5 banned moves WWE should bring back

On the latest episode of SmackDown Live, we saw a tag team match between the team of Samoa Joe and Andrade 'Cien' Almas, and that of Rey Mysterio and Mustafa Ali. However, after the match, most of the WWE fans were focused on talking about a specific spot - The Canadian Destroyer.

Rey Mysterio hit this dangerous move on Almas near the end of the match. Most forms of piledrivers, except the Tombstone Piledriver, are banned in WWE, or at least used only very rarely, or on special occasions. The Canadian Destroyer is one of the most dangerous moves in professional wrestling. It is fundamentally a piledriver, but with a flip, thus adding extra risk to the spot.

It should be noted that WWE brought this move back when their potential future competition, All Elite Wrestling (AEW), has begun early proceedings for making the promotion a reality.

This one may be a coincidence, but if WWE is going all out, there are certain banned moves WWE should bring back. On this list, we will be taking a look at a few moves WWE should bring back.

---

#5 The original piledriver

The referee's reaction says everything

As mentioned earlier, the piledriver is very sparingly used in WWE. CM Punk pulled one on John Cena in 2013 during their match on RAW. However, other than that, there are not many instances in the PG era where a wrestler used a normal piledriver.

With its history of causing many injuries - most notable to Stone Cold Steve Austin at SummerSlam 1997, it could be understood why WWE banned it. However, when performed safely, this is one of the moves that can generate genuine excitement and a close finish.

#4 Muscle buster

The lack of a non-submissive finisher is hurting Samoa Joe

Samoa Joe is a monster. However, he does not currently possess a monstrous finisher that gives him a three count. The Samoan Submission machine has a coquina clutch, but that does not always give him a win.

But in NXT, Joe used muscle buster - a move where Joe places an opponent's neck on his shoulder, and falls back. However, owing to an unfortunate accident while performing the move on Tyson Kidd, Kidd's wrestling career came to an end. Kidd believes his hands were in the wrong position while taking that move.

Kidd survived the accident, and is producing amazing matches in WWE as a backstage staff. However, due to the severity of the incident, muscle buster was immediately banned. Even though Samoa Joe teased using it on various occasions, he has never performed the move again.

Similar to Seth Rollins and the curb stomp, bringing the muscle buster back may be the one thing Joe needs to take him back to the main event scene.

#3 Wings of love

Michelle McCool in the position to perform wings of love

Michelle McCool's wings of love was one of the most amazing moves in Diva wrestling. In the 2000s, there were not many women's finishers better than the wings of love. Victoria's widow's peak is probably the only women's finisher that could rival the wings of love regarding dominance and brutality.

Wings of love is a variation of face buster. McCool would lift her opponent and drop the opponent on her face.

The reason why WWE banned this move in 2008 is laughable. The backstage viewed this move as "too devastating" for the divas. However, in this era, where women are main eventing PPVs, this is a sorry excuse for banning a move.

Thus it would be just if WWE brings this move back and gives it to one of the women who lacks a legitimate finisher.

#2 Modified burning hammer

The original version of the burning hammer is far too dangerous

Burning hammer was always banned in WWE, because of the apparent danger associated with the move. The move looks like an inverted attitude adjustment, but the opponent lands on his head rather than on his back. As you can imagine, this one is a risky maneuver. However, in the inaugural Cruiser Weight Classics in 2016, WWE green flagged this move.

The 31 August 2016 match between Kota Ibushi and Brian Kendrick on the Cruiser Weight Classic was made famous by this single move. Out of nowhere, Kendrick lifted Ibushi in an inverted fireman's carry position and delivered the burning hammer. The crowd was shocked at this. However, Ibushi kicked out of the finisher.

Since this is one of the most dangerous moves in professional wrestling, Tyler Rex modified it. The move is safer - but still looks effective. The reason why Rex's movement was banned was it looked similar to John Cena's AA.

#1 The punt kick

Randy Orton eliminated the Nexus threat using his signature punt kick on the road to WrestleMania 27

Randy Orton had two amazing finishers - the RKO and the punt kick. While most of the top guys like John Cena, Brock Lesnar, and Roman Reigns have kicked out of RKO, no one has ever kicked out of the punt kick.

Orton most often never connects the move to prevent danger, except in a few cases. However, the possibility of a potential danger forced WWE to scrap the punt kick out of Orton's arsenal. However, with WWE green-lighting Finn Balor's kick to the head from the apron, and other variations of attacks aimed at the temple, it is still unknown why the punt kick is still banned.

Bringing the punt kick back will certainly help the Apex Predator up his game. Nowadays, Orton teases the move often, but ends up being countered by the opponent.