Can You Name The Wrestler's Finisher?
- by Lucas Wesley
- – on
- in Sports
There’s a whole lot more to a professional wrestler than any one move, at least discussing those who actually have in-ring talent. Good sports entertainers should be able to put on matches of reasonable length, showcasing a wide variety of unique and interesting maneuvers as they do so. This doesn’t need to happen every night, and some wrestling characters almost never need to survive an hour long contest, but the point is, no one has become WWE Champion by exclusively using one single move. With that said, many wrestlers nonetheless find their entire careers defined by a bombastic finishing hold.
The trend makes sense, considering once a wrestler realizes they can win matches and entertain the crowd with a particular move, they tend to start using it more and more to keep the success train rolling. It can take weeks, months, or years of hard work for a nobody to wrestle in their first WWE main event, yet should they finally get that opportunity, it’s probably because they’ve left a trail of bodies in their wake. Wrestlers can only accomplish this with one heck of a knock out blow, and anyone who considers him or herself a fan should be able to recognize what their favorite superstars calls theirs before it even happens. Find out if you’re a real fan and test if you can you name these wrestlers’ finishing maneuvers.
Shawn Michaels
While WWE tries claim that the boyhood dream Shawn Michaels was to win the WWE Championship, the truth is a personality like HBK wouldn’t be content with one measly title. From day one, Michaels true goal was to become a show stopping main eventer, something he more than accomplished many times over. Michaels has countless special moves up his sleeve that knocked out hundreds of foes, yet once he was tuned up the band, fans knew the lights were going out and the people in the truck were about to hit his music.
Rusev
Crushing his opponents with the power of a Bulgarian Brute, all to the approval of a Ravishing Russian, Rusev took a familiar character from Rocky III and turned it into stuff of wrestling greatness. Rusev made his debut in NXT and wasted no time in getting called up to the main WWE roster, where he has feuded against top names like John Cena and joined a League of Nations with like minded individuals. Though not yet a World Champion, Rusev is on his way to the top, and one move in particular is helping him get there.
Sasha Banks
The ongoing women’s revolution means now more than ever is the perfect time for ladies to assert themselves in the WWE Universe. Calling herself The Boss, Sasha Banks easily accomplished this task upon arrival, then went on to win a number of WWE Raw Women’s Championships to prove it was more than a nickname. Along with Charlotte Flair and Bayley, Banks repeatedly broke through the glass ceiling by wrestling in the main event of NXT and WWE special events. Each time Banks wins she makes an impact, especially when she does so with her special move.
Seth Rollins
Architecting his success from day one, Seth Rollins teamed up with Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns to form The Shield and fast took WWE by storm. Once Rollins separated from his former brothers and joined The Authority, he stood out as the first of the bunch to become WWE Champion, and went on to hold the gold for nearly nine months before injury took it away from him. A second reign came after he recovered, followed by a seemingly never-ending feud with his former ally, Triple H.
Hulk Hogan
Hot of the heels of an appearance as Thunderlips in Rocky III, Hulk Hogan became the most popular wrestler in America by jumping from the AWA to WWE and kick starting Hulkamania. Hogan’s first run as WWE Champion lasted an impressive four years, and five more runs with the belt would follow. Later on, the Hulkster headed down south to WCW, where he won six additional World Championships and formed the New World Order. Whether donning black and white or red and yellow, Hogan typically finished off his enemies with the same powerful move.
Kurt Angle
Fresh off a turn in the Olympics that saw him walk away with a Gold Medal, Kurt Angle entered WWE with the greatest amateur wrestling credentials a new pro could possibly have. With this sort of background, there’s no surprise it took Angle less than a year to win the European, Intercontinental, and WWE Championships, the first two of which he held concurrently. Angle kept winning titles all around the world from there, leaving WWE for a while to do the same in Japan and TNA before heading home to the WWE Universe.
