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The Finisher! It's the pro wrestler's trademark, their coup de grace, the icing on the cake that is the wrestling match.
One of the first 'finishers' was used by grappler Frank Gotch. He used the Iron Claw to great effectiveness.
No matter what finisher a wrestler utilizes, they usually spell the end for their opponent.
Here are ten of the most devastating, spectacular finishers in wrestling history.
#10 Stan Hansen's Texas Lariat
If you're not familiar with Stan "the Lariat" Hansen, that's probably because he spent most of his career in Japan. While he did have a brief run in the WCW during the 1990s, during which he captured the US title and feuded with Lex Lugar, he was far, far more successful in the land of the rising sun. Having won over a hundred championships in his career--and that number is no exaggeration-- Hansen can credit many of his victories to his Texas Lariat.
While many wrestlers utilize the clothesline, what makes the Lariat different is pure explosiveness and Hansen's incredible athletic ability. The Big man from Texas could accelerate in just one step to full velocity, sending his foe spinning head over heels. Also, unlike many more complicated finishers, the Lartiat could be unleashed anywhere in the ring, at any time, as you can see below.
#9 Barry Whindam's Superplex
#8 Sting's Scorpion Deathlock
When Sting debuted in the NWA, he had a lot going for him. Powerfully built, with great size and speed, Sting seemed to have all the aces. But for all his brute strength, he also had one of the sport's most technical submission holds, the Scorpion Deathlock.
Originating in Japan as the Sasori manoeuvre, Sting was the first westerner to make it popular. Since Sting leapt into a feud with Flair and the Horsemen, his Scorpion Death Lock was seen as the perfect match for Flair's figure four leglock.
A modified Boston crab, the Deathlock has also been used by such illustrious names as Bret Hart (who calls it a sharpshooter) and Dean Malenko (who positions the legs in a figure four variant rather than crossing them.) Here's Sting still looking good decades into his career.
#7 Lex Luger's Human Torture Rack
Lex Luger was given the nickname "Total Package" by Ole Anderson, due to Lex's combined strength, speed, and charisma. Though he initially joined the Four Horsemen as a Heel, Luger quickly transitioned to babyface and developed a new finisher; The Human Torture Rack.
Called by some an Argentine Back Breaker, Luger ups the ante by making it into a submission hold rather than a simple backbreaker. A man who can bench press over seven hundred pounds has exceptional strength, and Luger has racked some of the sport's biggest men, including Big Show Paul Wight.
Here's Lex proving he can rack any size opponent when he takes on the Giant (Big Show).
#6 Scott Steiner's Steiner Screwdriver
Before he dyed his hair and started acting like a goof, Scott Steiner was considered one of the best technical wrestlers in the world. While many credit his Frankensteiner move for his success, it was actually the second finisher he used.
Originally Steiner used the Screwdriver, a very dangerous, very crowd pleasing move which started as a vertical suplex and ended as a piledriver. While current pro wrestling rules make piledrivers illegal for the most part, in the 1990s Steiner used the move quite often.
Here's a look at the amazing move in a fan compilation.
#5 Undertaker's Tombstone Piledriver
Almost as bit a legend as the man who uses it, the Tombstone piledriver has sounded the death knell for many a superstar's dreams.
Hoisting his opponent up into the body slam position, Taker turns them so they are pointed headfirst on the mat and then drops them straight down. A tricky move, the Tombstone is easy to botch, which could either result in something downright silly looking or extremely dangerous for the man being dropped.
The fact that Taker used the move for so many years, and has never caused an injury with it, is a testament to his ability.
#4 Petey Willam's Canadian Destroyer
Petey Williams is a technical wrestling phenom, capable of utilizing every inch of the ring in his quest to defeat his opponent.
That's why it's no surprise that his finisher is just as dazzling as he is. The Canadian Destroyer starts off in the piledriver position, but then Petey uses his amazing agility and completes a full somersault, taking his hapless opponent with him. Very few wrestlers can pull this manoeuvre off, and it's nothing short of impressive when performed by the man himself.
#3 Neville's Red Arrow
We'll confess, we don't know why he calls it the Red Arrow, but we'll also confess it's nothing short of spectacular.
"The Man that Gravity Forgot" is a human highlight reel, capable of moving with a liquid grace on par with Olympic gymnasts but possessing the power of greats like Ivan Putski.
Words alone simply cannot describe the beauty and poetry of the Red Arrow in motion. Check out the video below and don't blink!
#2 Mike "Gladiator" Awesome's Awesome Bomb
There will never be another Mike Awesome in the world of pro wrestling. Giant sized, but with cruiserweight agility, and possessed of a pain tolerance that has very few equals, Mike Awesome has thrilled audiences all over the globe.
An Awesome man needs an Awesome finisher....and that's just what the Gladiator utilized in the ring. The Awesome bomb was pure power and ferocity...if you were LUCKY, he'd only drop you inside the ring! Here's Awesome using his finisher on an unlucky R-Truth.
#1 Ember Moon's Eclipse
Once in a while, a pro wrestler will come along and show you something you've never seen before.
It happened in the 80s when Sting used his Scorpion Deathlock...it happened in the 1990s when Steve Austin revolutionized the humble chinbreaker....and it happened in 2017 when Ember Moon unveiled the Eclipse.
Starting from the top rope, Ember twists her body in mid-air and comes crashing down with a Stunner utilizing her full weight and spin to make the move truly devastating. Though it takes a very specific circumstance to pull off--the opponent must be standing, facing away from Moon--when she pulls it off it is nothing short of breathtaking.
Here's Ember Moon 'eclipsing' a parade of talent.
There you have it; ten of the most devastating, most iconic finishers of all time. Now, let's start that hate mail from Cena fans...
