Claudio Castagnoli Talks Wrestlers’ Group Chat With Death Riders

Claudio Castagnoli opened up about life inside AEW’s Death Riders stable during a recent interview with Sky Sports, touching on whether he and his fellow wrestlers keep in touch through a group chat away from the cameras.

Castagnoli, who has spent more than two decades in the wrestling business, has built relationships with countless performers across multiple promotions over the years. Being part of the Death Riders — the villainous faction fronted by Jon Moxley that also includes names like Wheeler Yuta and PAC — has put him in close quarters with a tight-knit group backstage, and it’s not surprising that dynamic would carry over into something as simple as a shared group chat.

Group chats among wrestlers have become something of an open secret in the industry, often surfacing in interviews as a lighthearted way for fans to glimpse the camaraderie — or occasional chaos — that exists behind the scenes. Wrestlers frequently use these chats to talk shop, rib each other, or simply stay connected while constantly on the road. For a faction like the Death Riders, which thrives on unity and shared purpose in its on-screen presentation, learning that the bond extends off-screen only reinforces how believable the group dynamic has felt since its formation.

Castagnoli has long been regarded as one of the most respected locker room figures in wrestling, a reputation built over stints in Ring of Honor, WWE — where he wrestled as Cesaro — and now AEW. His willingness to speak candidly about the lighter, more human side of being part of a top faction gives fans additional insight into how these groups operate away from live events and television tapings.

The Death Riders have been one of AEW’s most prominent factions, built around Moxley’s AEW World Championship reign and the group’s aggressive, take-no-prisoners approach to nearly every program they’ve been involved in. Whether that chemistry — chat included — continues to translate into dominance in the ring remains to be seen as AEW’s championship picture continues to shift.

For now, it’s a fun reminder that even wrestling’s most intimidating heel stables still function like any close group of coworkers, trading messages and inside jokes when the ring lights go down.