Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Bryan Danielson’s Hand-Picked Replacement
Danielson’s replacement will be the newest member of Blackpool Combat Club, and it turns out to be Claudio Castagnoli, the former Cesaro.
Claudio takes the fight to ZSJ and gets an immediate two count with a Neutralizer. He drills Sabre Jr. with some uppercuts at ringside. Sabre Jr. snaps his arm over the ropes, but Castagnoli rocks him with a boot. ZSJ stretches Claudio’s leg in the ropes and bends it over the apron. Sabre Jr. stomps Castagnoli’s arm and mocks his taunt.
He keeps attacking Castaganoli’s arm. Claudio rallies and hits two back-breakers. He drills ZSJ with an uppercut. Claudio tries to powerbomb his way out of an arm-bar, but both men go over the ropes while the hold is still locked in. Claudio walks up the steps while lifting Sabre Jr. with one arm. Sabre Jr. reverses the Swing and locks in an Octopus hold. Claudio hits a gutwrench slam off the middle rope. ZSJ avoids the Swing again.
Claudio nails Sabre Jr. with a European uppercut. He does the Swing, but his hurt arm shortens the duration. Sabre Jr. locks in a heel hook, but Claudio powers out and locks in a Sharpshooter. He stomps Sabre Jr. for a two count. ZSJ locks in a sleeper hold and transitions to an arm-bar. Sabre Jr. kicks Claudio, but the newcomer floors him with a lariat. Claudio hits an uppercut, a clothesline and a powerbomb for the win.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli