411 Wrestling Interview: Claudio Castagnoli
Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 04.03.2009
Jeffrey Harris catches up with the Most Money Making Man, Claudio Castagnoli to talk about ROH and their upcoming shows this weekend.
Claudio Castagnoli is a current superstar in Ring of Honor and the independent wrestling scene. Claudio's been a regular in such promotions as PWG, Chikara, and CZW as well having played a major role in the CZW/ROH war in 2006. Also in 2006, Claudio formed the greatest tag team in the history of professional wrestling, the Kings of Wrestling. The Kings were famous for having held the tag team belts for Chikara, CZW, and ROH all at the same time before their premature break-up in late 2006 when it appeared that Claudio was bound for the WWE. Life though had other plans for Claudio, but Claudio endured and continued on with ROH where he still appears today.
Claudio recently made his HDNet debut on ROH's new weekly wrestling show. He will be competing at the ROH Wrestlemania Weekend double-shot. On the April 4 show, Claudio will be competing in a 4-way match against El Generico, Brent Albright, and Blue Demon. A little while ago, Claudio spoke with me over the phone while driving on the road to New York City in order to work ROH's 7th Anniversary shows.
Jeffrey "The Vile One" Harris: How does it feel to be a part of Ring of Honor now celebrating their seventh year?
Claudio Castagnoli: It feels great . . . and hopefully its going to be another seven years ahead. Its really great to celebrate in New York City, that's the the place to celebrate, and the Hammerstein Ballroom has a great atmosphere, its a great building, so I'm really looking forward to it.
TVO: In 2006, after the CZW/ROH war and then winning the tag team titles with Chris Hero from Aries and Strong, it looked like you were WWE bound. Do you want to set the record straight on what happened?
CC: Sure, I've done it many times before. Its just, I was going to WWE, and I was under contract. And I was supposed to go down to OVW at the end of the year, but they called me I think maybe four days before I was going to move, and they told me that they released me for whatever reasons that they had at the time. I never really found out. A month and a half before they closed closed Deep South and released like 30 more people, so I guess it was just part of that and basically . . . I think it was too bad because I made arrangements to leave everything, and I was still there. So I just took it as motivation, and just get stronger and being better and basically show them what they missed out on. And if you are going to watch ROH and myself on HDNet, I think you are definitely going to see what they missed out on.
TVO: I already know what they missed out on Claudio, believe me.
CC: *Laughs* Good.
TVO: Right, so it wasn't because of VISA issues because you are still here.
CC: No, no. I travel all the time. I was in Japan in January and then I was in Europe in February. The weekend they called me was a Sunday, and on Thursday that day I came back from Europe -- I had been out of the country, and you know how [the USA? unintelligble] so it was definitely not an issue.
TVO: How do you feel you've improved since you started working in ROH and working with some of the best wrestlers on the planet?
CC: I think if you watch me from 2005 and me in 2009, its a big improvement. And I could tell you when I'm in the ring with some of the best wrestlers in the world, you cannot coast by or not try. You have to be your best and you have always have to do that. And I think that's the big challenge of Ring of Honor.
TVO: Were any wrestlers in particular an influence on the style you adapted in the ring?
CC: Oh definitely. You know I would say everyone I trained with, where I trained at had a big influence. I had the chance to train with Dave Taylor, the Honky Tonk Man . . . I trained in Mexico a little bit, and I trained over here in the United States . . . and I just pick and choose whatever fits me the best, and I create a little style that's me, but I think you could definitely see influences from all types of people.
TVO: You came into ROH as "The Most Money Making Man." Where did that gimmick and character come from?
CC: That's a good question. It was something that was there, and I went with it. It was great fun and I went with it . . . Back in Europe, me and my tag team partner, Ares, were Swiss Money Holdings. And because we were rich and from Switzerland, and he [Ares] was the profit producing partner, and I was the most money making man. So that's where that came from.
TVO: Did you ever think of buying your own zillion dollar championship belt?
