The Phoenix Splash - Who Did It Best?
The Phoenix Splash is one of the most beautiful and gravity-defying wrestling moves ever seen. Not only does the diving wrestler execute a 450-degree spin in mid-air, but they also spin 180 degrees before doing that. It’s as impressive a wrestling move as any. And like even the most basic of diving splashes, it takes incredible skill and training to perfect this move.
However, despite those requirements, this move isn’t as common as other diving moves, especially in WWE. In Vince McMahon’s world of muscular giants, he doesn’t usually like his wrestlers doing flips and crazy spins. He’d prefer they hit big power moves that showed off their physical strength, and – judging by how little he cares/cared about the Cruiserweight division and 205 Live – has never been a fan of aerial maneuvers.
However, there have been a select few WWE superstars that have executed the Phoenix Splash on occasion. And when the move was hit, it brought fans to their feet because of how breathtaking the move itself is.
So which wrestler hit the perfect Phoenix Splash?
#5 Kota Ibushi
Kota Ibushi is absolutely crazy. He is a true wrestling machine, capable of hitting certain wrestling moves perfectly. From big power moves to standing splashes to running and out-of-the-ring dives, Ibushi can do virtually anything in and above a wrestling.
One of those moves that he executes is his take on the Phoenix Splash. If you watch Ibushi move, you’ll see that he has this amazing ability to defy gravity and spin and rotate so many times in the span of less than three seconds.
While it might look a bit slow, he still lands the move perfectly, splashing on top of his opponent without even the slightest hint of error.
Although Ibushi has moved onto the heavyweight division these days and does a lot more knee striking than flying, you can be sure that if he were to bust out the Phoenix Splash, he’d land it as perfectly as ever.