I just finished watching the Top 50 finishers in WWE history DVD. I understand that when you are a multi-million dollar entertainment company, you don't just make lists like that for fun, you are doing it to make money. That means you get your biggest names in no matter what. That is all fine and well but after watching a list that has Hulk Hogan's horrible leg drop in the top ten, I felt obligated to put together a list that doesn't need to throw in any shitty finisher, just because it was used by a big name.
For those of you reading that are not pro wrestling fans, I should elaborate on what I mean by finishing move. A finishing move is a move that a wrestler regularly uses to win or "finish" a match. Some wrestlers have multiple recognized finishing moves and will have multiple entries on this list.
There will be a few changes in the qualifications from my list and the WWE DVD, in that I am not sticking to WWE finishers. Big time wrestling fans likely know that WWE is the most watered down wrestling company out there and some of the more impressive moves will come from other organizations.
Secondly, I will not put in any move that is used by several wrestlers with slight variations, so you will not see any variations of DDT's, neckbreakers, or frog splash's. That is not to say these are not good moves, rather that they are so common, picking one variation really just becomes about which wrestler using the move do you prefer. I'm biased but I try to limit it.
Finally, I could care less whether the move won a world title or if it was used by a jobber that rarely won a match at all. The list is not about the wrestler as a whole or careers, just the moves.
With my disclaimers out of the way, let's dive on into the list.
Just missing the cut: William Regal's Regal Stretch, Dean Malenko's Texas Cloverleaf, Davey Richards' Butterfly Brainbuster, and Evan Bourne's Air Bourne.
50. Austin Aries' Last Chancery (Horns of Aries)
Look we all know by now that wrestling is fake. The greatness of a move is more than just the danger or pain factor, it is also about the presentation. The last chancery is not only a painful hold but the presentation is great. When held in the move, a wrestler is held in a position with their face elevated from the mat just perfectly so the camera and catch every bit of pain etched in the man's face. Great presentation means a great move.
49. Diamond Dallas Page's Diamond Cutter
Modern wrestling fans will recognize the above move as the RKO that Randy Orton has made famous, and with good reason, it's the same damn move. However, the RKO is not on my list. The move itself is one of those moves that is great because it can come from anywhere and shock the crowd. The reason I included it over the RKO is the realism that Diamond Dallas Page adds to his variation. Orton tends to lazily hook the opponent's head with a single arm to drop them to the canvas, however DDP uses both arms to really add a level of inescapability to the hold.
Also, I hate Orton and it's my list.
48. Victoria's Widow's Peak
The widow's peak is the only move by a female competitor on my list. While there have been many talented female competitors over the years, there has never been a power move that was more impressively used by a female competitor, as they tended to be more "finesse" than anything. Then Victoria showed up in 2002 and started delivering the widow's peak. The move is as devastating as any used by the men, dropping the opponents neck against her own shoulder in a position that does not allow the opponent to use their arms to protect themselves. There has never been a female that presented a move as brutal before or since.
47. Steve Williams' Backdrop Driver
I don't know that this one needs much detail.
Lift a bitch, drop on head, 1. 2. 3.
Goodnight.
46. Chris Benoit's Crippler Crossface
If you have started watching wrestling after 2007, you've probably never heard of Chris Benoit. Benoit has been more or less written out of wrestling history due to the way his life ended tragically, along with his wife and child. However, I'm a believer that one action should not make irrelevant a lifetime of work. For 20 years, Benoit was arguably the most talented wrestler in the world, and the Crossface was his finisher of choice. Most wrestling fans can likely vouch for the pain of the hold as it is simple enough to use that fellow wrestling fans tend to lock it in on each other. The concept is simple. Trap an arm, grab the face, and wrench the neck until the opponent gives up, and it usually worked.
45. Kevin Steen's Package Piledriver
The piledriver is the original devastating move to be used in a wrestling ring. Since the first use of the piledriver, many variations have been used, but few have rivaled the one Steen uses. Most piledrivers focus on simply lifting an opponent and dropping them on their head. Steen goes a step further in trapping their appendages before the move to ensure nothing can be done to lessen the impact.
44. Abyss' Black Hole Slam
Most of the moves on my list are impressive because you watch it and say "I wouldn't let someone use that on me." Many focus on the neck or head and just look dangerous. The black hole slam is much more basic. The impressive thing about it is the speed at which it is delivered. It is rare that a 350 pound wrestler uses a move that is impressive because of the finesse involved but that is what this is. Catch the running opponent, quickly twist around like a madman, and drive to the canvas (preferably with thumbtacks waiting).
43. Test's Test Drive
Just like the black hole slam, this is a move that is impressive because of the size of the opponent using it. The move has been used by many over the past few years, Cody Rhodes and Christopher Daniels to name a few, but none have made it seem as impressive.
42. Vader's Vader Bomb
The Vader bomb is not impressive because of the move itself. Rey Mysterio could use the move and I could kick out. It's the size of the man using it that makes it so iconic. It is simple, effective, and honestly terrifying if you are the man being hit. Just picture yourself flat on your back watching a 450 pound man drop on you from the second rope. The move can really be summarized in one word.
Splat!
41. AJ Styles' Styles Clash
The Styles Clash is unique in that there are very few moves that end with an opponent being dropped onto their chest. The Styles Clash is great in that the set-up for the move including a believable trapping of the arms to negate an opponents counter, a high impact landing, and smooth, easy transition into the pin. A complex move that has kept AJ Styles at the top of TNA wrestling for a decade now.
Stay tuned for 40-31 tomorrow.
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