Claudio Castagnoli was revealed to be Bryan Danielson's handpicked opponent for Zack Sabre Jr.
The former Cesaro made his AEW debut at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door against Zack Sabre Jr. Claudio dominated early on, but Sabre gained control by targeting Claudio's bicep and by utilizing various submission holds. Castagnoli was able to weather the storm, though, and ultimately pin Sabre Jr. to win his first match outside WWE since 2011.
A detailed rundown of the action can be seen below:
Zack Sabre Jr. vs Claudio Castagnoli
Claudio hit an uppercut on Zack, followed by a neutralizer for a thunderous near fall. Claudio hit an Irish who on Zack, followed by another uppercut. Claudio went for another uppercut, but Zack. evaded. Sabre jr. got a wrist lock on Claudio, but Claudio hit another uppercut on Zack. Claudio hit a delayed vertical suplex on Zack. Zack got Claudio in a knee bar on the apron before the rope break. Claudio went for a gut wrench, but Zack targeted Claudio's arm. Zack got Claudio in a disarmer before sitting on Claudio's shoulder. Claudio hit a nasty uppercut on Zack before hitting la mistica on Claudio, followed by more joint manipulation for a near fall. Zack went for a brutalizer, transitioning into. ahead lock. Zack twisted Claudio's ankle before stomping it. Zack to Claudio in a wrist lock followed by two uppercuts. Claudio hit two Uranage back breakers on Zack, followed by two uppercuts for a near fall. Claudio went for a UFO, but Zack spaced by getting Claudio in an arm bar. Claudio reversed the arm-bar tossing each other over the top rope, but Zack held on to the submission. Claudio walked the stairs while having Zack on his shoulders before power bombing him into the inside of the ring. Claudio went for the Cesaro Swing, but Zack reversed it with guillotine choke. Claudio broke the guillotine choke by launching Zack on the turnbuckle. Zack got Claudio with an octopus lock on the top rope. Claudio rocked Zack with an uppercut on the top rope. Claudio hit an avalanche Kareline Suplex on Zack. Claudio tried to get the Cesaro Swing, but Zack got to the ropes. Zack and Claudio exchanged uppercuts before Claudio hit a gnarly uppercut for a near fall. Claudio finally got Zack in the Cesaro swing, but he cut the swing due to his injured arm. Claudio went for the sharpshooter, but Zack reversed it into a knee-bar, transitioning into a figure four lock. Claudio reversed it with a sharpshooter but broke the hold with a double-stomp on Zack for a near fall. Claudio hit two more uppercuts on Zack, with Zack getting Claudio with a Pele kick to the arm. Zack got Claudio with a sleeper hold, transitioning into a modified arm bar. Zack hit Penalty kicks on Claudio, but Claudio shook them off and hit another uppercut and a lariat on Zack for a near fall. Zack got Claudio in a European Clutch for a near fall. Claudio hit a pop-up uppercut, followed by a lariat. Claudio hit a powerbomb on Zack for the pinfall win.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
The power of @ClaudioCSRO on display here at #ForbiddenDoor! Order the PPV right now! #AEWxNJPW pic.twitter.com/7y7mrmftrW
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 27, 2022
.@zacksabrejr counters with a heel hook on @ClaudioCSRO here on #ForbiddenDoor! Order the PPV right now! #AEWxNJPW pic.twitter.com/5Cnkmu9vLX
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 27, 2022
The strength of @ClaudioCSRO and he just dumps #ZSJ into the ring! Order the #ForbiddenDoor PPV right now! #AEWxNJPW pic.twitter.com/0BEdIk8xza
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 27, 2022
Keep track of everything happening at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door by checking out Fightful’s live coverage. We will also have a post-show review immediately following its conclusion.
