Background: With Low Ki’s inability to make the show, and Davey Richards suffering from a staph infection, PWG champion Claudio Castagnoli had to take on fellow King of Wrestling Chris Hero in a rematch from their “All Star Extravaganza: Night One” battle that saw Claudio defeat Hero.
Eight
Reseda, CA
July 23, 2011
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Chris Hero
Claudio Castagnoli and Chris Hero hit the ropes due to their previous PWG encounter saw the top rope break. As the commentary compared Claudio’s physique to a horse, Hero and the champ had a hard time gaining an advantage against each other on the mat. Every time Claudio locked Hero in something, the challenger would turn it into a pinning predicament. Moments later, the positions switched with Hero looking for holds while Claudio wanted to pin his way to a victory. Cravat by Hero kept Castagnoli off his game as Steen and Excalibur talked deceased wrestlers. Showing great technique, Hero shimmied and nipped his way out of a side headlock. Big shoulder block by Claudio dropped the rallying Hero, headlocking him again. Countering Hero’s reversal of the headlock with a head scissors, Claudio did a handstand that freed himself from the scissor before head locking Hero again. Castagnoli went from the headlock attack to wrist locking Hero over and over again.
Things started getting heated when Claudio yanked Hero to the mat by his wrist, causing a sick cracking sound. Hero shook off the pain, big booting Claudio to the floor. The challenger’s fake dive turned into a sliding side kick that dropped Claudio like a ton of bricks on the floor. Castagnoli recovered, but put himself at a disadvantage almost instantly by missing a knife edge chop that saw Claudio’s hand wrap around the steel ring post. The action returned inside with the champion stuck against the ropes. A knife edge chop battle ensued until Hero snapped Claudio in position for a huge senton splash. Hero was looking for an attack on the apron when Claudio grabbed Hero’s legs, using a rope assisted dragon screw leg whip.
Hanging Hero in the ropes, Claudio unleashed a dropkick on Hero’s kneecap. Stomping by Claudio saw Hero’s left knee bounce off the mat. Hero was desperate to keep himself as close to the ropes as possible, but Claudio’s immense strength allowed the champ to yank Hero across the ring before putting him in a deathlock. When Hero made it to his feet after using the ropes to save himself, he connected with one of those patented elbows. Sadly for Hero, he tried to find haven in the corner closest to him, leaving himself wide open for ring post assisted attacks from the champ.
Claudio had complete control until Hero turned the pop up European uppercut into a sunset flip. Castagnoli kicking out stunned Hero long enough for the champ to uppercut Hero in the back. Castagnoli stalked the challenger, setting him up for holds like the figure four leg lock. Rather than legally work his way out of the hold, Hero clawed Castagonli’s face to free himself. Both men rolled to the floor, only for Claudio to slam Hero across the front row. Claudio tossing a chair at Hero made Chris look at his opponent like, “Dude, WTF?”
Claudio followed Hero inside the ring, stomping on Hero’s leg when Hero’s limbs gave out on him. Half Boston crab by Claudio had Hero in great agony, but Hero was close enough to the ropes to save himself. With some impressive maneuvering, Claudio snap marred Hero leg first against the ropes. Another dragon screw from Castagnoli almost gained him the victory. Following Hero into the corner, Claudio took a big boot and several knife edge chops to his jaw. Castagnoli kept his cool, going for a shin breaker. Hero countered with the cravat neck breaker. Taking his knee pad off his right knee, Hero double padded his left leg before unleashing a slew of strikes that set up a float over neck breaker.
They were nearing the halfway point in the sixty minute time limit when Hero almost gained a three count thanks to a cross body block. Flash kick by Hero didn’t get him the victory, but stunned Claudio enough that Hero could go for the super cravat neck breaker. Claudio stopped the possible attack by dragon screw leg whipping Hero into the half crab. Thanks to Hero’s long limbs, the challenger was able to save himself via the ropes. Hero rallied to his feet, catching Claudio in midair with one of those elbows … for a near fall!
Claudio rolled onto the apron, only for Hero to kick him in the head not once, but four times. Blocking the Rolling Elbow, Claudio could stop the KTFO combo; laying Castagnoli out on the floor. Hero knew Claudio would make it into the ring before the count out, and made him pay for reentering with a Rolling Elbow that dropped the big man from Switzerland. Hero made the cover, but only gained a two count.
To add insult to injury, Hero went for the Ricola Bomb on Claudio. Castagnoli stopped his own finisher from happening to him, using a one leg big swing on Hero’s hurt appendage. Turning the swing into another half crab, Claudio had Hero begging the referee not to stop the match. Claudio almost made Hero renege on that proclamation by putting him in the Neutralizer (the stretch muffler). Claudio called for the end by placing Hero on the top rope. Hero stopped whatever Castagnoli had in mind by hitting a super cravat neck breaker … for a two count!
The fans were behind Hero, but Chris’ legs gave out on him when he went for the Cyclone Kill. Castagnoli tried to take advantage of the injury, but Hero connected the rolling boot on the second attempt … but couldn’t get the pin!
Stopping Hero’s Deathblow and the Rolling Elbow, Claudio tripped Hero into an elevated Neutralizer. Feeling the pain instantly, Hero hastily tapped out.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli (36:57)
Is It A Classic: After many years of growth and enough time to tell their story, The Kings of Wrestling produced that definitive classic. It was nearly forty minutes of some of the best mat wrestling and masterful storytelling I’ve ever seen in a PWG ring. This is a must-see for any wrestling fan.
