Claudio Castagnoli, the AEW star and reigning ROH World Champion, recently made his highly anticipated debut in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)’‹.
Despite the loss in his debut match, Castagnoli cherishes the experience, calling it a “moment to remember.”
The Thrill of Competition
Claudio’s first NJPW match saw him joining forces with his Blackpool Combat Club brothers, Jon Moxley and Shota Umino, at the Dominion pay-per-view event.
They faced off against Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, and Hiroshi Tanahashi for the coveted NEVER Six-Man Tag Team titles’‹.
A Moment to Remember
In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Castagnoli opened up about his experience.
He spoke passionately about being “in the moment from the second I step out into the arena,” and how standing in the ring with Tanahashi in his first NJPW match was truly unforgettable’‹.
Claudio Castagnoli and his Signature Swing
Highlighting one of the most memorable moments of the match, Castagnoli talked about delivering his signature swing to Okada. This particular swing, he believes, is one he will never forget’‹.
“Swinging Okada, somebody I’ve known for a long time, in Japan, in my first match in NJPW, that is definitely a top swing. Mox said it yesterday’”we have our visas and we’ll be back.”
Despite the competition, Castagnoli praised his opponents, particularly their ability to work incredibly well as a unit. He expressed admiration for Okada’s resilience, Tanahashi’s longevity, and Ishii’s fighting spirit’‹’‹: “They work surprisingly well together as a unit. Individually, I was impressed most by Okada’s resilience, Tanahashi’s longevity and Ishii’s fighting spirit.”
Looking Ahead
Although Okada’s team emerged victorious, another challenge lies ahead. Another Blackpool Combat Club member has thrown down the gauntlet for Forbidden Door 2, setting the stage for another thrilling encounter’‹’‹.
With his debut now etched in history, Castagnoli is eager for what the future holds in NJPW. As he put it succinctly, “we have our visas and we’ll be back.”’‹
