I still miss the straight, old-fashioned DDT as a finisher...Jake Roberts style. Hit it, match is over...unlike today (with the possible exception of Raven.)
How about Davey Boy Smith's running powerslam?
Q: If you could have interviewed Marvin Gaye, where would you have proposed to meet and what would you have asked him?
A: I would have met anywhere as long as it was before his father shot him. I would have asked him, "Hey, don't you think there's some chance that your father might shoot you? To death, I mean?"
Originally posted by EradicatorSlaughter used the fireball on Hogan, actually. Hogan was bandaged up from it for a couple weeks (even though the WWF had one of their first cards in Japan in ages right after 'Mainia, and Hogan was fine over there).
Hogan DID use the fireball on Slaughter on the house show circuit following WM though. That might be what they were thinking of. That was pretty damn cool back then.
Props to Ryan1420 for remembering Gorilla's Airplane Spin, which HAD to be more effective than Warrior's "press 'em and drop 'em. And although the Claw was mentioned, you can't mention the Claw without mentioning Baron Von Raschke. The Baron RULED.
Speaking of DDTs, I miss the floatover DDT. I always thought that looked damn cool.
Anyway, speaking of finishers, the Superkick has rather gone the way of forgotten. Besides Shawn Michaels, who was the last to use it as an actual finisher? The late Chris Adams?
And as for the fireball debate, didn't Kane shoot one at Chyna once, by accident? Something like he was trying to hit HHH but missed and hit Chyna who was holding him? Or is my memory all fuzzy?
Chuck Polumbo uses the "Jungle Kick" as a finisher, his version of the superkick. Justin Credible also busted it out a few times during his Alliance run.
I don't have the patience to wade through four pages of this, so if I repeat one, I apologize.
"Forgotten finisher"? It really depends on what one means by that. Is a "forgotten finisher" a move that used to be used to finish people off, but now is seldom used at all? Or is it a move that's simply fallen into disuse as a finishing maneuver?
I'll list a few moves I can think of that fit into one of those two categories.
Figure Four Leglock
The only person I know of who still uses this move as a finisher is, of course, Ric Flair. I've seen the move used as a wear-down maneuver many times, particularly in matches where leg psychology is a major factor. But it's almost invariably reversed or rope-breaked out of-- very few people submit to it anymore, unless Flair's doing it.
Old Glory Kneedrop
Ah, yes, the flying kneedrop that Jim Duggan used to use as a finisher. I still see similar moves used all the time, though nobody uses it frequently enough to really stick out in my mind. I remember that Sting used to use it very, very frequently, however.
Sleeper Hold
This move is used seemingly at least once every card. Almost invariably by the heel. The referee raises the face's arm twice, and twice the arm goes back down. The third time, it doesn't, and the face kind of Hulks Up and starts his comeback. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper used to use this move as his primary finisher, and succeeded in putting both Hollywood Hogan and Ric Flair to sleep in WCW.
Spinning Toe Hold
I cracked up when I saw Jericho use this move at WrestleMania. As a matter of fact, it'd been so long since I'd seen that move that it took me a few seconds to remember what it was called. Dory Funk, Jr. used this move frequently, way back in the days in which every title match was two out of three falls. Harley Race submitted to the move to end a fall, but came back and eventually defeated Funk to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title for the very first time. Or so I read in a magazine.
Flying Elbow Drop
A fundamental part of Shane McMahon's arsenal; the only other person I can remember who used this as a finisher was, of course, Randy Savage. But Shane seems to get more height on the move than Savage ever did.
Piledriver
After Owen Hart inadvertently broke Steve Austin's neck attempting this move, we began to see the piledriver only in extreme cases to illicit a "Holy shit!" reaction from the fans. Everyone marks out now when Undertaker breaks out the Tombstone Piledriver, because he only seems to use it on special occasions nowadays. Kane used to do the same move, but I can't remember the last time I saw him use it. In truth, the piledriver is a legitimately dangerous move, so I can certainly understand the reasons for almost completely banning it. But there are so many other moves that are more dangerous that are still allowed, so I question the WWF's logic in this matter.
DDT
As mentioned earlier in this thread. Back in the day, when Arn Anderson or Jake Roberts hit this move on you, match over. End of discussion. Today it's so radically undersold that a lot of guys, after hitting a DDT, don't even bother trying to make a cover. This is due to the fact that the move was used so much, people's heads became acclimated to the impact, so now they can take it better than they used to. (Just kidding). In all seriousness, this move simply isn't nearly as decisive as it used to be, because of the advent of higher-risk moves that are used with greater frequency. Yet, it irks me somewhat that The Rock can finish someone off with the People's Elbow (sometimes not even connecting!) while he never finishes anyone off with a DDT.
“If my answers frighten you, Vince, then perhaps you should cease asking scary questions.”
--Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson), Pulp Fiction
I have a question about the figure four. Has anyone ever tapped out to its reversal? I mean, we see people "reverse the pain" by rolling over almost everytime it is used now, but has the person who originally applied the move ever been forced to submit?
