In a previous report, it was noted that Claudio Castagnoli encountered travel complications that nearly prevented him from participating in last weekend’s NJPW Dominion pay-per-view event. Despite the challenges, Castagnoli eventually teamed up with Jon Moxley and Shota Umino to challenge Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, and Hiroshi Tanahashi. However, the match was on the verge of cancellation, leading New Japan Pro Wrestling to modify the match order to accommodate Castagnoli’s inclusion.
Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer has now provided an update on the situation. Reportedly, Castagnoli arrived at Osaka Jo Hall just as the match between Hiromu Takahashi and Master Wato was beginning. This match preceded Castagnoli’s, leaving him with minimal time, approximately 25 minutes, to prepare for his own bout.
The complications arose due to a series of delayed flights, including one flight cancellation, as well as a missed scheduled flight caused by the ongoing delays. At one point, it seemed that Castagnoli would have to change into his wrestling attire during the drive from the airport and immediately enter the ring upon arrival.
Throughout the ordeal, Castagnoli kept everyone informed of the situation, leading to a decision by the event organizers to reschedule his match, granting him additional time to prepare and recover from the travel challenges.
