Wrestlers Who Downgraded Their Finishers

[@TapOutCorner]

Who do you think had the biggest finisher downgrade?

[@TGKSweatyguy]

Me

[@Indeeditsjoseph]

I think the A Town Down looks clean but it’s not as effective as his jumping TKO

[@Bluel0cK670]

@Samaargamingfr, i thought it was only me 😂😂😂

[@nwc.fringe]

Dean Ambrose Dirty Deeds from HEADLOCK DRIVER to DOUBLE ARMED DDT.

[@darkneon5637]

John Cena

[@squarepickle]

In Theory's defense, most top guys wouldn't be acrobatic enough to take his old finisher. So it was either get a new finisher, or say goodbye to any chance of being a main eventer.

[@JustNate365]

Sure he gets the AA/F.U once Cena hangs it up ❤.

[@studentNEET319]

But he should still keep it in his repertoire,imagine he pulls it out in a guy in a main event

[@shawnmichaels568]

I feel like KO's pop-up powerbomb just fit him better instead of the stunner. Although his stunner is already great.

[@nba_demdons]

I correspond

[@studentNEET319]

He's just deadpool cosplaying as stone cold

[@najacipedo6898]

Austin gave him the Stunner. If Austin gave you something as a wrestler you are gonna use it.

[@Bbknuckles]

right. saying the stunner is a downgrade from a pop-up powerbomb is just crazy

[@sins5020]

@@Bbknucklesit is logically it makes no sense since it wouldn’t hurt it only looks good cuz the way rock and others sold it

[@sergiodbd]

The biggest problem with the Judas Effect is that Andrade does a significantly better version as a standard move… and *that* should be a finisher

[@leejun8955]

100% agreed

[@TripleA_1010]

KO's best finisher is Package Pile-driver

[@northenlightsss]

Definitely, everytime he did it in roh was just 🤌

[@vipulkvishwakarma8795]

And Steenalizer was amazing too

[@TripleA_1010]

@@vipulkvishwakarma8795 bruh that looks like a attempt to mrder

[@venomgaming7014]

@@TripleA_1010and a finisher’s meant to look vicious.

[@abhishekpagare2738]

​@@venomgaming7014look vicious* it shouldn't be dangerous for the opponent

[@i8yourDog]

Iyo actually made the roseplant look pretty brutal at wrestlemania, but when Bayley does it to Nia or someone bigger the move just looks horrendous.

[@jonathnmartin9845]

Shotzi also sold it quite well

[@epict1337]

It looks horrendous no matter who's taking the move. It's a genuinely awful finisher

[@ChrisJericho22]

She should have just stick to headlock driver that EC3 and Dean Ambrose used.

[@nygma619]

Piper Niven made it look pretty good in july.

[@williamzebub3252]

The Roseplant has the same problem that Mone's Moneymaker does, everyone takes the move different which makes it look like the move is constantly botched because it looks different every time.

[@ramitouati1325]

tbh big show ko punch makes sense cuz a giant punching you in the face would totally knock you out

[@NotImportantPersonNumber2]

Well Big show did break someones jaw with a single punch before

[@akhilnarayan5392]

A giant slamming you from 10 feet above...makes more sense than punching. Lol

[@NotImportantPersonNumber2]

@@akhilnarayan5392 big show actually broke someones jaw with one punch

[@JordanJohnsonNCBornReady]

Don't you mean the WMD (Weapon of Mass Destruction) lol

[@edwuncleriii3798]

Why wouldn't he punch people multiple times then?

[@aridddle]

If Jericho was trying to do something less taxing at his old age, he shoul have went back to the walls of Jericho. That move has very little stress on his body

[@thaddeusmarcuscheeleyjr.786]

Hell he should have never abandoned the Liontamer. All he's doing is holding you vertical while resting his knee on your head. It's usually a guaranteed tap out too so he doesn't even have to hold it for more than a few seconds before it's over. Looks brutal, ends the match quick. Simple.

