10 of the best finishers in wrestling today
The idea of a finishing move is one that was born in the unique world of pro wrestling. After all, in a real competition, if a competitor used the same move over and over to win bouts, the opponent would know to look out for it.
But a pro wrestler is just expected to have a finisher in the modern era. Mankind had the Mandible Claw, AJ Styles has the Styles Clash, and Hulk Hogan had the Immortal leg drop.
The idea of a finishing move had bled into other forms of entertainment, such as Anime. (Goku from the Dragon Ball Z series uses a spirit bomb to dispense with his adversaries, while Black Widow from the Avengers movies tends to use a hurracanrana type head scissors takedown.)
These days a wrestler wouldn't even dream of lacing up the boots unless they had developed a good finishing maneuver. Without further ado, here are ten of the best finishers in pro wrestling today.
#1. Superman Punch - Roman Reigns
Type of Maneuver: Strike
Who invented the move: Bas Rutten used it in an MMA fight, but Roman Reigns has popularized it in pro wrestling.
Description: To perform a Superman Punch, one gathers momentum and leaps into the air, extending their body like Superman in flight, then punches one's opponent across the jaw.
Strengths: Quick to deploy, devastating knockout potential
Weaknesses: Does not lead directly to a pinfall, easy to see coming, the opponent must be standing.
The Superman punch has its roots in Mixed Martial Arts. Bas Rutten is credited for using the move originally, pushing off the cage with his foot for extra oomph. Roman Reigns has greatly popularized the move and has been using it as his finisher for years.