Rohde is originally from
Phoenix, Arizona. He debuted on the Arizona
independent circuit in 2013 with Championship Wrestling from Arizona (CWFA) and Arizona Wrestling Federation (AWF) under the ring name Alexander Hammerstone. In 2014, he wrestled in
Las Vegas for Paragon Pro Wrestling (PPW) and Future Stars of Wrestling (FSW) and
West Coast Wrestling Connection (WCWC) in
Oregon. There he won his first championship, the
WCWC Legacy Championship, in 2014, which he held for 132 days.[4][5] He followed that later in 2014 with the
WCWC Tag Team Championship with partner Grappler 3 (as The Wrecking Crew).[6][7] Later in 2014, Hammerstone capped his time at WCWC by winning the
WCWC Pacific Northwest Championship.[8][9] In 2015, Hammerstone had a tryout with
WWE.[10] In April 2015, he won the PPW Tag Team Championship.[10] In February 2016, he would participate in another WWE tryout. Around this time he also did
extra work for the company, one time appearing as
Tyler Breeze's
bodyguard.[11]
Independent circuit (2016–2019)
In 2016, Hammerstone started working in
California where he appeared for
Championship Wrestling from Hollywood and made his debut for
PCW Ultra. In 2017, he won the FSW Championship from
Eli Drake. During the next two years he would hold the FSW Championship for over 600 combined days.[10] He would receive additional tryouts from WWE in October 2017 and February 2018.[1][12]
In 2018, he started being
pushed heavily in PCW Ultra, getting wins against veteran wrestlers such as,
Jeff Cobb,
Brian Cage,
Daga,
Brody King,
A. C. H., and
Timothy Thatcher.[10] In September of that year, at PCW Ultra Vision Quest, he challenged
Penta El Zero M for the PCW Ultra Heavyweight Championship in a losing effort.[13] That same year, he would wrestle for the nationally broadcast
Ring Warriors during their first season.[10]
On January 3, 2019, Hammerstone competed in a one night tournament for West Coast Pro Wrestling at their event, When the Smoke Clears, to crown the first WCPW Heavyweight Champion. He defeated Tyler Bateman in the finals.[14] In January 2019 , he also competed on
Impact Wrestling's
Impact Xplosion, making his debut for the promotion.[10]
During
WrestleMania 35 weekend, he wrestled in the second annual
Battle Riot match at the
namesake event as the #34 entrant.[18] He eliminated Brian Pillman Jr., Ariel Dominguez and Davey Boy Smith Jr., lasting until the final four until being eliminated by
Mance Warner.[19] On the April 26 episode of Fusion, Dynasty defeated Hart Foundation in a
tables match. The match ended with Hammerstone putting Pillman through the table.[20][21] Hammerstone was announced for the tournament to crown the inaugural
National Openweight Champion.[22] He defeated
Gringo Loco in the semi-final on the May 11 episode of Fusion,[23][24] and Brian Pillman Jr. in the final at
Fury Road on June 1 to become the first National Openweight Champion.[25][26]
Hammerstone successfully defended the title against Kotto Brazil at
Kings of Colosseum, Davey Boy Smith Jr. via disqualification on the July 20 episode of Fusion and the
Caribbean Heavyweight ChampionSavio Vega on the August 10 episode of Fusion.[27][28][29] On the October 12 episode of Fusion, Hammerstone defended the title against the
Crash Heavyweight ChampionRey Horus in a title versus title match. Hammerstone lost via disqualification after interference by the Dynasty.[30] The feud between Dynasty and the Hart Foundation continued as Hammerstone successfully defended the National Openweight Championship against Davey Boy Smith Jr. at MLW's first
pay-per-vieweventSaturday Night SuperFight.[31] After a successful title defense against Douglas James on the November 23 episode of Fusion, Hammerstone participated in the
inauguralOpera Cup tournament,[32] where he defeated his teammate MJF in the quarterfinal but lost to the eventual winner Davey Boy Smith Jr. in the semifinal.[33][34]
Hammerstone continued to successfully defend the National Openweight Championship against the likes of
Aero Star,
T-Hawk and
Laredo Kid in 2020 before MLW went on hiatus due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.[35][36][37] The
storyline explanation was that
Contra Unit attacked several MLW wrestlers and hijacked MLW's headquarters.[38] MLW resumed holding events in November. It was explained in storyline that Hammerstone was a primary force in retrieving MLW from Contra Unit's occupation. The first episode of Fusion in several months took place on November 18, where Hammerstone defeated Jason Dugan and demanded a title shot against
Jacob Fatu for the
MLW World Heavyweight Championship due to being ranked #1 in MLW by
Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI). Hammerstone confronted Fatu later that night but was attacked by Contra's newest member, the debuting
Mads Krügger, turning Hammerstone into a
fan favorite.[39] As a result, Hammerstone began feuding with Krügger, leading to a match between the two for Hammerstone's National Openweight Championship at
Kings of Colosseum on January 6, 2021.[40] The match ended in a double count-out resulting in Hammerstone retaining the title.[41] Hammerstone defeated Krügger in a Baklei Brawl on the March 2 episode of Fusion to end the feud.[42]
World Heavyweight Champion (2021–2023)
After successfully defending the National Openweight Championship against the likes of
