Alongside an electric entrance theme, a great finisher move is one of the most important things a wrestler can have to get themselves over with the crowd. There’s been a wonderful array of power, striking and submission finishers throughout wrestling history, and here is a list of my 10 favourites:
Performer: Undertaker, Kane, Big Show et al.
Favourite one: Undertaker on Brock Lesnar. Lesnar got up hiiiiiiiigh for this chokeslam which put the Undertaker over really strong.
Why it’s good: It’s really made by how good the sell is. The monsters that use this move can be as strong as they want, but the one on the receiving end makes this move better when they can jump really high.
Performer: Shinsuke Nakamura
Favourite one: To win the Royal Rumble. Everyone thought Roman would win so Nakamura hitting the surprise Kinshasa before eliminating him was the shock win that we were all after.
Why it’s good: Nakamura’s mannerisms in the ring have always been captivating, so the sequence leading up to the move builds great anticipation. The move itself is a brutal running knee to the head which is made to look even better by creative camera cuts.
Performer: Rey Mysterio
Favourite one: To set up the springboard to win the WWE title at Wrestlemania 22.
Why it’s good: As a 5’ 5” wrestler it’s difficult to find a finisher that looks cool and convinces people it’s strong enough to beat a much bigger wrestler with. This move is perfect for Rey! The drop-toe hold to drape them over the second rope is a genius way to negate the height difference. And although the 619 is technically a set up for a springboard final move, everyone recognises it as Rey’s finisher. Many have tried to copy it but none pull it off like Rey.
Performer: Kurt Angle, Ken Shamrock, Jack Swagger et al.
Favourite one: Any one which turns into a grapevine.
Why it’s good: My favourite submission move, especially from Angle as he trash talks while he’s applying it. Enough people will tap out to the traditional standing ankle lock, but the version when Angle drops down and locks in the grapevines is so protected it makes the move look even stronger.
Performer: Malakai Black
Favourite one: On Andrade when he was holding Zelina Vega.
Why it’s good: It can be built up to when he lifts their head up or come out of nowhere - both of which pop the crowd big. This spinning back-kick is especially cool as it really looks like he hits them flush in the face.
Performer: Randy Orton
Favourite one: On Seth Rollins at Wrestlemania 31.
Why it’s good: The ultimate move out of nowhere. It’s stood the test of time for 20 years and can be hit in so many ways. It should be protected a lot more than it is.
Performer: Kenny Omega
Favourite one: On Sammy Guevara at the Stadium Stampede.
Why it’s good: This is the most protected move of all time, no one has ever kicked out when Kenny hits it. This means that when someone eventually kicks out it’ll start a major push.
Performer: Hangman Page
Favourite one: The double lariat to beat Kenny for the title.
Why it’s good: Its astounding that after a gruelling hour-long match Hangman’s able to flip over the ropes to hit this move - unreal athleticism before a crushing clothesline. This gets extra points for when it was teased at the end of the Tag Title match at Revolution 2020.
Performer: Stone Cold
Favourite one: Any one on Vince McMahon.
Why it’s good: Possibly the most over finisher of all time, delivered by the most over wrestler of all time, during the most popular period of wrestling of all time. This finisher symbolised the Attitude Area and it’s hard not to have it up there.
Performer: Shawn Michaels, Young Bucks
Favourite one: Matt Jackson on Sammy Guevara.
Why it’s good: Another finisher that can be hit out of nowhere and is so dependent on the person selling the move. Shelton Benjamin’s flat-back bump from Shawn’s was superb and Matt Jackson crumpled Sammy in half. There’s something so definitive about kicking someone in the face to end a match.
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