Kane
From hellfire and brimstone, The Undertaker’s little brother Kane made his shocking debut at Badd Blood 1997, then spent a solid two decades destroying everyone who dared stand in his path. Few wrestlers have gone on journeys as bizarre as the one Kane has taken throughout the WWE Universe, yet one thing that remained consistent across his long career is the trial of bodies left in his wake. These days, Kane has more interest in corporate politics than the wrestling ring, but if he ever returned, most fans know what move he’d use when he does so.
The Big Show
Though not the son of André as WCW once claimed, The Big Show nonetheless has been The Giant’s successor as the largest athlete in pro wrestling. The main difference between Show and André has been longevity, with Paul Wight able to stick around in one place far longer than André ever did. Big Show never looked back after jumping to WWE from WCW, still in the company almost two decades after his debut. Typically the largest athlete in the promotion, Big Show can annihilate most enemies through brute strength alone, as seen in his feared ending move.
Roman Reigns
As hated as WWE wishes he was loved, Roman Reigns is arguably the most controversial superstar in pro wrestling today. Fans have long questioned why WWE supports Reigns the way they do, yet his abilities in the ring have never been part of the discussion. Despite his flaws, Reigns has nonetheless excelled at a power based offense, and has proven more than capable of putting on a great war of attrition thanks to his many special maneuvers. That said, he typically uses a fairly move to finish the job.
John Cena
Representing the face of WWE well over a decade now, John Cena is easily the highest profile wrestler in America today. After recently winning his 16th World Championship to tie Ric Flair’s record, Cena also cemented himself as a legend inside the ring, overcoming the odds no matter how high the deck was stacked against him. Early on in his career, Cena created a move called the F-U to parody Brock Lesnar’s finisher, but when the PG era came along WWE felt his trademark needed a slight change.
Bray Wyatt
Fireflies around the world unite in a bright flash each time Bray Wyatt makes his way to a WWE arena, and the mad cult leader always does his best to do them proud with incredible performances in the ring. Wyatt’s lends to a particularly hard hitting offense, while his personality lends him to add plenty of mind games to the mix, confusing his opponents as he breaks them down. In the past, the Wyatt Family was always nearby to make things even easier for him, but now that he’s on his own Wyatt still has little to fear.
Sheamus
Whether his hair sometimes looks stupid or not, Sheamus has been one of the most dominant forces in the WWE Universe from the day he debuted. Almost out of nowhere, Sheamus won his first WWE Championship in a tables match against John Cena, mere months after he had arrived on the scene in ECW. From that moment on, Sheamus continued to be a force to be reckoned with, innovative a number of trademark moves along the way. Sheamus has plenty of ways to knock his opponents out, yet usually tries to do the job ASAP with a certain special move.
Dean Ambrose
Crazy like a fox, Dean Ambrose fast became the most popular member of The Shield upon their breakup thanks to his unpredictable personality. Unhinged people tend to make for wild sports entertainers with unique and expansive move sets, and Ambrose is no different in this regard. Standing out from the start, Ambrose won the United States Championship early into his career, followed by a reign as WWE Champion and several other titles along the way. In most cases, the same special move helped him win the gold.
Triple H
Sitting atop his throne as the King of Kings, these days Triple H does more work in the boardroom than inside the ring. Before he was married to Stephanie McMahon, though, the Cerebral Assassin had to utilize his brute strength and technical acumen to rise through the ranks. While Triple H had a reputation for slowly breaking down his opponents step by step, his matches typically ended in similar fashion, with victims crashing face first into the mat care of his favorite maneuver.
The Undertaker
Striking fear into the hearts of pro wrestlers everywhere, The Undertaker remains one of the most legendary figures in sports entertainment. From his debut at the 1990 Survivor Series to his presumed retirement at WrestleMania 33, the creatures of the night flocked behind The Dead Man as he destroyed all men who dared stand in his yard. The Undertaker may have only reigned as World Champion a handful of times, yet he more than made up for it with the most impressive undefeated streak in WWE history, winning 21 WrestleMania matches in a row.
