Claudio Castagnoli Names Tokyo Dome and Arena Mexico as Wrestling Goals – AEW superstar and current ROH World Champion, Claudio Castagnoli, recently spoke with Sports Illustrated to build anticipation for the upcoming Dynamite Grand Slam event, where the Swiss Superman is set to defend his title against NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston, with both titles on the line.
In the interview, Claudio shared his excitement about the opportunity to become a New Japan champion. He expressed his desire to compete in New Japan after leaving WWE, and winning the Strong Openweight Championship opens up exciting possibilities for him. Claudio also emphasized the pride he feels in being the Ring of Honor champion, highlighting the importance of carrying oneself like a champion with or without a title.
“The chance to be a New Japan champion very much excites me. I wanted to go to New Japan after I left WWE, and I did–but I’d like to go again, and what better way than as Strong Openweight champion? It opens a whole new set of possibilities. And I am very proud to be the Ring of Honor champion. I learned a long time ago that you don’t need a belt to hold yourself like a champion. But when you do have one, you must hold yourself to a higher level.”
Furthermore, Claudio revealed two significant goals he has in his wrestling career. One is to perform at the iconic Tokyo Dome, a dream venue for many wrestlers. He hopes to wrestle there at Wrestle Kingdom, New Japan’s prestigious event. The other goal is to wrestle at Arena Mexico, another legendary venue that has eluded him so far.
“Tokyo Dome and Arena Mexico, those are two legendary venues that have eluded me throughout my career. I need to wrestle at both of those places, and I’d love to start with the Tokyo Dome at Wrestle Kingdom. I’m looking forward to taking this title away from Eddie–and wrestling at the Tokyo Dome is something else I’m looking forward to doing.”
As seen below, AEW released a playlist highlighting Claudio’s rivalry with Kingston, which dates back to Claudio’s first run with ROH prior to him signing with WWE
Claudio Castagnoli Names Tokyo Dome and Arena Mexico as Wrestling Goals
