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In WWE, a finishing move is one of the most crucial facets of a gimmick. Each wrestler selects a finisher or two by assessing their advantages and impact.
Nevertheless, not all finishers look entirely effective on all varieties of opponents. Some, like Naomi's "Rear View," look awkward and inadequate on any opponent, irrespective of their size.
Other examples are Scotty 2 Hotty's "The Worm", John Cena's "Shan Dian Quan Tou," and The Rock's "People's Elbow." All of these moves require humorous theatrics and the selling skill of the receiver to look convincing, although they enjoy quite a bit of popularity amongst the WWE Universe.
Some moves, however, look highly impactful regardless of the size of the opponent. Thus, they are some of the most famous maneuvers in WWE, leading to cheers from the audience, even if it is a villainous character executing it on a heroic figure.
Here is a list of five finishing moves utilized by current members of the WWE roster that look effective regardless of the type of opponent. A special mention goes to Randy Orton's Punt Kick, a maneuver that is presented as more than a match finisher and is used to write superstars off WWE television.
#5 RKO (Former WWE Champion Randy Orton)
A list of impactful finishers cannot be finalized without recognizing one of the most celebrated finishers in WWE. The 14-time world champion originally employed the "O-Zone" as his finishing move. This maneuver, similar to the "Playmaker" used by MVP, was superseded by a far more notable finisher when Orton began his quest as the legend killer.
The Apex Predator knows how to tease the spectators with theatrics, as he gets on all fours, assuming a serpentine posture, before striking his opponent with the match-ending move.
Of course, Orton knows how to use it without theatrics as well, with the "RKO out of nowhere" trope being an essential part of his WWE gimmick in the last few years.
#4 Asuka Lock (Longest reigning WWE NXT Women's Champion Asuka)
Asuka Lock, used by the eponymous WWE superstar, is a modified Crossface Chickenwing submission hold with simultaneous execution of the body scissors. Popularized by Bob Backlund, the move sees the performer imprisoning an arm and the head of their opponent, and it always looks effective.
Being one of the best in-ring performers in WWE today, Asuka manipulates the move to perfection, and it looks extraordinarily plausible as a match finish.
The number of bouts won by The Empress Of Tomorrow with the Asuka Lock contributes additional credence to the already strong finishing move.
#3 Brogue Kick (Current WWE United States Champion Sheamus)
Kicks invariably look effective when used properly in a pro wrestling match. While there are some like Drew McIntyre who use their versions to great effect, it is The Celtic Warrior's "Brogue Kick" that looks the most convincing every time it is used in a WWE ring.
The reigning WWE United States Champion has tried multiple finishers since his debut, including "Irish Curse" and "High Cross." However, Sheamus mostly executes the bicycle kick to boot his opponent's head off before pinning them.
#2 Swanton Bomb (Former WWE Champion Jeff Hardy)
Jeff Hardy's popularity knows no end. Serving as a prime tag team star in The Attitude Era, he transformed into one of WWE's biggest fan favorites in the 2000s. The Charismatic Enigma is a three-time world champion in WWE, and with the return of his famous entrance theme, Hardy remains popular, although he presently spends his days trading victories with Karrion Kross.
Hardy has used the Swanton Bomb for decades and it still manages to elicit a tremendous reaction from the audience.
Amongst the numerous ingenious moves in his arsenal, the Swanton Bomb merits a particular mention as Hardy leaps off the top rope with a senton bomb that essentially looks impactful on any opponent.
#1 The Stomp (Former WWE Champion Seth Rollins)
Seth Rollins is the only former member of The Shield to not hold a world championship during the pandemic era. However, he still has the best finisher compared to his past stablemates, Roman Reigns and Jon Moxley (fka Dean Ambrose).
The Messiah wields "The Stomp" as his finisher, a maneuver that has faced bans and alterations of names multiple times during Seth Rollins' WWE career. "The Stomp" targets the back of the head of a downed foe, thus nullifying any size advantage.
The former WWE Champion initially used the move with the title "Curb Stomp." It was deemed hazardous and was promptly banned.
After borrowing insufficient replacements like the "Pedigree" and "Ripcord Knee," Rollins brought the move back as his finisher, and today, it continues to be one of the most effective maneuvers not only in WWE but in the entire professional wrestling industry.
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