Claudio Castagnoli
Birthday: 1980-12-27
Place of Birth: Lucerne, Switzerland
Synopsis
Claudio Castagnoli is a Swiss professional wrestler, best known for his tenure in WWE under the ring name Cesaro (shortened from Antonio Cesaro). Prior to signing with WWE, Castagnoli wrestled under his real name in Ring of Honor (ROH) and various independent promotions, including Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), and Pro Wrestling Noah (NOAH). Castagnoli is an accomplished tag team wrestler, being a two-time ROH World Tag Team Champion with his partner Chris Hero (as "The Kings of Wrestling;" their 364-day reign as champions was the longest in ROH history up to that time). As Cesaro, he held 7 tag team titles in WWE: a two-time WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champion, and a five-time WWE (Raw) Tag Team Champion. Castagnoli has also held various independent tag team titles, such as the Chikara Campeonatos de Parejas, the JCW Tag Team Championship, and the CZW World Tag Team Championship. The Kings of Wrestling (the tag team he had with Chris Hero) were voted the 2010 Tag Team of the Year by Wrestling Observer Newsletter readers. He has additionally had success as a singles wrestler, being a one-time WWE United States Champion, the winner of the inaugural André the Giant Memorial Trophy at WrestleMania XXX, and a one-time PWG World Champion. When playing a villainous character, particularly in the United States, Castagnoli has been known to emphasize his European origin as part of his gimmick, proclaiming a superior intellect and fashion sensibility while regularly using moves such as the European uppercut. He gained a reputation for impressive in-ring feats of strength, and was called one of WWE's best and most underrated performers for much of his time there. He was even voted Most Underrated Wrestler in the world, for a record four years in a row (2013–2016), by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Acting
WWE WrestleMania Backlash
as Cesaro
The fallout from WrestleMania 37 is not quite done yet as Cesaro looks to obtain his first WWE world title as he challenges "The Head of the Table" Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship, also WWE Champion Bobby Lashley defends his title against Drew McIntyre & Braun Strowman, Rhea Ripley faces off against Asuka & Charlotte Flair for the Raw Women's Championship, and SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Belair looks to retain her championship against Bayley.
WWE Hell In A Cell 2021
as Cesaro
Drew McIntyre will have one final opportunity to dethrone The All Mighty WWE Champion Bobby Lashley with this battle coming inside the unforgiving Hell in a Cell.
WWE Extreme Rules 2019
as Cesaro
Extreme Rules 2019 is an upcoming professional wrestling pay-per-view and WWE Network event produced by WWE for their Raw and SmackDown brands. It will take place on July 14, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It will be the eleventh event under the Extreme Rules chronology.
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WWE TLC: Tables Ladders & Chairs 2017
as Cesaro
The Hounds of Justice reunited, as they face the likes of the Miz, Braun Strowman and the Bar in the main event. Meanwhile, the under card looks to deliver their own sense of justice to their opponents.
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WWE Payback 2016
as Cesaro
Payback (2016) is a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and WWE Network event produced by WWE. It took place on May 1, 2016 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. It is the fourth event in the Payback chronology.
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WWE Extreme Rules 2016
as Cesaro
Extreme Rules (2016) is an upcoming professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by WWE. It will take place on May 22, 2016, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. It was originally supposed to take place on May 1, 2016, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, however, it switched dates and venues with Payback. It will be the eighth event under the Extreme Rules chronology.
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WWE Elimination Chamber 2014
as Cesaro
Elimination Chamber was an upcoming professional wrestling PPV event produced by WWE. The fifth annual Elimination Chamber event took place on February 23, 2014, at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The main event was the Elimination Chamber match, in which Randy Orton defended the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against John Cena, Sheamus, Antonio Cesaro, Christian, and Daniel Bryan. The secondary main event was a 6-Man Tag team match between The Shield and the Wyatt Family. This match was considered the highlight of the PPV and received glowing reviews from several media sites. Also on the card was Alberto Del Rio vs Batista, AJ Lee defending the Divas Belt against Cameron, Titus O'Neil vs Darren Young, The New Age Outlaws defending the Tag Team Championships against The Usos, and Big E defending the Intercontinental Belt against Jack Swagger.
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WWE Night of Champions 2012
as Antonio Cesaro
In a match marked by confusion and controversy, CM Punk puts his 300 day reign as WWE Champion on the line against the one man who embodies the respect he’s been challenging for – John Cena. Plus, Sheamus as World Heavyweight Champion is in jeopardy as he faces Alberto Del Rio without the use of his own signature move The Brogue Kick. And allies in anger, tag team partners Kane and Daniel Bryan, challenge WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and R-Truth. Plus the WWE divas champion, the US champion and others will arise or to be conquered at WWE Night of Champions!
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ROH: Death Before Dishonor VI
as Himself
Death before Dishonor VI was a wrestling event promoted by Ring of Honor. It took place on August 2, 2008 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, New York. It featured a Four Way Elimination Match for the ROH World Title as the main event pitting champion Nigel McGuinness against Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli and Tyler Black.
