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Rumours are running wild as of late that WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins’ infamous finisher, the Curb Stomp (a.k.a. Blackout) has been banned from use by WWE officials.
“WWE’s feeling about the move, which the WWE World Heavyweight Champion uses as his finisher, is that it’s too much of a direct liability and risk for a head injury. All of sports is trying to be more proactive when it comes to preventing head injuries and concussions, and this is the reason for WWE banning the curb stomp.” (Quoted from Justin LaBar of Wrestlezone)
As seen on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, in his match against Dolph Ziggler, Rollins ended the match after using his trademark corner powerbomb and then following it up with a DDT type of manoeuvre. One has to note however, that a DDT usually has the opponent landing on his forehead or top of the head, while this move (intentional or not), had Dolph Ziggler land on his face. The new move, so far unnamed, has received a mixed reaction from internet fans, some claiming it is as good as, or even better than the curb stomp, others saying that a mere DDT cannot be a champion’s finisher. Below is a video of the match between Rollins and Ziggler.
The Curb Stomp has been Seth Rollins’ finishing move since his time in The SHIELD, and there have been numerous instances in which he used it for big victories. To name a few, they include his win against Dean Ambrose after quite possibly the greatest Lumberjack match ever at SummerSlam 2014, and of course, his WWE World Heavyweight Championship win after cashing in his Money In The Bank briefcase at WrestleMania 31. Many fans across social media are not happy with WWE’s decision to ban the move, as it is quite popular.
WWE has also apparently decided to not show previous uses of the move as well, as indicated by Seth Rollins’ new entrance video. On the last couple of episodes of Raw, during Rollins’ entrances, the video displayed on the titantron above the entrance ramp, unlike the regular one in which Rollins’ move-set is compiled, many of which are Curb Stomps, it simply showed repeated graphics of his name.
None of these rumours have been confirmed or denied, however, if the sans-Curb Stomp Raw is an indicator, then we may never see a Curb Stomp again.
