Claudio Castagnoli
Acting
- Born:
- 1980-12-27
- Place of birth:
- Lucerne, Switzerland
Biography
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.
Known For
Filmography
AEW WrestleDream 2026: Saturday Tailgate Brawl
AEW WrestleDream 2026
NJPW Destruction In Kobe 2026
AEW All In 2026: London - Buy In
AEW All In 2026: London
AEW Redemption 2026
AEW x NJPW x CMLL x Stardom Present Forbidden Door 2026: Buy-In
AEW Double or Nothing 2026: The Buy In
CMLL at Palms Slam Fest 2026
CMLL Homenaje a 2 Leyendas 2026
AEW Worlds End 2025
AEW Full Gear 2025
AEW WrestleDream 2025: Saturday Tailgate Brawl
AEW WrestleDream 2025
AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2025
AEW All In 2025: Texas
AEW Double or Nothing 2025
AEW Dynasty 2025
AEW: Grand Slam Australia
NJPW x AEW x CMLL x ROH x STARDOM: Wrestle Dynasty
AEW All Out 2024
AEW All In 2024: London
CMLL Homenaje a Dos Leyendas 2024
AEW Revolution 2024
AEW Worlds End 2023
ROH Final Battle 2023
AEW Full Gear 2023: Zero Hour
AEW WrestleDream 2023: Zero Hour
AEW All Out 2023
AEW All In 2023: London
ROH: Death Before Dishonor 2023
AEW x NJPW Present Forbidden Door 2023
All Elite Wrestling: Collision
NJPW Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall 2023
AEW Double or Nothing 2023
ROH: Supercard of Honor 2023
Jay Briscoe: Celebration of Life
Chris Danger: Creating a Superstar
ROH Final Battle 2022
AEW Full Gear 2022
Tito
AEW All Out 2022
ROH: Death Before Dishonor 2022
AEW x NJPW Presents Forbidden Door 2022
Hey! (EW)
All Elite Wrestling: Battle of the Belts
WWE Day 1 2022
WWE Day 1 Kickoff 2022
WWE Survivor Series 2021
All Elite Wrestling: Rampage
WWE Hell in a Cell 2021
WWE WrestleMania Backlash
WWE WrestleMania 37: Night 1 Kickoff
WrestleMania 37: Night 1
WWE Elimination Chamber 2021
WWE Royal Rumble 2021
WWE Superstar Spectacle 2021
My Way: The Life and Legacy of Pat Patterson
WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2020
WWE Clash of Champions 2020
WWE The Horror Show at Extreme Rules 2020
WWE Money in the Bank 2020
WrestleMania 36 Kickoff Part 1
WWE WrestleMania 36: Part 1
WWE Elimination Chamber 2020
WWE Royal Rumble 2020
WWE Backstage
WWE Crown Jewel 2019
All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite
NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff
WWE Extreme Rules 2019
WWE Super ShowDown 2019
WWE WrestleMania 35
WWE Fastlane 2019
WWE The Best of Raw and Smackdown Live 2018
WWE Royal Rumble 2019
Chasing the Magic: The Nigel McGuinness Story
WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2018
WWE Survivor Series 2018
WWE: AJ Styles: Most Phenomenal Matches
WWE Super Show-Down 2018
WWE Greatest Royal Rumble
WWE WrestleMania 34
WWE Elimination Chamber 2018
WWE Royal Rumble 2018
WWE Best Pay-Per-View Matches 2017
WWE Survivor Series 2017
NXT: From Secret To Sensation
WWE TLC: Tables Ladders & Chairs 2017
WWE No Mercy 2017
WWE SummerSlam 2017
WWE Great Balls of Fire
WWE Extreme Rules 2017
WWE Payback 2017
WWE WrestleMania 33
WWE Fastlane 2017
WWE Best of Raw & SmackDown Live 2016
WWE Royal Rumble 2017
WWE: Best Pay-Per-View Matches of 2016
WWE Roadblock: End of the Line 2016
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2016
WWE Survivor Series 2016
Randy Orton: RKO Outta Nowhere
WWE Hell in a Cell 2016
WWE Clash of Champions 2016
WWE Money in the Bank 2016
Our Nation's Pride: The Best of Canadian Superstars
WWE Extreme Rules 2016
WWE Payback 2016
WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness
NXT's Greatest Matches Vol. 1
WWE The Best of Raw & SmackDown 2015
WWE Best Pay-Per-View Matches 2015
WWE Hell in a Cell 2015
WWE SummerSlam 2015
WWE Table For 3
Daniel Bryan: Just Say Yes! Yes! Yes!