Cesaro
Although Vince McMahon may not realize it, Cesaro is one of the most talented and versatile performers in WWE today. His persona has largely remained the same from day one, claiming that his upbringing has made him a superior brand of athlete, a reputation he strives to uphold in his every match. To convince the argument he wasn’t lying, Cesaro needed to prove he was truly top of the line inside the ring, which he has done with countless incredible moves, most of all his trademark.
Dolph Ziggler
A born show off in every way possible, it’s only natural that Dolph Ziggler would possess a flashy offense to wow his audience and piece apart his opponents. Because of this, crowds are always excited when WWE decides to give Ziggler one of his many chances at breaking through to the main event. In a few instances, he even got to taste the gold of a World Championship, although it usually wasn’t long before Vince McMahon and company decided to ignore Ziggler’s skills in the ring in favor of someone else.
Bob Backlund
Far more versatile than he’s given credit for in the modern era, Bob Backlund was a barrel of energy every time he stepped into a WWE ring. The typical Backlund match started with him running circles around the ring simply to hype himself up, and they could often end with him bouncing up and down for joy—even matches that saw Bob wrestle over an hour. With this kind of inexhaustible vitality, Backlund had no shortage of ways to make his opponents submit, though one special hold has become synonymous to his legend.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin
With the mentality of an ice cold serial killer, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin made it his stated mission to takeover the WWE Universe. Over the course of about six years, Austin did exactly that several times over, winning multiple WWE Championships, coining dozens of catchphrases, and selling millions of t-shirts along the way. Nothing more succinctly wraps up Stone Cold’s career than his own mantra Austin 3:16, which reads “I just whipped your ass.” Nine times out of ten, said ass whipping involved a kick, a wham, and Austin’s favorite finishing move.
Shinsuke Nakamura
Reigning supreme as the King of Strong Style, Shinsuke Nakamura is easily one of the flashiest and most charismatic superstars in wrestling today. Far more than meets the eye, Nakamura also possess a wholly unique move set, inspired by Japanese legends like Antonio Inoki, nonetheless drawing their wrath by claiming his goal was to replace them. Now that Nakamura is in the WWE Universe, his sole goal seems to be entertaining the giant audience, and yet his methods remain the same—taking out his opponents with incredible moves, like the one he uses as his signature.
A.J. Styles
Phenomenal upon arrival, A.J. Styles had plenty of time to prepare for his WWE debut. Prior to his shocking debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble, Styles had already been a massive star in New Japan Pro Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action, and it took him no time at all to translate that success to Vince McMahon’s empire. Styles performances inside the ring were what consistently made him famous, so it goes without saying his move set is flashy, but one hold in particular gave him a reputation for cashing checks and breaking necks.
The Rock
To a professional wrestler in the modern era, a chance at going one on one with The Great One might be better than a match for the WWE Championship. The Rock doesn’t hit the ring too much these days, but it’s always headline news when he does, thanks to the fact he’s taken over Hollywood as one of the top paid actors in the world today. Before that could happen, Rocky barreled through competition inside the squared circle, tearing apart his enemies on the microphone before laying the smacketh down with a number of his favorite maneuvers.
Neville
Flying off the ropes like few others in the WWE Universe, the work of Neville stands as proof cruiserweight style wrestling is still viable in mainstream sports entertainment. Prior to WWE reviving the cruiserweight division and making him the focus, Neville was already tearing up the ring in NXT, where he long reigned as champion. Things went kind of slow upon his call up to the main roster, yet now that he has a place to fit in, Neville has again fast found his way to the top.
CM Punk
Bucking convention by boasting about being straight edge, CM Punk always represented himself as the voice of the disenfranchised. One area where Punk fell more in line with mainstream convention was the wrestling ring, where he also liked to brag about being the best in the world at what he did. Making a claim like that wouldn’t be possible without the gold to back it up, which Punk had in spades, not to mention the incredible moves he used to earn it.
