The Flying Hammerlock Video Review #74: Claudio Vs. PAC

 

This review is retroactively dedicated to the memory of Benjamin Willard "PAC" Satterley.  R.I.P. 

Battle of Los Angeles 2007 Quarterfinal Match: Claudio Castagnoli vs. "The Man That Gravity Forgot" PAC, PWG Battle of Los Angeles 2007 Night 3, Burbank Armory, Burbank, CA, September 2, 2007
 

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla was a Los Angeles promotion that ran from 2003-2023.  Battle of Los Angeles was one of its big annual tournaments.
 

Claudio defeated Doug Williams and PAC defeated Jack Evans on Night 1 to get here.
 

They circle each other a few times and tie up and Claudio grabs a rear waistlock and takes down PAC.  Claudio grabs a front facelock but PAC escapes and gets one of his own.  Claudio grabs PAC's ankle and hooks the leg for a pin but only gets 2.  Claudio holds onto the leg and turns it into an ankle lock into a handstand by PAC.  Claudio brings PAC down and goes for a pin only gets 1.  They tie up again and PAC escapes and gets a double-leg takedown into a jackknife pin for 1.  Claudio grabs a front facelock but PAC takes out Claudio's knee to bring him down to the mat.  Claudio rolls PAC into a pin but it's not enough.  Claudio gets an ankle lock but PAC grabs the rope.  Back to their feet, Claudio offers a handshake, which PAC rejects.  Claudio offers it again and this time PAC accepts it.  They tie up and Claudio grabs a side headlock.  Into the ropes, PAC whips Claudio across but Claudio comes back with a shoulderblock.  Claudio poses.  Claudio runs off the ropes and they do the criss-cross spot.  Claudio comes off again and PAC leapfrogs him.   Claudio runs off a third time and PAC grabs him for a hiptoss but Claudio blocks it.  Claudio tries to hiptoss PAC out of the ring but PAC holds on and armdrags Claudio.   PAC ducks Claudio's clothesline and hits him with a dropsault.   Claudio is in a corner and PAC charges in but Claudio charges out and catches PAC with a back elbow.  Claudio whips PAC into a corner but PAC kips up and flips out of the corner and sweeps Claudio's legs and goes for the pin but only gets 1.  Claudio tries to sweep PAC's legs but PAC flips away and hits a Standing Skytwister Press onto Claudio's back.  PAC covers and gets 1.  PAC brings Claudio to his feet and goes for a slam but Claudio blocks it.  Claudio slams PAC and then just powers him up into a different kind of slam.   Claudio covers and gets 2.  Claudio grabs PAC's arm and face and works them over.   PAC tries to get to the ropes but Claudio pulls him into the center.  Claudio drops an elbow and goes for the pin and gets 2.  Claudio brings PAC to his feet and hits him with a forearm, sending PAC backwards into the corner.   Then another forearm.  Claudio snapmares PAC and goes for the pin and gets 2.  Claudio pulls back on PAC's arms but PAC makes it back to his feet and hits Claudio with an elbow to the midsection.  Then a couple more elbows to escape.  PAC runs off the ropes and Claudio catches him and powers him up and drops him from a considerable height.   Claudio grabs PAC's legs and gives him the Giant Swing, with the commentators losing count of how many rotations.  Claudio stumbles around dizzy but is able to go for the pin but only gets 2.  Claudio hooks PAC and hits a low suplex and holds on and gets 2.  PAC is in a corner and Claudio comes in with a forearm to the face.   Again.  Claudio tries a third time but PAC meets him with a boot to the face.  A fourth try, and PAC meets him with a boot to the midsection.  PAC hooks Claudio for a victory roll but only gets 2.  PAC charges at Claudio but Claudio levels him with a big elbow shot.   Claudio goes for a pin but only gets 2.  Claudio slams PAC and drops a leg and covers but only gets 2.  Claudio goes back to working the arm and face of PAC.  PAC gets up and kicks and forearms his way out of the hold.  PAC runs off the ropes and goes for a tilt-a-whirl headscissors but Claudio catches him and nearly throws him out of the ring but PAC stops him and pulls off the headscissors sending Claudio out to the floor.  PAC runs and dives at Claudio on the floor but Claudio catches him but PAC turns it into a diving huracanrana onto the concrete floor! (No pretty blue mats here.)   PAC rolls Claudio back into the ring and positions him on the mat.  PAC climbs up to the second rope and hits a moonsault for 2.  PAC brings Claudio up and kicks away at his legs.  PAC goes for an Enzuigiri but misses and Claudio hits him with a high-angle German Suplex for 2.  Claudio grabs PAC and goes for the Alpamare Waterslide but PAC counters with an armdrag.  PAC goes for a headscissors but Claudio stops it and hits PAC with a big European Uppercut for 2.  Claudio hooks PAC and goes for the Ricola Bomb but PAC escapes and climbs over Claudio and hits a Yoshi Tonic for a 2 count!  Both guys get up and PAC hits Claudio with some punches and forearms.  PAC runs off the ropes but Claudio catches him but PAC does a backflip after standing on Claudio's shoulders and ducks Claudio's clothesline but Claudio hits him with a big boot.  Claudio hits the Alpamare Waterslide but only gets 2! Claudio sends PAC into the corner and charges in but PAC blocks the Uppercut.  PAC climbs up and goes for a moonsault press but Claudio catches him but PAC turns it into a Tornado DDT!  PAC climbs up and hits a Twisting Shooting Star Press for 3 at 12:10! ****1/2!
 

For the record, CIMA defeated PAC in the semifinal and went on to defeat El Generico and Roderick Strong in the three-way dance final later that same night.
 

Once it got started it was terrific with some great high-flying moves by PAC and some great power stuff by Claudio.  Recommended and you can watch it here.