WWE Elimination Chamber 2015
WWE Payback 2015
WWE Extreme Rules 2015
WWE WrestleMania 31
WWE WrestleMania 31 - Kick Off
WWE Fastlane 2015
The Destruction of The Shield
WWE Royal Rumble 2015
ROH: Year 5
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014
WWE Survivor Series 2014
WWE Rivalries
WWE Hell In A Cell 2014
WWE Night of Champions 2014
WWE SummerSlam 2014
WWE Battleground 2014
WWE Money in the Bank 2014
WWE Payback 2014
WWE Extreme Rules 2014
WWE WrestleMania XXX
NXT ArRIVAL
Wrestlemania Rewind
WWE Elimination Chamber 2014
WWE Royal Rumble 2014
ROH: Creating Excellence
WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2013
WWE Survivor Series 2013
WWE: Straight to the Top - Money in the Bank Anthology
WWE Hell in a Cell 2013
WWE Battleground 2013
WWE Night of Champions 2013
WWE Money in the Bank 2013
PWG Sells Out: Volume 3
Becoming the Best in the World: Bryan Danielson
WWE Payback 2013
WWE Elimination Chamber 2013
WWE Royal Rumble 2013
Nigel McGuinness: In It to Win It
WXW Presents: The American Dragon Bryan Danielson
Christopher Daniels: The Fallen Angel
Bryan Danielson: The Final Countdown
Claudio Castagnoli: The Swiss Sensation
Danielson vs The World
ROH: Top 100 Matches, Vol 2
ROH: Top 100 Matches, Vol 1
WWE TLC: Tables Ladders & Chairs 2012
The JBL and Cole Show
WWE Survivor Series 2012
WWE Hell In A Cell 2012
Kings Reign Supreme: The Kings of Wrestling
WWE Main Event
Danielson vs McGuinness
WWE Night of Champions 2012
WWE SummerSlam 2012
Kevin Steen: Descent into Madness
WWE The Great American Bash 2012: Super Smackdown Live!
The Many Adventures of El Generico
ROH: El Generico: Ole! Ole!
ROH: Nigel McGuinness - An ROH Career Retrospective
Chris Hero: Ring of Hero
ROH: Ring of Hardcore
American Wolves: The Hunt Never Dies
ROH: Japan's Finest
PWG: 2011 Battle of Los Angeles
PWG: EIGHT
PWG: All Star Weekend 8 - Night Two
PWG: All Star Weekend 8 - Night One
PWG: Card Subject To Change III
ROH: Honor Takes Center Stage - Chapter 2
ROH: Honor Takes Center Stage - Chapter 1
PWG: DDT4
ROH: World's Greatest
PWG: Kurt Russellreunion 2 - The Reunioning
Interviews with a Hero: The Chris Hero Story
The Briscoe Brothers: The Baddest Tag Team on the Planet
ROH: Final Battle 2010
ROH: Tag Title Classic II
PWG: Cyanide: A Loving Tribute To Poison
ROH: Fate of An Angel II
ROH: Survival of The Fittest 2010
CHIKARA The Dark Ciberknetico
ROH: Allied Forces
PWG: The Curse of Guerrilla Island
CHIKARA Through Savage Progress Cuts the Jungle Line
Championship Wrestling from Hollywood
ROH: Glory By Honor IX
ROH: Fade To Black
PWG: 2010 Battle of Los Angeles - Night Two
PWG: 2010 Battle of Los Angeles - Night One
ROH: Hate - Chapter II
ROH: Bluegrass Brawl
CHIKARA: Faded Scars and Lines
CHIKARA We Must Eat Michigan's Brain
ROH: Death Before Dishonor VIII
ROH: Buffalo Stampede II
EVOLVE 3: Rise or Fall
CHIKARA King of Trios 2010 - Night 3
CHIKARA Dead Men Don't Laugh (Testimony Of Evil)
CHIKARA Wit, Verve and a Bit O' Nerve
EVOLVE 2: Hero vs. Hidaka
CHIKARA A World Of Comforting Illusions
CHIKARA The Mint Condition
WWE NXT
ROH: 8th Anniversary
CHIKARA A Touch of Class
ROH Final Battle 2009
ROH: Reverse The Curse
CHIKARA Three-Fisted Tales
ROH: The Omega Effect
ROH: Aries Vs. Richards
ROH: Boiling Point
ROH: Survival of the Fittest 2009
ROH: Survival of The Fittest 2009
ROH: Clash of The Contenders
ROH: Glory By Honor VIII - The Final Countdown
ROH: The Final Countdown Tour - Boston
ROH: The Final Countdown Tour - Chicago
ROH: The Final Countdown Tour - Dayton
ROH: Manhattan Mayhem III
ROH: Contention
Chikara King Of Trios 2009 - Night 2
ROH: 7th Anniversary
Ring of Honor Wrestling
ROH: Stylin' & Profilin'
ROH: Eliminating The Competition
CHIKARA If the Airplane is Snowed in, Put your Bloody Skis on and Get Going!
