Top AEW Star Reveals He Was Close To Being In NJPW G1 Climax Before Joining The Company

Top AEW star Claudio Castagnoli has revealed he was close to being in the NJPW G1 Climax tournament before joining the company.

Claudio Castagnoli made his AEW debut at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2022 when he was revealed as Bryan Danielson’s replacement to face and defeat Zack Sabre Jr.

Since then, Castagnoli has become a prominent part of the AEW roster as a Blackpool Combat Club member, former two-time ROH World Champion and a consistent presence on TV.

Most recently, Castagnoli has competed in the AEW Continental Classic, a tournament that has drawn comparisons and some inspiration from NJPW’s G1 Climax tournament.

Speaking with Denise Salcedo, Claudio Castagnoli was asked about the AEW Continental Classic. Revealing that he was extremely close to being in the G1 Climax before joining All Elite Wrestling, Claudio replied:

“I was very excited. [Laughs] Right before I joined AEW, I was extremely close, probably a couple days away before doing the G1 for New Japan.”

“I always want to do the G1, and I still owe them one, I feel like. So to do the Continental Classic, I was super excited,”

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door took place on Sunday, June 26, 2022, while the NJPW G1 Climax 32 tournament began on July 16, 2022.

Claudio Castagnoli went on to debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling this year at Dominion 2023. He teamed up with Jon Moxley and Shota Umino in a loss to Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii and Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Castagnoli will team with Bryan Danielson, Mark Briscoe and Daniel Garcia to face Jay White, RUSH, Jay Lethal and Brody King at this Saturday’s AEW Worlds End.

Transcription via Fightful

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