[@aridddle]

@@thaddeusmarcuscheeleyjr.786 The walls of Jericho and the liontamer are the same thing, but I agree with you

[@thaddeusmarcuscheeleyjr.786]

@@aridddle they are not. They are explicitly two separate moves. Jericho himself has gone on to confirm this in a few interviews, stating that the Walls of Jericho was easier to use and less dangerous on his opponent( it's literally a Boston crab. Plus it's something you can actually counter or break from, unlike the Liontamer for most of its runtime). He still breaks out the Liontamer on occasions, but it's usually at the request of his opponent or for a great spot to end the match on strong.

[@aridddle]

@@thaddeusmarcuscheeleyjr.786 I stand corrected. I always thought they were the same

[@Rover200Power]

He said in his book that many of the guys in WWF were too big to put into the liontamer, so he had to modify it into the walls of Jericho to make it work.

[@Treywave4146]

So we just gone ignore how high mark henry jumped for that pop up powerbomb well past his prime? 😂😂😂

[@Joker_JAK]

He brought up Henry taking it well.

[@Ashketchum12233]

Big show makes the punch look devastating

[@DieFrauAmHerd]

it makes no sense in kayfabe tho, as such strikes are (or were at least) a long time illegal

[@Ashketchum12233]

@@DieFrauAmHerd that’s wrestling logic

[@Billioncompany786]

I can understand when someone like Big Show does that finisher considering his hand size. However there is no excuse for Logan paul to do that, I don't care if he has steel implant inside his hand there is no excuse considering his other moves like buckshot clothsline or frog splash looks more devastating.

[@Ashketchum12233]

@@Billioncompany786 exactly. Logan’s finisher should be one of those instead of the punch

[@Nick_C1997]

@@DieFrauAmHerd There actually is a kayfabe reason why Big Show used a punch. When he returned, I remember the commentators said that Big Show had previously left WWE to try to pursue a boxing career, but no one would fight him. This was obviously not true, but at least it gave a reason for the new finisher.

[@randylahey8101]

"The belly to belly is not a finishing move." Shane Douglas has entered the chat

[@visionary-v5o]

Rtruth, the lie detector is not a bad move

[@The-Deadite]

Honestly doesnt look very damaging- its a move that barely graces you at best.

[@pedroh.6886]

It's a cool move to watch but it doesn't seem to hurt a fly

[@pedroh.6886]

It looks like a crocodile doing the death roll in the air

[@qmchale5130]

It looks better as a comeback move, though. Finisher-wise, it's not good.

[@JeffersonSteelflexx]

It looks cool but not finisher worthy

[@ZakairSevenfold]

John Cena’s fist move was literally a promotional move for a film he had releasing in China. It wasn’t ever meant to replace his other moves and that’s also why it lasted only a few matches.

[@home9dog2blue199]

....trash

[@AJMashUps2863]

The fact that the four horsewomen have the worst pinfall manoeuvres (roseplant, manhandle slam, natural selection, and Sasha's DDT) ☠️💀

[@arturokaintz8153]

MAYBE I'm just a Becky fan... but I fw the Manhandle slam it's basically the Rock Bottom

[@Beast_the_smash_guy]

I actually love Natural Selection as a signature. It's definitely a move after 30 minutes COULD end a match

[@paolopasaol9700]

​@@Beast_the_smash_guy I actually like it too. In kayfabe, not only is your head being planted, it looks like your neck and spine are being painfully jerked back.

[@Warrioruk]

@@arturokaintz8153 Just like the Urunage or the Book End.

[@Beast_the_smash_guy]

@zanethind you know, I actually forgot about that one. But since you've said it, I definitely agree. That looked incredible

[@musicman8371]

Gotta give KO some huge props for actually asking Stone Cold to use the Stunner as his finisher. KO is a big fan of Stone Cold after all

[@John-Doe-Lorem-Ipsum]

STF is pretty painful I had first hand experience.

[@jodyrouse7118]

Fr me and friend where wrestling and he put me in the STF and I’m not one to give up and tap imma try to get out but damn it hurt I had no choice but to tap

[@mystey1]

Did your opponent choke you? Cuz Cena only hooks the leg and lies on his adversaries Also boston crab and camel clutch can be very paonful, but nobody finishes with them anymore

[@DD_Vandal]

@@mystey1 Doesn't Gunther use boston- and half crabs?

