5 jaw dropping in-ring moments in the WWE courtesy of Cesaro

The Swiss Superman – a lost phenomenon?

Cesaro, or Antonio Cesaro as he was initially billed in WWE programming is a wrestler whose career continually seems destined for greatness without ever actually reaching out for Vince McMahon’s proverbial brass ring.

The Swiss Superman, so dubbed due to his brutish raw strength, has impressed one and all with his in-ring exploits over the last 3 years in the WWE. There was an opportune moment during Cesaro’s career when the WWE could have arguably let him turn babyface, on the back of his exit from The Real Americans, but they ended up dropping the ball in a glorified U-turn that involved Paul Heyman. Only, being a Paul Heyman guy did not supply the thrust that it was intended to in his career, amidst rumours that the “push” that was intended for Cesaro ended up being given to Roman Reigns.

However, all is not lost and the tremendous in-ring worker that is Tyson Kidd provides perfect foil for Cesaro and their tag team is one of the highlights on Raw and Smackdown every week. While the Swiss Superman can now steadily rebuild momentum to fuel his main event aspirations, let us take a look back at 5 jaw-dropping moments in the WWE courtesy of Cesaro.

Cesaro eliminates Big Show

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This moment, in Wrestlemania 30, was arguably THE moment of Cesaro’s WWE career so far. Earlier during the pre-show, Cesaro had broken off from The Real Americans, and even put Jack Swagger in the Cesaro Swing. For all intents and purposes, it seemed like the WWE were turning Cesaro babyface and the audience lapped it up.

Anyway, it’s ridiculous how light Cesaro makes Big Show look in this one. He doesn’t scrum with Big Show and push his considerable mass over the ropes; he cleanly lifts him and drops him on the outside to win the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. In more senses than one, this was Cesaro’s version of Hogan slamming Andre and it certainly shone through to the audience. The WWE gave every impression at this point in time that Cesaro was going to go on to bigger and better things.

We’re still waiting.

Uppercut Barrage to Daniel Bryan

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It was an episode of Raw in July 2013, and Cesaro was still very much part of The Real Americans, when he faced off against Daniel Bryan in a one on one match up. In what was easily one of the matches of the year, the duo went at it tooth and nail with Bryan, the babyface, pulling off the victory eventually.

That did not take away from the quality of the match though as both men managed to showcase quality offense. In the customary centre-of-the-ring tee-off, at 11.00 minutes, both of them use the uppercut as their weapon of choice – cue Cesaro.

Cesaro snaps and unleashes a barrage of 19 European uppercuts in a row followed by a lariat that flips Daniel Bryan 360 degrees through the air. Clearly Bryan slumps to the mat twice during this onslaught but Cesaro persists and pulls him up twice so that he could continue. Ouch. Certainly a jaw-dropping moment. (pun intended)

Dead-lift Suplex off the turnbuckle to Big E

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In an episode of Smackdown in February of 2014, when Cesaro was still part of the Real Americans stable, there occurred a classic case of irresistible force(minus Jack Swagger) versus immovable object as Mark Henry and Big E squared up in tag team competition.

In an astounding show of strength, Cesaro picks up Big E, who is outside the ropes, and proceeds to dead-lift suplex him from the second turnbuckle. There is a momentary pause, midway through the manoeuvre when Cesaro’s inhuman strength is apparent for all to see, as he pretty much generates all the power to haul Big E over the ropes by himself.

It is moments like these that lend credence to Cesaro’s standing quite possibly as the WWE’s strongest competitor.

Cesaro trashes The Miz like a Ragdoll

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This epic event transpired on one unsuspecting Monday Night Raw episode in February 2013. The Miz was engaged in a one on one match-up with Cody Rhodes and the Swiss Superman, formally suited up, was doing commentary with the team. During the course of the match as the action spilled over outside, The Miz engages in a staredown with Cesaro, who was also the US Champion then.

When Cesaro tries to rush Miz from behind, he receives a big boot for his troubles. Incensed, Cesaro’s retribution was as swift as it was shattering. After Cesaro is done with the Miz, the audience is left in a mixture of shock and awe. Shock at the brutality of it and plainly in awe of the man’s herculean strength.

Cesaro versus Sami Zayn at NXT Arrival

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Let alone compiling a list of 5 jaw-dropping moments courtesy of Cesaro – this match itself provides a sufficient amount and then some all by itself. In what was an absolute epic encounter, Cesaro went up against Sami Zayn at NXT Arrival. I can give the match no greater compliment than to say that you knew it was a shoe-in for a match of the year nomination whilst unfolding.

The theme of the match revolved around Sami Zayn trying to win the respect of WWE Superstar Cesaro. To surmise that these two wrestlers won the collective respect of the WWE Universe after their encounter would not be far-fetched. Cesaro is far from just brawn as clearly highlighted through the course of this match, and his grappling and mat wrestling abilities are nothing short of fantastic.

Sometimes as fans, we just cannot hope to understand the WWE’s every course of action. That is part of why we are so gripped by this phenomenon called pro-wrestling. Cesaro is an affirmation of both of the above. Why he isn’t a main eventer in the WWE we cannot hope to understand, though its apparent that Cesaro is nothing short of phenomenon.

Disclaimer : Despite the match being on NXT, I took the liberty of including it in this list for two reasons. One because both Cesaro and Sami Zayn have wrestled in the WWE main roster, and two because this is an absolute must-watch for wrestling fans. Period.

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