Brock Lesnar
Accurately described as The Beast Incarnate, few wrestlers in the WWE Universe are able to sleep when they hear Brock Lesnar is their next opponent. Having legitimized himself in UFC, Lesnar is easily the most feared grappler in pro wrestling, able to knock down mere mortals with an angry glance, and that’s if they aren’t already intimidated to death by his sword tattoo. Should they somehow survive long enough to let Lesnar hit them, wrestlers tend to find themselves in for the fight of their lives, generally ending with a wild ride he calls his finishing move.
Samoa Joe
Often entering to a resounding chorus of “Joe’s gonna kill you,” any professional wrestler who claims to be unafraid of Samoa Joe is probably lying. Though relatively new to the WWE Universe, Joe has been leaving a path of destruction everywhere he goes since his earliest days as a founding father to Ring of Honor. Now one of Vince McMahon’s top superstars, Joe uses a mostly power based offense to force his victims into submission, but he also relies on a handful of technical maneuvers when his main goal is inflicting pain.
Sami Zayn
Often an underdog but never one to give up, Sami Zayn has won the sympathy of countless WWE fans as he gave his all against bigger and stronger opponents. To survive in a world of giants, Zayn has utilized a wide variety of unique moves, relying on his quickness and creativity to win matches despite having the odds stacked against him. With this unique offense, Zayn managed to reign as NXT Champion and challenge for a number of WWE titles, one of which he may just win some day soon.
Bret Hart
Always looking to do his native Canada proud, Bret Hart became one of the biggest wrestling heroes of the ‘90s by winning the WWE Championship five times. Before that could happen, he was already standing out as the excellence of execution for the incredible matches he wrestled with Jim Neidhart as The Hart Foundation, and a reign with the Intercontinental Championship bridged the gap between his tag and solo days. For all his many accomplishments, Bret had a tendency to end his matches with the same Five Moves of Doom, ending with his legendary finishing hold.
Kevin Owens
Bullying everyone he sees, including some of his best friends, Kevin Owens is one of the meanest superstars in WWE today. Being a rude jerk hardly precludes one from being a great pro wrestler, though, and in fact it may help assert them as forces to be reckoned with from day one. Owens in particular wasted no time in making a name for himself, attacking Sami Zayn in one of his earliest NXT opponents and then defeating him for the NXT Championship. That same destruction has continued through WWE, with one special move making it all possible.
Chris Jericho
With the heart of a lion, Chris Jericho made a name for himself in wrestling from a young age, finding success in SMW, ECW, and WCW all while still in his 20’s. Barely 30 by the time he reached the WWE Universe, Jericho declared himself the superstar of the millennium upon arrival. In late 2001, Jericho unified the WCW and WWE Championships for the first time and became the first Undisputed Champion in wrestling, and his success has only continued from there. Throughout his whole career, one move in particular helped Jericho maintain his position on top.
Jeff Hardy
Reckless and dangerously doing whatever it takes to avoid getting labeled obsolete, Jeff Hardy is one of the most death-defying superstars in WWE history. After spending half a decade as enhancement talent, Hardy started to spread his wings by heading to the top rope and jumping off with little concern for himself or his opponents. The strategy brilliantly paid off when millions of fans loved his acrobatic displays, with one twisty turning move in particular helping him win multiple World Championships.
Charlotte Flair
Following in the footsteps of “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair is no easy task, something his son David learned first hand when trying to do so in WCW. Luckily for the family legacy, along came daughter Charlotte a little over a decade later to prove it could be done. Defending her self-professed reputation as a naturally gifted athlete, Charlotte always tries to one up her self in every match, maybe even hoping to put her father to shame with a wide and varied offense.