L.A. Park and
Mil Muertes,[43][44] Hammerstone participated in the
Battle Riot match as the #35 entrant at
Battle Riot III on July 24, 2021.[45] Hammerstone eliminated the Sentai Death Squad,
Josef Samael,
Simon Gotch,
Daivari and lastly Mads Krügger to win the Battle Riot, thus earning the Golden Ticket which required Hammerstone to cash-in for a World Heavyweight Championship match anytime and anywhere.[46] After retaining the National Openweight Championship against
Tom Lawlor on the September 29 episode of Fusion: Alpha,[47] Hammerstone defeated Jacob Fatu in a title versus title match to win the World Heavyweight Championship and retain his National Openweight Championship at
Fightland, which aired on October 7.[48] As a result of winning the World Heavyweight Championship, Hammerstone relinquished the National Openweight Championship, ending his two-year reign at 865 days.[49] The following month, at
War Chamber, Hammerstone led The Hammerheads (
EJ Nduka,
Richard Holliday,
Matanza Duran and
Savio Vega) to defeat the Contra Unit in the
titular match.[50]
He then feuded with
Cesar Duran after he refused the promoter's offer, feuding with
Black Taurus and
King Muertes. On the premiere episode of Azteca on January 6, 2022, Hammerstone and
Pagano defeated Taurus and Muertes in an
Apocalypto Hardcore match.[51] However, Pagano turned on Hammerstone, taking him on a warehouse, where Richard Holliday rescued him.[52] On the January 27 episode of Azteca, Hammerstone retained the World Heavyweight Championship against
Octagon Jr.[53] Hammerstone successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Pagano in a
falls count anywhere match on the February 10 episode of Fusion. After the match, Holliday turned on Hammerstone by attacking him, thus breaking up the Dynasty.[54]
Hammerstone retained the World Heavyweight Championship against
Davey Richards at
SuperFight and Jacob Fatu and Mads Krügger in a three-way match at
Intimidation Games.[55][56] Hammerstone continued his feud with Holliday. At
Rise of the Renegades, Hammerstone teamed with
The Von Erichs (Marshall and Ross) as The Von Hammers against King Muertes, Mads Krügger and Richard Holliday in a losing effort in a six-man tag team match.[57] Hammerstone successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Holliday at
Kings of Colosseum.[58] On the November 24 episode of Fusion, Hammerstone defeated Holliday in a falls count anywhere match to retain the title and end the feud.[59] Hammerstone would then retain the title against various contenders, such as
Bandido,[60]EJ Nduka in a
last man standing match,[61]Yamato,[62] and
Jacob Fatu at
SuperFight.[63] On July 8, 2023 at
Never Say Never, Hammerstone lost the title to
Alex Kane, ending his reign at 644 days.[64]
World Titan Federation (2023)
As part of a
worked shoot angle, Hammerstone stated on October 28, 2023 that he had requested his release from MLW.[65] At
Fightland, after
Alex Kane had successfully defended the
MLW World Heavyweight Championship against
Jacob Fatu,
Matt Cardona,
Tom Lawlor and other members of World Titan Federation attacked Alex Kane. The lights went down in the arena, which led to Hammerstone making his return to MLW, attacking Fatu, and aligning with World Titan Federation, thus turning heel for the first time since 2020. At MLW Holiday Rush, Hammerstone wrestled Jacob Fatu in a losing effort. After the match, Hammerstone thanked MLW and Court Bauer for giving him an opportunity to wrestle in MLW. Hammerstone then said that his contract with MLW was up on January 1, 2024, and he might have wrestled his last MLW match.[66] with reports linking him to both WWE and
All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
Pro Wrestling Noah (2019)
On July 26, 2019, MLW announced a working agreement with Japanese based promotion
Pro Wrestling Noah, which would include a talent-exchange agreement and content collaboration between the two promotions[67][68] On July 29, it was announced that Hammerstone would represent MLW by participating in the
2019 N1-Victory, where he wrestled in Block A from August 18 to September 16.[69]
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2024–present)
Hammerstone returned to TNA (formerly Impact) on January 13, 2024 at
Hard To Kill, losing to
Josh Alexander.[70] On the February 29th edition of
Impact!, it was announced that Hammerstone officially signed with the promotion and would face Alexander in a rematch at
Sacrifice on March 8.[71] During the bout, as the referee was on the mat recovering after being accidentally struck, Hammerstone would turn heel, hitting Alexander with a low blow, then the Nightmare Pendulum (his version of a
swinging side slam), allowing him to score the victory.[72] Hammerstone took Alexander's head gear as a trophy after the match.[73] On April 20 at
Rebellion, Hammerstone was defeated by Alexander in the third match, which was a
Last Man Standing match.[74]
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (August 17, 2018).
"Lions Pride Sports 360 Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 2, 2021).
"MLW World Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 10, 2020).
"PCW Ultra Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (December 13, 2014).
"WCWC Pacific Northwest Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 13, 2022.