4 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Battle Of The Belts III

by Jamie Kennedy

1. A Technical Masterclass

Claudio Castagnoli Konosuke Takeshita
AEW

That main event was a breath of fresh air from beginning to end.

Claudio Castagnoli vs. Konosuke Takeshita looked good on paper, but it was even better in execution. It was a display of pure technical excellence from both men, and it was magic to see fans pop up to give them a standing ovation mere minutes into the match.

This is the kind of showcase ROH needs regularly if it's going to be an ongoing, long-term concern for Tony Khan during AEW programming. It can be considered a thumping success for Claudio (no surprises there), and it's obvious that Takeshita is blossoming into a real breakout star.

William Regal said it best on guest commentary; the legend remarked that some young kid was likely watching the headliner and deciding right then and there that they'd like to become a pro wrestler someday. That was a lovely complement to the slow-burning epic Castagnoli and Takeshita were producing.

Stunning stuff.

What did you think of AEW's Battle Of the Belts III? For more wrestling, check out WWE 2K23: 10 Most Anticipated Changes Fans Need To See and 4 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Rampage (Aug 5)!

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Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.