Braun Strowman
Ripped straight out of Hulk Hogan’s villain’s row and implanted into the modern era, Braun Strowman sometimes feels like a flashback to the kind of monsters who populated WWE in the 1980s. Some things never change, and so the wrestling community at large was more than willing to accept the return of such a beast. It took a while for Strowman to transcend from his role as a run-of-the-mill monster to a truly destructive force, yet it was his powerful move set that made the transition possible.
Finn Bálor
Looking like a demon yet able to inspire millions of fans, Finn Bálor in part accomplished this dichotomy through his incredibly flashy offense. After becoming a star in Japan as Prince Devitt, Finn made his way to the WWE Universe by way of NXT, where he soon reigned as champion for a record length. Next, he appeared on the main roster and won the Universal Championship in one of his first matches. Obviously, there were plenty of great maneuvers utilized to achieve this accolades, but the same one usually came last.
The Miz
Arriving in the WWE Universe after acting like a fan boy on The Real World, future WWE Champion The Miz had a long way to go in proving himself as more than a mere TV star. At this point, dozens of titles including a near record number of reigns as Intercontinental Champion have gone a long way at doing the trick. Of course, anyone forced to get in the ring against The Miz already learned this long ago, when he came at them with a fluffy of offense that could only be described as awesome.
Rhyno
Barreling through his opponents more like a beast than a man, Rhyno was the last truly destructive force to come out of ECW. That destruction continued when Rhyno appeared in the WWE Universe as a key player in The Alliance, though for whatever reason, he fast fell out of favor with bosses from there. Recently, Rhyno has made one of the most surprising comebacks in modern history by teaming with Heath Slater as a more comedic character, yet his enemies still remember the destruction of the past.
Bayley
Possessing unbridled optimism and proudly self-identifying as a hugger, it’s rare for the WWE Universe to catch Bayley wearing any expression other than a smile. This is even true after a hard fought match, wherein she displayed a spectacular offense one might find out of character for such a happy person. Bayley is one of the many women in WWE attempting to move things forward for their gender, and she’s been employing a diverse and unique move set to do so. That said, Bayley has always relied on the classics to put her opponents away.
Jinder Mahal
One of the least likely success stories in recent history, Jinder Mahal went from a career loser to WWE Champion in a manner of months. All that changed about his persona en route to the change was a massive increase in muscle mass, leading many to question Vince McMahon’s motives at giving Mahal such an opportunity. In any event, Mahal has done his best to prove he deserves the honor by expanding his move set to include a more varied offense, though he still relies on some old throwbacks like his finishing move.
The Dudley Boyz
Coming straight out of Dudleyville, Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley may not have looked that much alike, yet no one could stand in the brothers’ way as they dominated tag teams throughout the entire world. Starting in ECW with an extended family, the Dudley Boyz dropped the outliers as they jumped to WWE, and then later won championships in TNA and Japan, making them amongst the most decorated duos in wrestling history. Part of their success came from their intensity and ability to connect with fans, who loved shouting out their finishing move as they used it to end countless matches.
Kofi Kingston
Neither Xavier Woods nor Big E Langston are going to appear on this list, but don’t you dare be sour. Kofi Kingston is the leader and representative of New Day, and their collective enemies have enough to fear when it comes to the power of his own impressive move set. While Woods is a straight aerial specialist and Langston is mostly a power wrestler, Kingston has a wide range of flashy and technical offenses that can pick apart their opponents before either of them needs to help him out.
Becky Lynch
Never afraid to kick a little lass, Becky Lynch was one of the first women in NXT to make it clear they weren’t going to get ignored any longer. Unlike the divas of yesteryear, Lynch and her contemporaries made a conscious effort at giving their all in the ring and winning fans over through their technical skills. Having spent several years training in her native Ireland with names like Finn Bálor, Lynch was more than prepared to show off a diverse move set, including a special hold that made plenty of her rivals tap out.
