Claudio Castagnoli on Eddie Kingston: ‘I’m Looking Forward to Taking His Title’

Longtime rivals Claudio Castagnoli and Eddie Kingston square off on Wednesday at Arthur Ashe Stadium in a winner-take-all match for the Ring of Honor world title and New Japan Pro-Wrestling Strong Openweight championship

One year ago, Claudio Castagnoli lost the Ring of Honor world title at AEW’s Grand Slam edition of Dynamite at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York.

A year later, Castagnoli plans on keeping that belt–as well as adding a new piece of gold–in a winner-takes-all match against Eddie Kingston where both the ROH title and New Japan Pro-Wrestling Strong Openweight championship are at stake.

“The chance to be a New Japan champion very much excites me,” said Castagnoli. “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.”

If Castagnoli is victorious on Dynamite, the prospect of him defending the newly won belt sets him up to wrestle an exciting new slate of opponents (can you imagine Castagnoli defending the belt against Tetsuya Naito or Hiromu Takahashi?). The timing also works exceptionally well in his favor, as it could set him up for a title defense this January at New Japan’s signature Wrestle Kingdom show, which is held at the Tokyo Dome.

“Tokyo Dome and Arena Mexico, those are two legendary venues that have eluded me throughout my career,” said Castagnoli. “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.”

Courtesy AEW

Even though this is a title-for-title bout, the championship gold does not define this match. Instead, it is the backstory. Castagnoli and Kingston have been feuding for more than 15 years, with the former roommates evolving into eternal enemies.

The two first wrestled each other in a singles bout 16 years ago in Chikara, an independent promotion that highlighted a number of future stars. Their most recent singles bout took place this past March at Supercard of Honor, where Castagnoli defeated Kingston in the main event.

“I’m ready to put an end to this chapter,” said Castagnoli, who regained the ROH belt from Chris Jericho this past December. “I give Eddie credit for what he’s accomplished, and I don’t underestimate him. I know what he’s capable of. I just don’t have any respect for the man.”

Castagnoli is one of wrestling’s staunchest performers. The dedication to his craft over the past two decades is unparalleled, and there is a standard of excellence in his matches that is so extraordinarily superb that it has become expected. Kingston is a very different entity in the ring, defined by his fiery passion. He has never reached the same heights as Castagnoli, who starred in WWE before signing with AEW, but there is every reason to believe this match could be a defining moment for the proud New Yorker.

“It’s very fitting that it is at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York,” said Castagnoli. “Who knows what the response will be. What if the crowd doesn’t like Eddie as much as he thinks they will? And what if they do, but he lets them down? Eddie wants all of New York to have his back. I’m not sure that is going to be the case.”

Courtesy AEW

As part of the Blackpool Combat Club, Castagnoli is in the midst of one of the most compelling stretches of his career. He shares real-life history with Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley, as well as William Regal, who helped form the group.

“The best stories are always rooted in reality,” said Castagnoli. “We’re all friends–me, Mox, Bryan, and Regal. We’ve all known each other for a long time, and we were always competing with each other.

“You can smell and see what is authentic. I go back 18 years with Bryan. I was in FCW a dozen years ago with Mox. Our friendship is very real.”

Castagnoli has also helped mentor Wheeler Yuta, a rising star on the indies who is developing into an important piece for AEW as the fourth member of the BCC.

“Adding Yuta to the group was very important,” said Castagnoli. “Wrestling always evolves, and he brings a fresh take. It’s also important for him to surround himself with people like Bryan and Mox, who are neck-and-neck for the two best wrestlers in the world. I do my best to hold myself to that standard, too. Wheeler is working to be tremendous, too. We want to bring the best out of each other and elevate wrestling in AEW.”

As ROH champion, Castagnoli has taken pride in representing the title. He wrestled for the company from 2005-2011, and the chance to set an example for the entire roster is an opportunity he treats with the highest regard.

“My goal is to wear the title with honor and dignity,” said Castagnoli. “Ring of Honor is in an interesting phase right now. There is a lot of talent, and it is a proving ground. It’s a platform for people to try new things and show the world what they’re made of. That’s what Ring of Honor has always been, and I take my role as champion very seriously.”

Considering the world title is also on the line tomorrow, the Castagnoli-Kingston grudge match is unlikely to main event Grand Slam. It is a very compelling candidate to open the show or close out the first hour, and it has all the ingredients to be the type of bout–steeped in history from the indies and full of physicality–that will not be visible anywhere but AEW.

“If you’re a wrestling fan, you should watch,” said Castagnoli. “The whole show is stacked. If you’re not a wrestling fan, you will be by the end of this show.”

Castagnoli wants to close the chapter on this decade-and-a-half feud with Kingston, and he believes he has the perfect setting to do that at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“In my career, I have been lucky to have had many moments that have mattered to me,” said Castagnoli. “I just wrestled at Wembley Stadium in London. A week later, I wrestled in front of a sold-out crowd in Chicago. Now it is a title vs. title match at Arthur Ashe in New York.

“I am very excited for this match. This is Eddie’s home, and I’m looking forward to taking his title.”