Interview with Claudio Castagnoli! by Stephen Ashfield

-When did you first become interested in professional wrestling and when did that initial interest develop into a desire to actually become a wrestler?
That was during the wrestling boom during the 90s when I was watching the Steiner Brothers on TV. There was something special about it and it never let me go.

-What was the professional wrestling scene like in Switzerland like at that time?
There wasn't any promotion at that time. There were a bunch of kids who trained on gymnastic mats, but that was about it.

-You were trained by Swiss wrestler SigMasta Rappo, what was that training process like and what was the most difficult part of the process?
The most difficult part was that there was no ring. So we just trained on those small hard blue mats. I learned to bump and all that stuff on them. Then after a couple of months of training I went on a road trip to Germany to train in an actual ring.

-You made your debut in Germany on Christmas Eve 2000, what are your memories of that match and what shape did it leave you in for Christmas Day?
Oh, I remember it was really short and I was not really good! But I knew that's what I wanna do for a long time! It was an amazing Christmas gift, and I spent all of Christmas Day driving back home.

-How did your partnership with Ares as 'Swiss Money Holding' come about and what did you think of the gimmick?
My trainer SigMasta Rappo knew of somebody else from Switzerland who trained to be a wrestler and told him to come to a show in Germany where I was on too. He was co-booker of the show and decided that we would be a team from then on and also came up with the name. I liked and still like the gimmick!

-What made you decide to move to the States full time rather than continuing to tag with Ares and wrestle on the European circuit?
Because I could be a full time wrestler in the USA. In Europe that's a lot harder.

-With Ares now in the States is there a chance the pair of you could team together again?
I sure hope so! Promoters out there, make it happen!!!

-You teamed up with Chris Hero to form 'Kings of Wrestling' winning the CZW and ROH World Tag team titles and the CHIKARA Tag World Grand Prix in 2006 what was it like working with Chris and what was it that made the pair of you such a successful team?
It was a great time! And what made us so successful is that we were just on the same page, travelled together and just knew what the other one was doing in the ring all the time.

-In ROH last year you've battled against Bryan Danielson beating him in Chicago Ridge in June but being eliminated by him in the World title match in New York in August. What's it like facing Danielson and how do you see the feud with him developing in the future?
Facing Bryan Danielson is always a hard task as he's a very talented wrestler. I mean some even consider him the best in the world. But I know I can beat him basically anytime I want. So I don't think there's gonna be much of a feud, just me destroying him.

-You've also feuded with ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness, how do you think the feud has gone and how did you feel when the champion refused to give you a title shot saying you were just a mid-card jobber?
Well, Nigel changed his mind and is respecting me now which is a very wise move of him. I know what I'm capable of and even though I couldn't take the Belt of him, I took him to the limit and beyond. The time will be mine soon and I'll hold that title belt!

-Do you think in time you'll return to Europe and wrestle on the European wrestling circuit?
I always return as often as I can since that's where I came from and I really like it!

-How can my readers find out more about you and your career?
Check out www. claudiocastagnoli. com!


To read more of this interview go to www.piledriver-online.co.uk/downloads.php and click on edition 14 of Piledriver Online