AEW Rampage: Claudio Castagnoli challenges Gresham
One week after turning on Lee Moriarity during their tag match on AEW Rampage, Jonathan Gresham faced him for the ROH World Title. The match lived up to the hype as the two delivered an excellent match. In the end the champ does what he does best and put Moriarty in a submission hold to retain.
#AndStill! #ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham retains the title via submission victory on #AEWRampage #FyterFest Night 2 on @tntdrama! pic.twitter.com/nRnb2x137Z
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 16, 2022
After the match, Gresham declared that he’ll be on our TVs every week and “beat all of your favorites. Why? Because I’m the best hold-for-hold wrestler in the world, dammit!” As Tully Blanchard hyped his new signee up, a familiar sound began to blare. Claudio Castagnoli made his way to the ramp as Excalibur said, “you certainly can’t have a conversation about the best technical wrestlers in the world without including this man, Claudio Castagnoli.” He also pointed out that Castagnoli has never held a world championship in his career. The two had a stare down and the match was made official for Death Before Dishonor.
#ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham is determined show the world that he is, hold-for-hold, the best wrestler in the world. But #BlackpoolCombatClub’s Claudio Castagnoli might disagree with that statement. Watch #AEWRampage #FyterFest Night 2 on @tntdrama right now! pic.twitter.com/zNo2jv7kSP
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 16, 2022
Gresham versus Castanogli is a dream match, but it seems like it’s happening much sooner than it should. Castagnoli just debuted in AEW at Double or Nothing. He’s been busy as the newest member of the Blackpool Combat Club. Putting him in a title match, even if it is for ROH, seems rushed. It’s too early for him to lose a match, let alone a title match.
On the other hand, Gresham dropping the title now doesn’t make sense. He just joined Tully Blanchard Enterprises. He is the centerpiece of the group and having him lose takes away from what Blanchard is building. Gresham joining added instant credibility to the faction.
Next. AEW Elevation and Dark deserve more respect. dark
While Gresham has defended the ROH World Title 16 times, he’s only defended it three times in AEW/ROH. He has defended it in IMPACT, GCW, TERMINUS (a promotion he co-owns with Baron Black), and PROGRESS among other companies.
ROH announcer, Ian Riccaboni, has a great thread breaking down the matchup. He makes strong arguments for both men to win at Death Before Dishonor.
Find out who wins the ROH World Title at Death Before Dishonor on Saturday, July 23 at 8 PM. The pay-per-view can be ordered on Bleacher/Report or major cable providers.