RKO Every WWE superstar has a finisher. It’s the move that signifies their persona on television. John Cena owns the Attitude Adjustment. Kane honed the Chokeslam and Brock Lesnar uses the F-5 to decimate his opponents.However, just like anytime in sports, there are ones that rise above the rest. Whether it’s about the severity of the move, it’s impact or relatability to the WWE Universe, WWE fans can pinpoint the best finishers of all-time. Today’s product is lacking the aura that finishing moves used to have. On Twitter, Jim Ross noted that today’s WWE stars use their finishers but are usually kicked out of by their opponent.“With so many established, big finish moves being discounted, what's it going to eventually take to win a match? Bad trend..needs reversing.” Ross is right that finishers aren’t devastating anymore. In fact, a good amount of WWE superstars the superkick as a regular move. Dolph Ziggler hasn’t made anyone pin with that move in a long time, if ever. John Cena uses a springboard stunner but hasn’t actually pinned an opponent with it yet. It’s things like these that seem to dilute the idea of a finishing move.Simply because, it doesn’t finish the match. Despite the negative connotation they have on today’s product, there are finishers that still aren’t kicked out of. When they are, it’s a very special occasion. Below are the top-10 finishers in WWE history.
#10 RKO
It can land anywhere, anytime. Randy Orton’s finishing move, the “RKO,” derived from the Diamond Cutter. Diamond Dallas Paige made that famous and Orton took that move and made it even better. Orton became famous in the entertainment world by being involved in the GIF that went viral. WWE fans started to put Orton into other famous scenes in movies, video games or TV shows and he would hit his RKO.
Not only is it popular, but it is effective. He’s won multiple-WWE championships with the RKO and is a staple of WWE programming.
#9 Jackhammer
Goldberg wasn’t the best wrestler, but he was effective. His finishing move, the “Jackhammer” combined a suplex with a power slam. It was the most devastating finishing move in WCW history.
Goldberg’s matches didn’t last longer than five minutes, but that was the gimmick WCW officials chose for him. His stamina in the ring fit the character he portrayed. Goldberg was about squash matches and his famous streak of no losses. Until WCW was taken over by horrid politics, Goldberg was on top of the wrestling world and so was his finishing move that decimated most of the WCW roster.
#8 Sharpshooter
Bret Hart is considered one of the best technical wrestlers in WWE history. His contributions to wrestling’s greatest matches is undeniable.
If it wasn’t for a controversial exit from World Wrestling Entertainment, Hart would’ve done a lot more for the WWE and its new talent coming in. Along with his famous bouts with Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold Steve Austin, Hart could wrestle a great match with anybody on the roster at any given time. The “SharpShooter” is arguably the most famous submission move in WWE history. His family member, Natalya, took over the move and it hasn’t lost a beat. It’s truly a finisher that will never get old.
#7 Diving Elbow Drop - Macho Man Randy Savage
Macho Man Randy Savage’s finishing move wasn’t the most-grueling tactic, but it was one of the first signature moves to captivate an audience. Just like Hulk Hogan’s leg drop, the “Diving Elbow Drop” did damage to an opponent from the top rope. Not only was it captivating, but it became a signature for the WWE at that time. Macho Man was very popular, especially with him Slim Jim commercials. People knew him from his outlandish character, charisma and “Diving Elbow Drop.”
#6 Edge\'s Spear
A lot of WWE superstars in the past used the “Spear” as their finisher. Batista, Bobby Lashley and Charlotte. This WWE Hall of Fame wrestler made it famous.
Edge, who’s WWE career was cut short, was most-known for hitting the “Spear” out of nowhere. Much like Randy Orton’s “RKO,” Edge’s finisher was hit through a flaming table and from the top of the ladder. In Edge’s breakout match in the WWE, he nailed Jeff Hardy with a spear from the top of a ladder. If the move was done incorrectly by inches, they could’ve been injured or even paralyzed. Edge made the “Spear” famous and worthy of this spot on the list.
#5 The Pedigree
Even though Triple H passed along his finisher to Seth Rollins, the “Pedigree” is considered a legendary finish manoeuvre. Just like the “Rock Bottom,” “People’s Elbow” and “Mandible Claw,” it’s iconic in WWE’s history. HHH’s “Pedigree" is synonymous with his name. He has always been known as the Cerebral Assassin. Pedigree just means the person’s experience. So, the finisher fits the WWE star and it will always remain one of the best finishers in WWE history.
#4 People\'s Elbow
The Rock’s notable finisher isn’t known for doing the most damage, at least by thinking logically. However, it is dubbed the most electrifying move in all of sports entertainment.
Just like John Cena’s Five-Knuckle Shuffle, the Rock’s “People’s Elbow” is used to ignite the crowd. Not every finisher in WWE history is used to do the most devastating of moves. Sometimes, the crowd is as important as the move itself. The next three finishers do devastating damage to their opponent while also getting a big response from the WWE Universe.
#3 Tombstone Piledriver
The bottom three finishers were hard to organize. All three have an impact and star power.
Undertaker’s “Tomebstone Piledriver” earned the no.3 spot on this list, because of its history and list of stars who he’s defeated them with. Undertaker’s “Tombstone Piledriver” is not kicked out of, unless it’s Brock Lesnar. Just like how finishers are kicked out of in today’s WWE, Taker’s signature manuever isn’t used that way. It’s supposed to be special and something for fans to look forward to. That’s why it’s no.3 on this list of top-WWE finishers of all-time.
#2 Stone Cold Stunner
The final two finishers on this list came down to one thing, and that’s the longevities of the move. Steve Austin’s “Stone Cold Stunner” became is an iconic move, that will be etched in WWE’s history, because of its impact on one famous night.
When Austin hit the Stunner on Mr. McMahon, it began a revolution that propelled Austin into the main event scene and WWE into the Attitude Era. John Cena is the only one to replicate the move, but he is using it as a springboard move to launch his opponent into his finishing manoeuvre. Nobody else even attempts to use the “Stone Cold Stunner.” That’s the only thing holding Austin’s famous finisher back from the no.1 spot.
#1 Sweet Chin Music
Many WWE stars use the superkick, but Shawn Michaels’ “Sweet Chin Music” deserves to be dubbed the best finishing move in WWE history. When HBK tunes up the band, the WWE fans knew what was coming.
It’s proved to be the most-devastating of moves, but it was also utilized in backstage segments. When Michaels got enraged backstage with Triple H and hit the “Sweet Chin Music” on nearly everyone in his path, that provided the WWE fans with a hilarious moment they will never forget. He did superkick Stan after all. WWE stars like Dolph Ziggler, Kevin Owens and Luke Harper use it as a signature move, but nobody can ever do it as well as the Heartbreak Kid. “Sweet Chin Music” should headline a Hall of Fame for finishing moves.
Of course, that’s a subjective thought, but many WWE fans would agree that it’s the first move that comes to mind when finishing manuevers are discussed.
