scars on my body that will never go away. Nothing, and I mean nothing, hurt worse than when he stole that FIP World Heavyweight Title from me when I made my first defense in front of my friends and the fans that have been with me from the start. Now I have nothing to lose. I can’t get any lower. Roderick has done everything he can to hurt me, now it is my turn to destroy him.”

Stevens will get some opportunities to do just that. May 10th at the historic Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City will see Strong put the FIP World Heavyweight Title on the line in a three-way vs. Stevens and Go Shiozaki. Stevens has a chance to win back the belt he cherishes so much and dish out a beating to his hated adversary. This will be a battle of hard-hitters.

Then June 7th in Philadelphia will see the war. It will be the last ever singles match in ROH between Strong and Stevens. The stipulation is the most violent one possible in ROH as the Philly bout will be a Fight Without Honor.

“They are saying that the Hammerstein Ballroom is the place to be on May 10th,” Stevens said. “I couldn’t agree more. That night not only will I beat the crap out of Roderick, but I’ll take that belt he values more than anything. Then on June 7th in Philly we are going to redefine brutality in the Fight Without Honor. Roderick, it is going to get a whole lot worse for you before it gets better.”