Robbie Eagles Says He Almost Tore His AC Joint In ROH Match Against Claudio Castagnoli

Robbie Eagles reveals he hurt his shoulder when he faced Claudio Castagnoli.

Robbie Eagles reveals he hurt his shoulder when he faced Claudio Castagnoli.

Since Ring of Honor’s weekly television show returned in March, the company has regularly brought in stars from New Japan Pro-Wrestling and other promotions. On the May 4 episode of ROH TV, former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles faced ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli. Eagles lost the bout and went on to compete in NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors Tournament. 

Speaking on Keepin’ It Strong Style, Eagles recalled how he hurt his shoulder in his match against Castagnoli, and he thought he might have to pull out of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. He then stated that the physiotherapists and trainers helped him recover so he was able to compete. 

“I just want to point out that I started with tape in the tournament, and then I progressed down to no tape… and that was a mental strategy because I could tell people were eyeing up my shoulder and being like ‘Something’s not right with Robbie on that shoulder.’ They’re correct because I wrestled Claudio Castagnoli for Ring of Honor about a week before I went to Super Juniors, and I actually almost tore my AC joint, so I had a pretty bad injury going into Super Juniors, and I was like, I might have to tap out of the tournament, but physiotherapists in Australia were great, and the trainers in New Japan taped up nice enough, and then it was almost like subterfuge, like I was goading people into thinking that my shoulder was worse than it was. By match three, there was no tape, and people were trying to, ‘Oh, is he still hurt? Should I go after his shoulder? What should I do?’ So it made them start second-guessing their own strategy. So I’m just pulling back the curtain for you a little bit there,” Eagles said.

Click here to check out the card for the June 15 episode of ROH TV. Fightful will have coverage of the show as it airs.

Claudio Castagnoli recently reflected on his NJPW debut. Check out his comments here.

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