There have been so many iconic WWE finisher moves that we’ve seen over the last six decades! In this article, see the complete list of some of the most memorable finisher moves that the industry has seen from the WWE, including details about the move, which WWE star they’re most strongly associated with, and other interesting facts!
What are WWE finisher moves?
First, let’s recap what a WWE finisher move is. The finisher move is a WWE staple that typically marks the conclusion of a wrestling match. Often a wrestler’s most popular and most reliable move to make during a match, finisher moves are a firm fan favourite and rightly so. There are so many different types of finisher moves that have graced the WWE news circuit since its origin days, yet there are some that have definitely earned the right to be the most memorable. Whether you’re a fan of the Black Widow, the Chokeslam, or the Neutralizer, many WWE fans can back their favourites online and also bet on a range of other fighting events around the world with various sites like BetUK.
What are the most memorable WWE finisher moves?
- The Chokeslam
The Chokeslam is the perfect finisher to demonstrate your sheer power and strength. The Chokeslam involves grabbing an opponent by the neck, lifting them up off the ground and then body-slamming them to the mat! This finisher is strongly associated with The Undertaker, Kane and The Big Show, with each of them executing chokeslams during their careers. The Undertaker first debuted his first Chokeslam back in 1992 and relied on this move to defeat his opponents throughout the rest of his career.
- The Powerbomb
Another visually iconic move, the Powerbomb is a WWE staple finisher. The Powerbomb is a move where you lift an opponent so that they are almost sitting on your shoulders before powerfully slamming them to the mat in defeat. There are different variations of the Powerbomb finisher, with many choosing to opt for a classic Irish Whip from the middle of the ring to add more power and speed to the Powerbomb. Carried out by Kevin Nash and Kevin Owens beautifully, the Powerbomb is still a must-see in WWE.
- The Rock Bottom
It’s all in the name with this one – the Rock Bottom is a finisher move attributed to The Rock, aka Dwayne Johnson. This finisher is credited as his first legitimate finisher, with the move involving grabbing your opponent with one arm, lifting them from the ground and immediately slamming them back down onto the mat. Despite this move being used by other wrestlers, such as Booker T, the Rock Bottom finisher has gone down in WWE history as one of the most iconic and memorable finishing moves. Many wrestlers still use this classic move in matches today.
- The RKO
The RKO is actually a simple jumping cutter move that has become so associated with WWE Superstar wrestler Randy Orton that many refer to it as the RKO finisher. To achieve this, a wrestler has to jump towards their opponent, grabbing their head in a face-lock while parallel to the ground and then proceeding to slam their opponent down to the mat. This move was first made popular by John Laurinaitis and Diamond Dallas Page but is now most associated with Randy Orton. One of the most powerfully effective finishers of the WWE, Randy Orton has relied on this move for over two decades.
- The Pedigree
The Pedigree is such a reliable finisher move that opponents are rarely able to muster a challenge afterwards. The Pedigree is the more popular name for the facebuster finisher, which can be performed kneeling or in a sitout variation. Wrestlers have to release the arms of their opponent and actually take hold of their legs while they drop into a seated position. Triple H is perhaps the most popular wrestler known for using this move, yet it’s also strongly associated with Andre the Giant and, more recently, Seth Rollins.