CC: I had a belt from IWA Switzerland that lasted a whole of two shows, but I had it at a bunch of locations. It was a really awesome belt. It had like red and white springs(?) all over it, and I would consider that as like my Million Dollar Belt. And I still have it at home in my closet.
TVO: You had a great tag team duo with Chris Hero as the Kings of Wrestling. But working in a tag team, what is your most favorite aspect of working with a partner and the least favorite aspect?
CC: I would say my favorite part is you have a partner, especially a successful tag team which me and Chris Hero were, but the good part is you have a tag team partner that you know inside and he knows you inside out and you can know what he's going to do in the ring next and adapt to it. That's really the great part. On the flip side, which is probably the same thing, you have a partner you have to trust. And if he makes a mistake, his mistake will affect you. So that's the flip side of it. Catch 22, that's the saying?
TVO: Yeah. Since you've worked for ROH, CZW, PWG, and Chikara which are all very different indy wrestling companies with different presentations, is there anyone you feels suits you best?
CC: Yeah definitely. I haven't worked for CZW in a while, and its always funny how that question still comes up because its been a while now. I think Chikara's great, it suits me well because I can just do what I like, and my style is appreciated there. ROH is always such a big challenge, some of the best wrestlers wrestled there, and . . . PWG in the west coast, it was fun to go out there and wrestle there . . . and I have great fun and I love it.
TVO: Out of all the great matches you've had in your career and the great variety of opponents you've faced, is there one dream match in your career you haven't had?
CC: I think there is, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Its one of those generic questions like "Who do you want to wrestle?" "What's your dream match?" And I can never never answer it, I always answer something different because always depends on what kind of mood I'm in like I would like to wrestle John Cena at Wrestlemania. I would like to wrestle the Undertaker at Survivor Series. I would like to wrestle Papa Shango again for example. Like today I'm going to wrestle Jerry Lynn, and I'm very excited about that. Its just whatever comes to the plate, and take it one day at a time.
TVO: You've had some wars in the past with the current ROH World Champion, Nigel McGuinness. Is dethroning Nigel "McLariat" McGuinness and winning the ROH World Title on your radar?
CC: Me and Nigel McGuinness have a long history. We have a mutual respect for each other as you know we are both from Europe, we both came over here, we both do incredibly well for ourselves. And I think I took him to the limit more than any other guy did, and there's more respect on both sides, and I think Nigel will hold the title for a while unless he defends against me again because I think next time I take it. I've got a lot of respect for Nigel. He puts his body through a lot, but he still keeps fighting, that's all he does . . . at the moment Nigel and me are on the same page, so I'll support him as much as I can so he can hold onto the championship for a long time.
TVO: How do you feel about ice cream?
CC: I love ice cream. There's this certain kind of ice cream in Switzerland, its caramel ice cream, and it has like chunks of caramel in there, and I think that would be my favorite ice cream. I actually was an ice cream at a Chikara show once, and people still talk about it to this day.
TVO: Do you think you might ever tag with Chris Hero again or have you parted ways too much?
CC: I tag with him in Japan, we went there last year for Pro Wrestling NOAH, and this year for NOAH again. And hopefully again soon. I don't know about in America tagging, I guess never say never, but you definitely never know.
TVO: I know you have to say never say never in where you might end up for your career, but do you see yourself staying in ROH for now?
CC: Yeah, I'm definitely with ROH. Its a really exciting time to be there you with TV now, and I think its going to do really well . . . its a really big feeling in the lockerroom and everyone's really excited.
TVO: Anyone you want to take the time to thank or give a shout out to right now?
CC: Oh yeah. You know I'd like to give a shout to my friend Ares. All my friends and family back home. All the people I'm driving in the car with right now, who shall not be disclosed. I'd like to plug my website: www.claudiocastagnoli.com. Go to ROHWrestling.com, buy the DVD's. Go to ChikaraPro.com, Check out Chikara King of Trios, a huge tournament with Johnny Saint is going to be there for the first time ever in America. So you definitely need to see that . . . And of course, how could I forget, 411mania.com.
