"Double C" Claudio Castagnoli (born December 27, 1980 in Schaffhausen), is a Swiss professional wrestler. He performs primarily on the American independent circuit in promotions such as Ring of Honor, Combat Zone Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Guerilla, and CHIKARA.

Career

---

Castagnoli got his first training in his homeland of Switzerland by fellow Swiss wrestler SigMasta Rappo, and debuted on December 24, 2000 in Essen for the German westside Xtreme wrestling. Castagnoli first used a Japanese gimmick before changing it to a Swiss banker one with Ares, another Swiss wrestler, together known as the Swiss Money Holding.

While performing in England, Castagnoli received training from Dave Taylor. Claudio met Chris Hero in Germany. Hero invited the SMH to perform in America. They had matches in IWA-Mid South and CHIKARA and received training from Hero before returning to Europe.

A few months later, Castagnoli returned back to USA to wrestle full time while Ares would team up with Marc Roudin as the new Swiss Money Holding in Europe. Castagnoli now wrestles on the American independent circuit, and is a full time worker for CHIKARA and Ring of Honor.

Claudio Castagnoli would also make his way to Combat Zone Wrestling, where he would team up with Chris Hero to form the highly successful Kings of Wrestling, and would win the CZW Tag Team Titles. With Hero, Castagnoli won the Tag World Grand Prix 2006 hosted by CHIKARA, becoming one of Los Campeones de Parejas in the process.

Quotes

---

• "Heyyy!"

Finishing and signature moves

---

• Ricola Bomb (Cross-arm sitout powerbomb)
• Swi$$ Sleeperholding (Modified cobra clutch)
• Swiss Uppercut (Various European uppercut variations)
• The Neutralizer (Grounded Argentine leglock with headscissors)
• Match Killer (Horizontal back to belly hold swung into sitout facebuster)
• Alpamare Waterslide (Side Death Valley driver)
• Delayed vertical suplex
• Jim Breaks Special (Arm lift submission)
• Elbow from the Alps (Top rope diving elbow drop)
• Money Dive Headbutt (Diving headbutt)
• UBS Neckbreaker (Modified TKO)
• Cough Drop (European uppercut to a falling opponent)

With Chris Hero

• Hero's Welcome Kings of Wrestling Edition (Rolling Cutter and Side Slam combination)
• Double Ricola Bomb (Double Cross-arm Powerbomb)
• Monkey Flip into a splash or a spear

With Arik Cannon

• Ricola Bomb (Cross-arm sitout powerbomb) and Glimmerick Warlock (modified shining wizard) combination

Championships and accomplishments

---

• Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling

• 1-time CAPW Unified Heavyweight Champion

• Combat Zone Wrestling

• 1-time CZW Tag Team Champion (with Chris Hero)

• CHIKARA

• Tag World Grand Prix 2005 (with Arik Cannon)

• Tag World Grand Prix 2006 (with Chris Hero)
• 1-time CHIKARA 'Campeones de Parejas Champion' (with Chris Hero)

• Independent Wrestling Association: Switzerland

• 1-time IWA-Switzerland World Heavyweight Champion

• German Stampede Wrestling

• 1-time GSW Tag Team Champion (with Ares)

• Swiss Wrestling Federation

• 2-time SWF Powerhouse Champion

• 1-time SWF Tag Team Champion (with Ares)

• westside Xtreme wrestling

• 2-time wXw World Heavyweight Champion

• 3-time wXw Tag Team Champion (with Ares)

Championship succession

---

CAPW Unified Heavyweight Championship Preceded by:
Adam Cage First Succeeded by:
Current CZW Tag Team Championship Preceded by:
The Tough Crazy Bastards (Necro Butcher and Toby Klein) First, with Chris Hero as the Kings of Wrestling Succeeded by:
Blk Out (Eddie Kingston and Joker) wXw World Heavyweight Championship Preceded by:
Jimmy Jacobs First Succeeded by:
Ian Rotten Preceded by:
Ian Rotten Second Succeeded by:
Robbie Brookside wXw Tag Team Championship Preceded by:
Vacant First, with Ares as the Swiss Money Holding Succeeded by:
Euro Threat (Thomas Blade and SigMasta Rappo) Preceded by:
The Van Kunder Brothers Second, with Ares as the Swiss Money Holding Succeeded by:
Euro Threat (Crazy Johnny Tiger and SigMasta Rappo) Preceded by:
Thomas Blade and Scorpion Third, with Ares as the Swiss Money Holding Succeeded by:
Wrecking Crew (Thomas Blade and Chris Combat)

Trivia

---

• In August 2005, CHIKARA claimed that Claudio Castagnoli set the all-time record for holding an opponent up in a vertical suplex with 70 seconds. They claim he broke the record set by Kenta Kobashi of 54 seconds, which happened in Japan.
• Claudio's finisher, the Ricola Bomb takes its name from Ricola, a famous Swiss cough drop.

References

---

• Claudio Castagnoli at OWW.com

External links

---

• The official Swiss Money Holding website

Swiss professional wrestlers | 1980 births | Living people