[@mystey1]

@@DD_Vandal oh I don't watch modern WWE. Does Gunther finishes his matches with crabs? I mean those moves are considered the most basic atm it's like finishing with Roberts DDT or fireman carry too common and not very impressive moves

[@Thunderjpg]

@@mystey1thats the thing, it is painful even if the opponent doesnt choke you. It still hurts without the choking

[@KegOfMeat]

When did Tap Out Corner get so snarky. Andrade’s Spinning Elbow is far superior to Jericho’s Judas Effect.

[@kevwwong]

The Killswitch finisher could make sense if AEW wanted to make it so. To wit: Bobby Roode used that in TNA and called it a Northern Lariat, since he’s from Canada and all. Christian Cage is Canadian. Killswitch is one of his “kids”. Thus, he uses the Northern Lariat to honour his “dad’s” roots. Admittedly, that story could use a little work, but that took me one minute of thought to come up with. Just let Excalibur make some stuff up and run with it.

[@havoc-ado]

This is how bad Jericho's execution of the move is... Hook stole it a couple months ago for the win against Jericho and it actually looked so much better and lethal as well.

[@GeorgeTheTio]

Rollins hitting the Pedigree never looked or felt right to me

[@wadewwilson5567]

Not even gonna lie, I liked Seth’s DDT thing and I think it could still work as a finisher with the right person

[@hfield07]

Charlotte using natural selection as a finisher is up there. That move looks like nothing most of the time

[@danielsmith5032]

100% this

[@son_of_the_heavymetal1142]

With the STF the problem is that they got it wrong. It's based on a real MMA move but the point of the move is to hurt the knee not the head/neck. Shayna did made a video a while ago about that move

[@kaneblood3531]

To be fair jericho was aging before he moved to AEW and he said that he cant perform code breaker as good as he used to, or Lionsault so he changed to spinning back elbow.

[@iseerashonal821]

KO doesn't look good doing the stunner

[@dakotarock6422]

I actually loved Takers Dragon Sleeper as he needed something new with his next heel turn that and his chair finisher during his heel run were awesome! Kind of like his Hells Gate as he started using sub holds more frequently. His age was a factor I'm sure as he got older.

[@LogicalLitePlayz]

I just realized this wasn't years ago...

[@the_shortski6053]

11. WMD - Not the most ideal finisher. Big Show got away with it but still not really a good finisher especially when someone like Lacey Evans uses it. 10. Stunner - Pop up Powerbomb is definitely better for KO in my opinion. The Stunner doesn't click as his finisher. Especially since during that time, his other major move was the Apron Powerbomb, it made sense for him to win with some type of Powerbomb and his was the best. 9. TKOB - Doesn't really suit the Undertaker. And a standing Dragon Sleeper doesn't look like it's doing anything. It's like winning with a guillotine choke but not going to the ground, people think that you're taking too long to do a DDT. 8. A Town Down - I've never really liked this move. It looks clunky. I'd rather he did the Ataxia or the Jumping TKO he did under Seth Rollins. 7. Rose Plant - this move sucks. It doesn't help that Bailey took Becky's advice on hooking the arm to make the move more complicated. I love the Headlock Driver sometimes but this isn't it. 6. DDT Facebuster - I like this move personally. I think that the Revolution Knee would have been better in this list as it was more of a longer lasting finisher. But it was inferior to the Stomp. 5. Enzu Lariet - I get changing finishers for a different gimmick especially if it doesn't fit but this is an odd choice. Like yeah, maybe don't have a heel do Moonsaults but a Tombstone Facebuster looks vicious and probably works better with a monster heel. You got rid of a good finisher that works better as a heel to a worse finisher because you're now a heel. Thats weird. 4. Lightning Fist - This also doesn't really make sense. John Cena is a brawler but he also prides in power and strength. Why have a shitty backhand finisher? The Five Knuckle Shuffle is a better finisher than the Lightning Fist. 3. Judas Effect - The move itself isn't a bad finisher just not how Jericho does it. If Andrade did his Spinning Back Elbow as a finisher, i think people would be happy with it. 2. Lie Detector - not a bad finisher but I think that the issue stems from the silhouette. If you can't see the arm properly, it looks odd. 1. Mone Maker - I think that this move could be done well. But I also don't think Sasha can pull it off. A Gory Bomb into a Flatliner isn't the easiest of transitions. I think that she needs to get more into a Razors Edge and push the opponent up and over into a Flatliner.