Lance uses the superkick as a finisher? I thought he just used it as a set up, for, well, to do the job later in the match. It's just been so long since I'd seen him actually win that I assumed he still used the Maple Leaf.
I'd forgotten about Palumbo's superkick as a finisher.
Was it XPac and Justin Credible that used a double super kick for a bit before they were (thankfully) taken off my TV?
Originally posted by LordOfTheSmarksWas it XPac and Justin Credible that used a double super kick for a bit before they were (thankfully) taken off my TV?
Yes, it was called "X marks the spot," I believe. Maybe not, I am not 100% sure there.
How about the Stun Gun as a forgotten finisher (pick the guy up and drape his neck over the top rope)? Steve Austin used it in ECW. I always thought it was interesting that a move that's usually used defensively was a finisher.
Mark me down as another person who misses the Floatover DDT (although the Rock will still throw one once a year or so). That move not only looked cool, but was really effective as a psychological spot. You know:
"Another right. A suplex! Rock is out on his feet! Into the ropes, what a vicious clothsline! How can the Rock come back? Into the ropes, setting him up for another clothsline, but Rock floatover and hits a DDT! Both men are down!"
Also, I'm not a sports medicine expert, but how the hell do you puncture a lung on a fallaway slam?
What about the Buff Blockbuster, did anyone mention that ? I know Bagwell sucks , but I always liked that move .
I don't think this move has been mentioned and I'm not sure if anyone has used it , but I think I had seen The Rockers or the Rock and Roll express use it . One member would lift his opponent into a vertical suplex and hold him there while his partner would go to the top rope and connect with a flying cross body block , or am I just imagining things ?
" You say heaven's for you , but I think it's hell that I see . You tell me your god is true , but I tell you MY devil is me ! " MSD 2002
Re: Kane fireballing Chyna -- yes, that happened. It was the excuse they used to get Chyna off TV in early '99 so she could have a bit of eye surgery done. (And Triple H later came out disguised as Goldust with one of those fireworks launchers hidden under the robe, and blasted Kane with it. Caught me totally by surprise, and I marked out like hell.)
Perry Saturn also used to use a flying elbow drop, though I don't recall if it was a finisher for him.
As for piledrivers, what I really miss is the Rikishi Driver. It was a legitimately scary-looking move, and it made Rikishi seem like a real threat. Without it, he's a funny fat guy who dances and rubs his ass in people's faces.
Crossface Chickenwing!!! I saw one guy mention it. The Last Dance. I liked that move, it was believable for Disqo, before he went to a tombstone or the Village People's Elbow (which is hilarious, btw). Oh, Last Dance is basically an inverse chickenwing jawbreaker. Good Ole Rocky Maivia used the epic "Blue Chipper" (ie, that walking shoulder breaker) Didn't Gangrel, of all people, use the Burning Hammer as a finisher for a while? That's a cool looking move, ditto for the DVD. And they stopped using the screwdriver cos Steiner would have KILLED someone with it. Oh, I forgot: I liked the Frankenstiener as a finisher too. You hardly see that anymore either.
Originally posted by PheadfredWhat about the Buff Blockbuster, did anyone mention that?
Shane Helms pulled it out on Funaki for the finish on Jakked back right before Mania...
Q: If you could have interviewed Marvin Gaye, where would you have proposed to meet and what would you have asked him?
A: I would have met anywhere as long as it was before his father shot him. I would have asked him, "Hey, don't you think there's some chance that your father might shoot you? To death, I mean?"
There's only one other fireball I can think of in recent memory, and that one may not count... Hogan tried (emphasis on TRIED) to throw one at the WAR-YAR during their Halloween Havoc match, but naturally WAR-YAR's supernatural powers caused the lighter to malfunction. Or something.
re: the kneedrop, and Sting's use of it... I (personally) think he stopped using the kneedrop due to either his chronic knee problems, the unfortunate accident in Japan that basically ended Rick Rude's career, or a combination of the two.
And, finally, going WAAAY back... re: the Bluelight Special, I was under the impression that it was a combination of a Christian-style reverse DDT (done by Meanie) and a sitout powerbomb (done by Nova). Although a reverse Hart Attack would be groovy... sort of an atomic drop/bulldog combo.
Kansas-born and deeply ashamed The last living La Parka Marka: HE raised the briefcase!
I'll agree with the DDT as well, I seem to remember the Freebirds using it as finishers......other moves that used to be finishers but now are relegated to throwaway Rocky moves, the Sharpshooter and the samoan drop (Tatanka's End of the Trail)
Originally posted by DMCAlso, I don't know if I would consider the claw a "forgotten" finisher. It is too classic to be forgotten.
Maybe - but when is the last time anyone used it as a finisher? '93? Even Kerry Von Erich couldn't get it over by the end of his run as "Texas Tornado" (I believe he was using some Lariat-like move followed by a superkick).
The last guy who really used the claw was Von Erich, but I'll always remember Baron Von Rascke for it.