ROH: Caged Collision
ROH: Motor City Madness 2009
ROH: Final Battle 2008
The Wrestler
ROH: Glory By Honor VII
ROH: Night of The Butcher II
ROH: Death Before Dishonor VI
ROH: Northern Navigation
ROH: Best In The World
ROH: Greatest Rivalries
PWG: Life During Wartime
ROH: Southern Navigation
ROH: Return Engagement
ROH: Injustice
ROH: Bedlam In Beantown
PWG: It's A Gift...And A Curse
PWG: 1.21 Gigawatts
ROH: Take No Prisoners
PWG: Scared Straight
ROH: Transform
ROH: Proving Ground
PWG: All Star Weekend 6 - Night Two
PWG: All Star Weekend 6 - Night One
PWG: The High Cost of Doing Business
Chikara: Cibernetico & Robin
PWG: 2007 Battle of Los Angeles - Night Three
PWG: 2007 Battle of Los Angeles - Night One
Chikara: Maximum Overdraft
Chikara: Showdown in CrisisLand
ROH: Driven
Chikara: Aniversario?
PWG: DDT4 - Night Two
PWG: DDT4 - Night One
Chikara: Rey de Voladores
PWG: All Star Weekend V - Night Two
PWG: All Star Weekend V - Night One
PWG: Album of The Year
PWG: Guitarmageddon II: Armoryageddon
ROH: International Challenge
PWG: Passive Hostility
ROH: Dethroned
ROH: Black Friday Fallout
PWG: All Star Weekend IV - Night Two
ROH: The Bitter End
ROH: Honor Reclaims Boston
ROH: Suffocation
PWG: Horror Business
ROH: Motor City Madness
ROH: Survival of The Fittest 2006
ROH: Glory by Honor V - Night Two
ROH: Glory By Honor V - Night One
PWG: 2006 Battle of Los Angeles - Night Three
PWG: 2006 Battle of Los Angeles - Night Two
ROH: Gut Check
ROH: Epic Encounter II
ROH: Anarchy In The U.K.
ROH: Unified
ROH: Fight of The Century
ROH: Time To Man Up
ROH: Generation Now
PWG: Threemendous
ROH: Death Before Dishonor IV
ROH: Chi-Town Struggle
ROH: Throwdown
ROH: In Your Face
PWG: Enchantment Under The Sea
ROH: Ring of Homicide
PWG: (Please Don't Call It) The O.C.
ROH: Weekend of Champions - Night Two
ROH: The 100th Show
PWG: All Star Weekend 3 - Crazymania - Night Two
PWG: All Star Weekend 3 - Crazymania - Night One
ROH: Supercard of Honor
ROH: Dragon Gate Challenge
ROH: Best In The World
ROH: Fourth Anniversary Show
PWG: Card Subject To Change 2
ROH: Dissension
ROH: Tag Wars 2006
ROH: Hell Freezes Over
PWG: Cruisin' For A Bruisin'
ROH Final Battle 2005
ROH: Vendetta
ROH: Showdown In Motown
ROH: This Means War
ROH: Buffalo Stampede
ROH: Enter The Dragon
PWG: Zombies (Shouldn't Run)
ROH: Fate of An Angel
CHIKARA Tag World Grand Prix 2005 - Night 3
CHIKARA Tag World Grand Prix 2005 - Night 1
IWA Mid-South Ted Petty Invitational 2004 - Night 2
IWA Mid-South Ted Petty Invitational 2004 - Night 1
CHIKARA Tag World Grand Prix 2003
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
WXW Rage TV
Raw