Randy Orton
Third-generation superstars are often described as being born into the business, and Randy Orton definitely used his famous father and grandfather as a stepping stone to his own greatness. That said, neither Bob Orton, Sr. nor Bob Orton, Jr. managed to accomplish what their scion would, winning no less than 13 World Championships thus far. Orton’s arrogance is what sets him apart, with his connection to Triple H and the McMahon family through Evolution and The Authority certainly helping The Viper hit his marks along the way.
Zack Ryder
Never giving up despite his employers constantly appearing to forget about him, Zack Ryder has partied up and down the WWE roster on several occasions. Though the host of Long Island Iced Z has proven incredibly popular when given a chance, largely thanks to his Jersey Shore partier persona, the WWE executives have always been quick to change their minds about him. Luckily for Ryder, his optimism and desire to simply have fun means his fans have remained loyal regardless of his lack of continued success.
Daniel Bryan
Fighting back against corporate overlords who cast him aside as a B+ Player, Daniel Bryan prove with his every match that he deserved a much higher grade. From his days on the indie scene to his climb up the WWE ladder, Bryan constantly adapted and evolved his move set to ensure he would stand out in his always changing environments. He employed countless trademark maneuvers throughout his long career, yet one hold in particular always got his many fans to chant their favorite word.
Trish Stratus
Despite entrance music that started with a girlish giggle, women of WWE knew it was time to rock and roll when Trish Stratus made her way to the ring. Initially a fairly non-descript manager, Stratus’s gorgeous looks made her shoot up the ranks in record speed, soon becoming Vince McMahon’s personal assistant. Once Stratus had enough of the boss’s tricks, she embarked on a solo career and gradually became one of the most respected female grapplers of her generation, followed by a worthy WWE Hall of Fame induction.
Eddie Guerrero
Latino Heat filled the arena whenever Eddie Guerrero stepped inside the ring, always causing concern for his opponents and bringing the crowd to their feet. Born into wrestling royalty, Guerrero was considered a top-tier talent from a very young age and only improved from there. After becoming a star in Mexico, Guerrero came to America and made millions of fans in ECW, WCW, and WWE, with the last company finally recognizing his potential and making him World Champion. All that said, Guerrero never could’ve pulled it off without a flashy move to match his charisma.
Jerry Lawler
While it’s good to be The King, at least sometimes, it was always a challenge for Jerry Lawler’s many opponents to stand against him in the ring. Modern day fans likely know Lawler primarily for his time behind the announce desk, but back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, The King truly reigned supreme and won countless championships throughout the Southern US, especially in his native Memphis. Though Lawler is mostly retired today, active wrestlers still need be wary around him less they get dropped with his classic maneuver.
Ric Flair
It takes one hell of a move to win 16 World Championships. “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair didn’t always use the same hold to achieve his record, although it usually did play a part in his matches, making it an unforgettable part of legend. Of course, when that legend is about a limousine riding, Learjet flying, kiss stealing, wheeling and dealing son of a gun who just so happens to be the greatest wrestler in the world, it could be easy to forget about the silly little holds he used en route to becoming that.
Nikki Bella
After initially making her debut to assist nearly identical sister Brie with some Twin Magic, Nikki Bella soon etched her own path in WWE and arguably became the more famous of the two. Along the way, she engaged in a real life relationship with John Cena and starred in the reality show Total Divas, both moves that enhanced her image far more than anything she did in the ring. That’s not to say her in-ring skills are entirely racking, however, as Nikki nonetheless won plenty of matches, mainly with her bombastic finishing hold.
John Bradshaw Layfield
Big, tough, Texan, and proud, John Bradshaw Layfield has largely relied on his size and brute strength to dominate the WWE Universe. Though it took him a while to find a money gimmick, once Bradshaw started bragging about his wealth he shot from the mid card all the way to the main event, where he stayed for the rest of his career. Interestingly enough, the one thing that remained the same about JBL regardless of his persona was his finishing move, which won him Tag Team, Hardcore, and even World Championships.