A finishing move is such an integral part of a WWE, or for that matter, any wrestler’s presentation. It has to be something that reflects the character they represent and also be a move that is dynamic enough to leave a huge impression on the audience. If done well, it can greatly contribute to the wrestler’s ability to get over with the crowd.
As with everything in professional wrestling, a finishing move is more about the art than the effectiveness. There are a myriad of finishers that are flashy and look great but would be useless in a real fight. However, some resemble moves that would be used in a real fight. A move that would put their opponent down for much longer than a three count. Below are some examples of these finishers.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances should anyone use these in a fight. This is merely a thought experiment on the realism of some wrestling finishes
The Curb Stomp
Seth Rollins bounced around with different finishers for a while. He started with this devasting move and after some time decided to settle with one of the most effective finishers in the industry.
There is no doubt that the curb stomp would be a great move to bust out during a fight. Jumping up and driving your opponent’s head into the group, with the full force of your leg, is going to knock them out. It doesn’t matter what type of surface you’re landing on; this is a headshot that will have you walking away from the tussle in seconds.
Code Breaker
Chris Jericho was always one to reinvent himself. When he returned to WWE in 2007, he changed everything about his character, including adopting a finish that would put even the largest man down for the count.
The Code Breaker is a move that requires one to jump up and pull their opponent into their knees while falling to the ground. The impact alone would knock anyone out. It is a straight shot to the face with some of the hardest surfaces on the human body. It would knock out anyone from the big to the small.
Ankle Lock
There are a lot of submission moves that could have made this list, but the ankle lock is head and shoulder, and ankles above them. It is a move that requires little to no preparation. In the middle of a fight time matters, and once your rival is down it would be incredibly easy to sneak behind them and lock in the move.
Once locked in it wouldn’t require much pressure to break an ankle. A person of any size would be able to put the necessary torque required to snap an ankle. It would be a quick way to end a dust-up and make anyone else think twice.
WMD
It doesn’t get much simpler than the finish utilized by the Big Show. Anything that the Largest Athlete in the World was going to be impressive, but in the case of this finish, the simpler the better.
A straight punch to the jaw is an underrated move. In wrestling the connection is never going to be there, but in an actual fight, a straight right to the jaw is going to knock anyone down. It is a move that anyone would be able to pull off without much effort.
Coup De Grace
Finn Balor is not the biggest man to ever grace the wrestling ring, but that doesn’t mean that his moves wouldn’t have any less impact. He has used various finishers during his tenure, but of all the Coup De Grace would be the most effective.
This move has less to do with size and more to do with impact. Jumping down to your opponent driving both legs onto their chest is devastating.
Even more so when you add any type of height with the jump. It is a move that could easily cave in the chest of anyone it was used on. Even a small person could have tons of impact.
Brogue Kick
Sheamus is a man known for working rather snugly. Everything he does has an air of realism to it, and it all looks like it would hurt, but none more than his devastating finisher the Brogue Kick.
It is a move that requires nothing more than momentum to get the desired effect. A move that would be easily replicated by anyone who is backed into a corner.
A kick to the head is always going to be a go-to in a fight, but using the scissor motion to put more power behind the kick is going to win you the day. It is going to help one to achieve better height squaring up with the jaw of your rival.
No matter how big one is a heel to the jaw is going to put them down long enough for the fight to finish.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – WWE – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on the WWE Network and Peacock.
