One of the most interesting aspects of a Pro Wrestling character is the manner in which they wrap up their matches. Every Superstar has their own finishing move, which is dubbed as their most devastating weapon against the opponent, ideally to be used to finish the match.
Over the course of the past several decades, we have seen WWE Superstars using a string of finishing maneuvers, with some having attained legendary status, most notably Stone Cold Steve Austin's Stunner and The Undertaker's Tombstone Piledriver.
In some cases, WWE tries to experiment by giving an already established finisher to a young gun, in an attempt to put them over with the fans in a better manner. In the following list, we will take a look at five WWE legends who happily approved of a current Superstar using their finishing move.
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#5 Dominik Dijakovic uses the Tazmission
NXT Superstar Dominik Dijakovic recently posted a tweet addressing WWE legend Taz, asking him whether he could use the Tazmission to defeat his opponents. Although Dijakovic deleted the tweet soon, Taz responded with stating that he appreciates the fact that Dijakovic asked him first, but he would like to talk about it in a private setting.
The two then apparently had a private chat on Twitter and Taz went on to post an update on the situation. Taz said that he communicated with Dijakovic via chat and permitted him to use the Tazmission. Taz then praised the young Superstar, saying that he is a bright, talented guy and wishing him the best of luck.
Soon after, Dijakovic posted a gif of the move from an NXT live event, with the following caption: "Nobody will beat me. Nobody will survive. Feast Your Eyes on the Tazmission.”
#4 Jack Swagger uses the Ankle Lock
Kurt Angle left WWE in 2006, and kicked off a stint in Impact Wrestling. A few years down the line, Jack Swagger started using the finishing move. Although Angle didn't seem too thrilled with this at the time, he spoke in depth on the situation back in 2015 and stated that he was happy with Swagger using the move. Angle added that the Ankle Lock wasn't his move to begin with and Ken Shamrock used it way before he did.
You know what, no. Because I didn’t come up with the Ankle Lock. Ken Shamrock did. When he retired, I took it. And when I left WWE, Jack Swagger decided to take the Ankle Lock. And I think Jack Swagger’s done a great job. I think he’s a great talent.
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#3 The Miz uses the Figure Four
Back in late 2012, The Miz turned babyface and joined Mick Foley's Survivor Series team that was set to face Team Ziggler at the event. The babyface turn wasn't well-received by critics. Miz later began a feud with Cesaro, after the latter insulted America. Around this time, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair became The Miz's mentor and the A-Lister began using Flair's legendary finishing move, The Figure Four Leglock.
The story unfolded on an episode of Miz TV. The light-hearted exchange between the two was interrupted by United States Champion Cesaro. After the duo attacked the villain, Flair teased locking in his finisher on Cesaro, but suddenly paused. He asked Miz to do the favors, handing down the move to him.
#2 The Fiend uses the Mandible Claw
After a long wait that lasted for months, The Fiend made his presence felt on an episode of Monday Night Raw, and attacked Finn Balor in a terrifying segment. Soon after, he came out again on the Raw Reunion episode and attacked WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley. To everyone's surprise, The Fiend put down Foley with a Mandible Claw.
Later, Foley opened up on Bray Wyatt using the finisher as his own, and was nothing but supportive of the same.
I think that's for everyone to think for themselves. It's all about the follow-up. And I have been very happy with the follow-up as well. I'm really happy to see him using the move and to be shifting gears of that character to make it intriguing and exciting television.
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#1 Kevin Owens uses the Stunner
A while ago, Owens again turned into a babyface when he attacked Dolph Ziggler after a tag team loss, and hit a Stunner on him. Soon after, Owens hit the Stunner on Shane McMahon, kicking off a feud between the two. It was reported that WWE was building up Owens as a modern-day Stone Cold Steve Austin, and the regular use of Stunner was a part of his character change.
Austin spoke with Sports Illustrated about having a talk with Owens regarding him using the Stunner.
My finish was being used by someone else before I really made it famous, or trademarked it, so to speak. So I told him, go ahead and use the Stone Cold Stunner.