If you’re like me and you enjoy watching the small Independent wrestling federations, you’ve probably run across this big, bald, macho European He-man named Claudio Castagnoli. If you’re also like me and you prefer your Heels to be indestructible juggernauts, you definitely want to check him out.
Claudio is currently wrestling in the Ring of Honor federation as part of a dominant Tag Team called the “Kings of Wrestling.” (What a great name for a dominant Tag Team!)
At first, I wasn’t a big fan of this big meanie, but he’s definitely grown on me as he settled into his macho, take-no-prisoners persona. His gimmick is basically to be the biggest, strongest beast in the ring, and to stick his power in your face as much as possible.
Claudio’s moves are all strength moves. He’s well aware that he’s stuffed with muscle, and he exudes strength. He uses every match to celebrate and demonstrate Alpha Male domination.
Hardly a match goes by that he doesn’t find an opportunity to flex those guns and force everyone to take a moment to worship his physique.
He loves showing off, and the fans love him for it. One reason pro wrestling is so popular and so entertaining to watch is that it demonstrates the strength and power of the male form. It shamelessly flaunts testosterone. It makes no apology for all the beefcake — it’s not ashamed to strut around bare chested. Pro wrestling is meant to be an homage to masculinity.
If they didn’t already have a show called “The Man Show,” they should call pro wrestling “The Man Show” because that’s really what it is (a token Diva match each episode notwithstanding.)
One of Claudio’s favorite moves to perform is the big Overhead Press, strutting around the ring posing and flexing the entire time. This is the personification of strength, the classic image of the dominant wrestler about to crush his victim.
This maneuver must make his victim’s feel degraded, being lifted and tossed around like this.
Claudio is not as pretty as some wrestlers, and he sure doesn’t have a name that rolls off the tongue, but the way he uses each match to showcase his power makes him very entertaining to watch. He brings animal magnetism.
Claudio is a nice reminder that pro wrestlers come in all shapes and sizes, and that’s how we like it.
Re: Claudio working over Ryan—Picture’s 3–4 & 6 where Claudio is working Ryan’s hand & fingers…..Claudio had Ryan obviously in major pain, however, with his hand being but inches from his mouth, he should have maybe clamped his jaw down on a finger, maybe the tender area between the index finger and thumb? Watch that handsome face contort in that much more..beautiful agony.
love to see claudio take on the other bald wrestler from “kings of wrestling” tag team! Woof
oops – just realized claudio IS part of this tag team. My bad….but at least am consistent in what kind of “look” I am into! grrrr
who are Claudio´s enemies? I am sure he has many many many enemies that live bent in his ruin