The Ten Count 6.14.13: Top 10 Finishers That Need a Comeback

Welcome to the first edition of The Ten Count! Where I, Jesse Nguyen, will be your host!

There are many aspects to a wrestling match that can either make or break it. The chemistry of the competitors, the story, the psychology, and, of course, the action. To me, one of the most important bullet points of a wrestling match is the finish. It is the one thing we are somewhat guarantee to see in every match. Okay, so maybe that last sentence was a lie, but a wrestler’s finishing maneuver if very important. Sometimes the move becomes bigger than the person that performs it.

That being said, I’m a firm believer in that many moves, while basic, can make great finishers if done the right way by the right person. Now I’ve watched wrestling for quite a long time, and in the time I’ve seen some finishers being regulated down to flashy signatures and sometimes normal offense that everyone performs. Today, I want to share my thoughts on ten maneuvers that I believe should be brought back up into the finisher level.

Top Ten Finishers That Need a Comeback

Now when I say finisher level, I mean that matches are ended with that particular move. Not a setup to another attack, not something flashy with a silly name attached, but I mean an opponent is hit with this offense and they are pinned for the three count or tap out. With all of my lists, this is strictly personal opinion, so feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

I’m also going to try to stick to moves that, as far as I know, are currently not being used in the more popular promotions of the world. Now if I put a maneuver on the list that is currently being used as a finisher somewhere, then please forgive my ignorance.

10.Frog Splash

This must already be confusing you all, as there is still a pretty prominent wrestle who is well known for this finisher. Well…even Rob Van Dam must be tired of it as he seems to be recently using the 450 Splash instead (and doing it terribly). Some of you may say that Chavo Guerrero is still using it, and that is true. The problem is that every time I see the Frog Splash performed, the opponent is kicking out of it. This might just be because I see it done quite a bit in the indy scene, where most high flyers are trying their best to outdo one another in an effort to garner more attention.

I say to hell with all that, the move is simple, but effective. Just imagine having someone’s entire body weight slam onto you. Now picture someone the size of Brodus Clay doing this. Okay, so it would probably look awful, but it would be quite entertaining. The question really is which to you prefer: the low to the ground Guerrero style, or the super high flying frog splash of everyone else but Guerrero.

9.Hurricanrana

An old standby done by every wrestler who has stepped into the ring. It is a lucha standby that is always fun to watch. A fast paced technique that can lead to instant victory. There are so many variations now: Dragonrana, Reverse Rana, Top Rope Hurricanrana, Flying Hurricanrana. A great looking move if done correctly. An awful looking mess if done wrong.

I never get tired of that clip. Anyway, every once in a while you will see a match end with this great move, but it always seems to be a counter. It might just be me, but I would love to see someone bring this back and win matches with it, without each time just being a counter to a powerbomb, piledriver attempt, whatever your poison. While it may lack impact, I never get tired of seeing the perfect hurricanrana performed.

8.Texas Cloverleaf

With the WWE seeming to let everyone have a submission finish, I’m kind of surprised that someone hasn’t adopted this excellent hold. I know everyone loves the Sharpshooter, but I always found the Texas Cloverleaf to be better. The hold lets your legs free, giving more room to arch back and really cinch this hold in. It also helps that this move was the go to submission for one of the greatest mat technicians of all time; Dean Malenko. That kind of endorsement should be enough for someone else to adopt the Texas Cloverleaf, correct?

Anyway, I can always hope to see someone bring this back into the limelight, as just looking at it makes my knees and lower back hurt. I know that Green Ant has used it, and even made Mike Quackenbush tap out to it in the past, but I think he’s stopped going to it for his finisher and is now using the universal Chikara finisher, the Chikara Special. If the Ankle Lock and the single leg cross crab can make a return, then I think the Cloverleaf is next in line for a comeback.

7.Brainbuster

The simplicity of this move is really what makes it shines. The best looking brainbusters are clips of beauty. There are a list of people who can pull this off perfectly. Austin Aries, Arik Cannon, and the newly dubbed Sami Zayn are three of them. The smoothest brainbusters are groan worthy each time you see them. Yet it seems this particular maneuver has died down and become a setup to other finishers. I suppose that does mean the rates of seeing a brainbuster are higher, but sometimes I shake my head thinking a person can get a shoulder up after having their entire body weight slammed down on the back of their head.

It is a simple concept that pro wrestling was built upon. Lifting your opponent up and bringing them back down to earth. You can always count on gravity to be an ally. A move that just about any wrestler can make look good, the brainbuster will always be a favorite.

