Former heavyweight champion loses in debut at AEW WrestleDream

One of the first matches at AEW WrestleDream saw Claudio Castagnoli defeating a debuting veteran.

Claudio's opponent, Josh Barnett, debuted at tonight's WrestleDream pay-per-view. While he has limited experience in the pro wrestling business, Barnett is by no means an amateur. The 45-year-old star has had a stellar career in UFC, most notably being one of the youngest-ever UFC Heavyweight Champions.

On the WrestleDream Zero Hour pre-show, Barnett went up against the Swiss Superman in a singles match. What followed was an exceptional display of technical wrestling as both men tried their best to gain the upper hand.

Jon Moxley's presence in the AEW commentary booth added to the aura of the bout as he praised Barnett's ability. After a lot of back and forth, however, Barnett was pinned by the Blackpool Combat Club member.

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After the match, Josh Barnett took hold of the mic to talk about his loss. In a display of good sportsmanship, he admitted that Claudio was deserving of all the admiration he gets. He also warned that this match would not be the last, and he was looking forward to another bout someday.

As of now, it remains to be seen what is next for the UFC veteran down the line.

About the author

Shubhajit is a pro wrestling journalist at Sportskeeda, reporting on WWE news. He has a Master's degree in English and has been working in his current role for over 2 years.

A fan of pro wrestling since childhood, Shubhajit decided to start creating content on the sport out of passion. Before covering a piece of news or rumor, he conducts thorough research, ensuring information in his work is reliable and completely accurate.

Although Shubhajit admires numerous pro wrestlers, his current favorite is WWE superstar Drew McIntyre. He is fond of The Scottish Warrior’s character work and innovative quips.

If there is one storyline he can work on in WWE, Shubhajit would book Roman Reigns’ future with The Bloodline following WrestleMania XL, where he lost to Cody Rhodes. He would have Reigns’ stablemates excommunicate him, laying the foundation for a gimmick change for the former. After Reigns’ exit from the faction, Shubhajit would portray him as an anti-hero trying hard to claw his way back up to the top.

Apart from reporting on pro wrestling, Shubhajit enjoys competitive gaming and reading.

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Edited by Jacob Terrell