WRESTLING FINISHERS TODAY THAT ARE TOTALLY MEANINGLESS

Wrestling finishers are often the exclamation point of any match, being the move that fans are most excited to see. A good finisher will instantly get a reaction from fans because they know it will end a match and create an end result. There are some fantastic moves across the industry, all of which offer something different.

However, plenty of finishers in the business are now completely pointless. While some wrestlers work hard to protect themselves and make them feel special, others become meaningless for various reasons. Whether it's because it doesn't look good, people kick out of it, or they are rarely used, these moves no longer get the same respect from audiences.

Drew McIntyre's Future Shock DDT Doesn't Get Him Victories

The DDT Is An Iconic Finisher That Isn't Given Respect

The DDT is an amazing move that looks incredible, which is why Jake Roberts used it as his finisher. Over the years, it has become more of a transition move, which is likely why Drew McIntyre moved away from using the Future Shock DDT as his finisher during his second stint with WWE.

He opted for the Claymore Kick, which is slightly more devastating and easier to prepare the crowd for. He can hype up an audience in the corner or hit it out of nowhere, which is why his old finisher is now seen as a special move rather than something that'll end a match.

Chris Jericho's Codebreaker Is Used For Near Falls

He's Put His Focus On The Judas Effect

Whether it's his gimmick, look, or the moves he uses inside the ring, Chris Jericho has never stayed still in wrestling. It's one of the reasons he's had so much success, but it does mean that certain moves that were once impactful and would win him a match are no longer seen in the same light.

That's the case with the Codebreaker, which is a fantastic finisher. He used it for years in WWE as it could be hit on anybody, but in AEW, he added the Judas Effect. This move has become his main finisher, with the Codebreaker typically reserved for a near fall that fans will buy into late in a match.

AJ Styles Barely Uses The Calf Crusher

This Submission Move Used To Be Impactful

Wrestlers having multiple finishers is always beneficial because it means there can be variety within the matches. Audiences can't predict what's going to happen as easily, and it means different stories can be told within the encounters, especially if someone has a submission finisher.

For a long time AJ Styles used the Calf Crusher as a main finishing move. It looked impactful and was something people could buy into as a finisher. However, it's rare that Styles brings it out nowadays which stops it from being a top finisher.

Cody Rhodes' Cross Rhodes Often Has To Be Hit Multiple Times

The Move Doesn't Guarantee Him A Win

The point of a finishing move is that it gets hit once and leads to a victory. This is especially true for those competing at the highest level in the main event scene, like Cody Rhodes, as their moves are typically protected more than anyone else.

However, that's not necessarily the case with the American Nightmare. While his Cross Rhodes finisher always gets a good reaction, the move is nowhere near as effective as it should be. Rhodes often hits the move multiple times to guarantee himself the win, especially in main event matches.

Kevin Owens' Pop-Up Powerbomb Has Lost Its Impact

This Used To Be A Brilliant Finisher

Kevin Owens is a talented wrestler who has a wide range of fantastic moves to entertain fans. One of those is the Pop-Up Powerbomb, which always looks great, can be hit out of nowhere and typically leads to a big response from the WWE Universe.

However, over the years, Owens has stopped using the move as his main finisher. Despite how effective it is, KO's decision to take on the Stunner has led to this often being used to get near falls rather than win a match.

Karrion Kross' Final Prayer Rarely Gets A Win

This Is A Modified Pumphandle Slam

Karrion Kross hasn't been booked in a dominant way during his main roster stint in WWE, which means it's rare his finisher gets used to actually beat an opponent. This has led to it being seen as a weaker move, and it doesn't get huge reactions.

There are some similarities between this and the F5, but Kross sets his up and hits it with a much slower pace. That also hurts the move because audiences know how impactful it can be.

People Often Kick Out Of Charlotte Flair's Natural Selection

She Relies On Her Figure Eight Leglock

Charlotte Flair is a fantastic wrestler, and few can do the things she does inside the ring. That's why her Natural Selection was a weak finisher. It's a cool-looking move, but her opponent only drops a short distance, and if they don't sell it right, it doesn't look good.

It's common for wrestlers to kick out of this one, which has devalued it over time. Fortunately, she's primarily a submission-based wrestler, and her Figure Eight Leglock is a great move.

Seth Rollins Has Made The Pedigree Ineffective

Triple H Made This Move One Of The Greatest Finishers Ever

Every wrestling fan is aware of the Pedigree, and that is why people always react whenever it gets hit today. Triple H used it as his finisher for so many years, winning some of the biggest matches in history with the move.

Seth Rollins took it on when he was part of The Authority, and he used it as his finisher for a while. However, once he brought the Stomp back, the Pedigree got relegated to being just another move in his arsenal despite its legacy.

Adam Cole's Panama Sunrise Is Just Another Move

Britt Baker Also Uses This, But Not As A Finisher

There are few cooler-looking moves in wrestling than the Panama Sunrise. Seeing a wrestler jump down from the turnbuckles to flip their opponent around and drop them onto their neck is perfect as a finisher, even if it's the recipient doing lots of the work.

Adam Cole used this as a finisher for a long time, and it always got a great reaction because the move looks impactful. However, over time he's dropped this to just being part of his arsenal in favor of a running knee strike.

The Bayley To Belly Fell Down The Pecking Order

She Created The Rose Plant Instead

Sometimes, fans can be glad when a new finishing move is created, and that was the case with Bayley. Her Rose Plant finisher looks excellent and is fitting for finishing her matches. However, it has led to the Bayley To Belly becoming ineffective as she rarely uses it as her finisher.

The move wasn't the most painful-looking, which made it hard for some fans to buy into it as a finisher. It made sense to change things up with this one, but it means her old finisher has fallen down the pecking order of her finishers.

2024-08-30T11:11:08Z dg43tfdfdgfd