Josh Barnett respects Claudio Castagnoli, but they have unfinished business.
Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett made his AEW debut at AEW WrestleDream on October 1. On the Zero Hour pre-show, he clashed with former ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli. They battled it out in a hard-hitting contest. Barnett, a former Openweight King of Pancrase, showcased his renowned grappling. Castagnoli held his own with Barnett by leaning on his power and his striking game.
In the closing moments, Castagnoli planted Barnett with a Neutralizer and pinned him from the Octopus Hold position. Barnett cut a promo after the match and made it clear that Castagnoli earned his respect. He said he would hold Castagnoli in high regard moving forward.
However, Barnett said that they weren’t finished, and there would come a time when they’d face each other again somewhere. Castagnoli seemingly accepted the challenge, leaving fans to wonder when the two grapplers will square off again.
Catch up on our coverage of AEW WrestleDream here.