6.Falcon Arrow

I really couldn’t tell you the last time I saw a falcon arrow performed, in the last couple of years at least. Even when I see it, it never ends up in a pinfall. Closer inspection of the move may lead you to thinking it is just another variation of the vertical suplex, but I can’t help but love the style of how this attack is performed. KENTA would utilize this, and I love it every time, especially his top rope version, which can be seen here:

Of course this was a while back, and now one of my favorite suplexes has seemed to vanished. I’m not sure why it has, as a lifting slam like this would be great for the next big powerhouse. It also makes for a great finish because it lands right in a pinning predicament. You don’t even have to rename it, the term ‘Falcon Arrow’ is already awesome. So many pluses, yet it remains lost.

5.Iron Claw

(Best video I could find, sorry to all)

Is there any real reason I need to give why we need this move back in the spotlight? What is more metal than seeing someone grip another person’s face and squeeze as hard as possible, leaving their opponent screaming and begging for mercy? Well, I guess any kind of attack using an actual metal object would literally be more metal, but when has that kind of thinking ever benefited someone in the pro wrestling business?

It may be the violent tendencies in me, but the idea of a wrestler using a technique that some horror slashers have used to crush skulls just makes me giddy. The only thing I must add is that the person performing this move must let out a bloodcurdling cry each time they apply this move. Only then will my thirst for this move be quenched. As if I was drinking a delicious cup of homemade apple cider.

4.Michinoku Driver

Another simple move that has led to many a victory for the wrestler is it named after. Taka Michinoku would use this finisher to not only win the Light Heavyweight Championship back in the WWF days, but also become one of Japan’s most well known competitors in the squared circle. I always felt satisfied when I saw this successfully performed. Maybe it is the shocked looked on the poor victim’s face, or the appealing sound of a human body slamming down to the mat. It is a move so celebrated that many have imitated it, but very few have modified it.

With that being said, I’ve seen a number of Michinoku Drivers almost go wrong, resulting is what could have the been the final match for some competitors. Of course this is a sport full of risks, where even simple moves can lead to an early retirement. Ultramantis Black has a technique called Cosmic Diaster that reminds me of this maneuver, and there have been some rough landings for those on the Chikara roster. Some have said it is more of variation of the Fire Thunder Bomb. I’ll leave this here and let you all decide.

3.TKO

(I was unable to find the TKO I remember fondly, which ends with a stunner landing)

No matter how many times I see this maneuver performed, it causes a little part of me to cringe just a little bit. The landing is always pretty rough looking, which is what makes it such a good contender for a finisher. Swinging someone over your shoulder and attempting to break their trachea always makes for a great way to end your match. What surprises me is the lack of variations to this move. I have seen inverted TKOs, ones that end in an ace crusher as opposed to a stunner. I just haven’t seen those performed very often.

I think one of the most appealing natures of a good finishers is how it can look better when used against certain people. The TKO can be very impressive if used against larger wrestlers. Like with the last listing, it could be that the risk for injury is a bit higher on this one. I love a good match, but the safety of the wrestlers is more important than a move I would enjoy seeing again. Maybe it is a technique that people don’t enjoy and I’m just in the minority. Oh well, I still believe that the TKO needs to make a comeback as somebody’s go to move for victories.

2.Senton

Quite possible the easiest to perform high flying attack next to the cross body, the Senton Bomb (or Back Senton) is a fantastic move that can be added to anyone’s book of offense. The strangest fact about this move is that it seems larger competitors have a higher attraction to using it. Kassius Ohno would use a couple of standing versions back when he went under the delightful moniker of Chris Hero. Bray Wyatt used a running senton for his finish before his return to the backwoods.

The version I want to return is the original top rope attack. No fancy flips, no theatrics, just someone jumping off the top and falling back with their body weight landing on the chest(or back, side, leg, whatever you fancy) of his/her opponent, sealing the deal and leading to that bell ringing. It isn’t the flashiest move, but damn is it effective.

1.Tiger Driver

How can you not love the Tiger Driver? It showcases both power and technique. It leaves the opponent down for a pin right after the slam to the mat. It is the type of move that can look beautiful is the wrestler doing it performs it correctly, but ugly if done wrong. Mitsuharu Misawa made this move world famous with his ’91 variation of it, which was more of pile driver than the pinning bomb version I love so much. I don’t know why this move has been left in the dust, but it has in my eyes.

I recall back in around 2005, James Gibson utilized this move, calling it the Gibson Driver, which honestly made me want to puke every time I heard it. I understand renaming moves to give it personality, but some moves do not need a rebranding. The lariat, piledriver, double stomp. The original names of these moves are perfect, and the Tiger Driver is another great example. While the technical name would be a double underhook powerbomb, I believe most people who see the finisher would call it a Tiger Driver at first glance.

So there you go, the former finishers that need to come back and be in the spotlight one more time. I’m sure there are many a move that I left out on this list that many of you will be sure to remind me of. That is one of the great things about professional wrestling. It is a creative outlet where people can pick favorites based on their likes. Finishing moves are no different. Thanks for reading, and support Pro Wrestling.