50 Greatest Finishing Moves: 40-31

Missed the rest?  Catch up before reading the rest:
50-41

40. Booker T's Harlem Hangover

   

If you only know Booker T from his post-WCW days, then the above video is probably the only time you've ever seen him use the Harlem Hangover.  At one point in Booker's early career this was his main finisher but a mix of a age and the watered down nature that main eventers bring in terms of risk taking relegated this move to the shelf from about 2000 until he retired.  The incredible thing about the move to me is the risk involved for the person taking the move.  Booker T wrestled his entire career north of the 250 pound mark, and while graceful for his size, 250 pounds is a lot to trust will land where it needs to after a flip off the top rope without legitimately getting your head crushed.  Just ask HHH, I think there is a good reason the above clip is the only time he ever busted it out in the WWE.

 39. Matt Morgan's Hellevator

 

The Hellevator is another example of a move that impresses due to the size of the opponent.  Any time a seven footer uses a move that involves momentum rather than pure strength, it is fun to watch.  The first time I saw this move I figured this was going to be some boring variation on a vertical suplex.  Then Morgan swung the opponent the other way and added so much extra impact compared to usual variation of just falling backwards.  Sadly, Morgan has since abandoned this move in favor of one of my generic ineligible moves, a big boot with a cute nickname.

38. Bryan Danielson's Cattle Mutilation  

When I first saw Danielson use this move, I certainly thought it was rather unique, but it wasn't until I tried using it on my younger brother that I realized how impressive it was.  I put on the ground chest down, hooked both arms, and then flipped over and heard the screams.  The reason wasn't necessarily the pain of the hold you see above, but rather it was a testament that you need to be a better athlete than myself to attempt this.  After flipping over I landed flat on my ass, with my brothers arms still hooked and stretched then considerably further than a human arm is meant to go.  While the move is visually impressive, it is also great because it is rare that a move used on the mat requires a feat of athleticism that is usually only seen leaving the top turnbuckle. 

The first, and arguably still the best, devastating tag team maneuver.  While I don't have it ranked highest among tag moves, I wouldn't fight with anyone who did.  The concept is so simple, hold an opponent on the shoulders and wait for your partner to come flying of the ropes to knock him cold.  For the era it was in, it was perhaps the most feared move there was.  

 36. Triple H's Pedigree

Everyone knows this move.  Usually, the big main eventers have reasonably generic finishing moves, HHH though created one of the greatest moves ever.  I remember when first group of friends starting wrestling on my trampoline, we were trying out all of our favorite moves on everyone.  Stunners, chokeslams, rock bottoms, all the big moves and we were all happy to let the others try them out on us in return.  The one move no one wanted to participate in was the pedigree.  It doesn't matter what the landing surface you have, landing on your chest is uncomfortable.  The only reason that this isn't higher is because someone has taken it and one-upped since HHH created the move.  You'll be seeing the improved version later in the list.  

35. Rey Mysterio's West Coast Pop

  

Rey Mysterio is one of the greatest innovators in the history of my beloved choice of white trash entertainment.  While Mysterio has moved away from this move due to a combination of knee surgeries and the popularity of the 619, for my money the West Coast Pop is the greatest move that has ever graced his arsenal.  It shows amazing agility and technique but still managing to make you cringe a bit with the impact on the opponents head at the end.

 34. The Maximo's Spanish Fly

  

If you aren't a die hard fan, you've likely never seen the Spanish Fly.  It was used by the Maximo brothers, a team that never found big success, never reaching any higher on the pro wrestling ladder than Ring of Honor (and their stay there was relatively short).  I have never understood their lack of success as they brothers could really wrestle and their finish was absolutely beautiful to behold.  The only move you'll see that manages to get three people leaving the top turnbuckle at the same time.

Everyone knows this move and while it has often been repeated, no one else has ever used it effectively as a finisher.  The thing about the elbow drop is that if you don't use it perfectly, it looks painfully fake.  CM Punk has recently started using the elbow to pay tribute to the late, great Savage, but his just pales in comparison to the original.  The top rope elbow drop is often used so that the wrestler clearly is pulling the elbow up at the last moment to avoid really driving it into the opponent.  With Savage, never.  The point of the elbow is driven deep and hard, sometimes to the chest, and occasionally in the middle of a poor schmucks face.

 32. El Generico's Turnbuckle Brainbuster

While a brainbuster is a move that drastically overused on the independent scene, El Generico has found a way to make a common move stand out from all the other.  A brainbuster is a scary move in it's own right, picking an opponent up and just dropping them flat on top of their head is a move that always carries a lot of risk.  Generico makes a habit of propping his opponent on the top rope and then using the move on the turnbuckle itself, and the landing is generally unpredictable.  

 31. 2 Cold Scorpio's 450 Splash
 

When Scorpio first started wrestling in the early nineties, the top rope had firmly established itself as starting spot for several maneuvers.  Scorpio was the first, to my knowledge, that actually started using the ropes to do something truly incredible, when most were using it as way to just add momentum to a standard maneuver like a splash or elbow drop.  Scorpio used the extra height to add some twists no one could ever pull off from the mat itself, spinning 450 degrees before using that momentum to flatten his opponent into the canvas. This has been used a lot since but like many top rope moves, most high flying wrestlers just use it as another move, and not as signature finisher like Scorpio did.