[@Joker_JAK]

Standing guillotines happen in MMA and ARE effective.

[@OscarBoland]

You should do a video on theme songs that got downgraded

[@majinbu3737]

Ngl R-truth's new F move looks sick imo

[@XyntriCoil]

The lie detector is one of the best moves

[@thaddeusmarcuscheeleyjr.786]

How come you didn't mention how the Walls of Jericho is just a downgraded, less visually brutal Liontamer? Jericho literally rests his knee and his entire body's weight on your head while you're head completely vertical upside down. I have yet to see anyone survive that for more than 3 seconds.

[@donniejefferson9554]

The Seth Rollins knee finisher was legendary when he couldn't use the curb stomp or pedigree. I still shout "THE KNEE" every time somebody hits a knee

[@FuegoJustinnn]

Why get rid of the pop up powerbomb? It’s one of the best finishers

[@KingVR12692nd]

The reason ko changed was cause every was geting repetive

[@sagegrantmusic]

indi hartwell, going from a springboard elbow to a forearm smash

[@BrockMak]

1:57 Also: He could had easily turned it into a Twist of Fate/Twist of Hate by the Hardy Boys.

[@hota_san720]

The necro argument was crazy lmao

[@eat_itjusteat_it4214]

The pop-up power bomb was a downgrade from KOs Package Piledriver finisher.

[@KDB349]

The Lie Detector was a great finisher! You capping bro. It looked clean as hell. Also the knockout Punch fit Big Show just fine. It was devasting from a man his size.

[@BeastMaster4988]

Austin theories a town down move is really good. People always say it’s a weak move but hitting face first on the knee hurts so I think it’s a really good move

[@louisjwiese5515]

Wish Chris Jericho never stopped wearing the long pants. Since he came out with the speedo and muffin top, I just couldn't take him seriously anymore.

[@penguinbrony2415]

Hell's Gate was a vastly superior submission finisher for the Undertaker. That move was brutal.

[@jackbaker2152]

And the receiver has blood coming out of their mouth made it more vicious Great Khali, Mark Henry,Big Daddy V,Festus etc

[@home9dog2blue199]

Chris Jericho SERIOUSLY thought he cooked. Same with Cena 🤦‍♂️😭😭😭

[@gabemyers4516]

For a second I was worried you’d dunk on Hell’s Gate

[@Moose_3BGbowling]

As far as Theory, I'm willing to bet not everyone can sell that ataxia that move looks crazy

[@tmaktmak1464]

Clothes line from hell was one simple but vicious move and only John Bradshaw Layfield could execute

[@TheJaguar1983]

What's hilarious is that the Money Maker is a move tried in backyard wresting as a kid and it was terrible then🤣

[@Killerbat37]

The reason Kevin Owens changed is because he said everyone was using a powerbomb of some sort so he went to Steve and asked him if he could use it this is just what I heard I could be wrong tho pls feel free to correct me

[@brandontrinidad9091]

6:12 JBL clothesline is more devastating Than luchasaurus

[@IBeNerdy76]

The thing is, the rose plant could look good. Matt Taven was using the move before her as "the climax," and it looked good

[@jayvardy]

I can't take anyone seriously that says a pop up powerbomb is better than a Stunner. That take is wrong 365 days a year.

[@KHJAYY08]

Bailey new finisher is literally the old dirty deeds just a worse looking version

[@theharv1490]

Her finisher is so underwhelming

[@supergamingclips1]

@@theharv1490I mean the person selling it doesn’t look bad But how bayley looks while doing it looked boring

[@jasontodd1896]

It sucks

[@adammassacre4715]

Remember when Bigshow did awesome chokeslams to a 5 foot 6 160lbs wrestler but changed to a knockout fist when his opponent was 6 foot 10 and 310lbs 😂

[@Raingamerhd]

5:27 who’s this guy (in the purple)

[@AliciaK-n2w]

Billy Gunn

[@cattameme]

I think LA Knight should change his finisher the BFT to the Neckbreaker thing he was doing at Summerslam.

[@jfrostk8912]

So many Wrestlers Uses The neckbreaker (Cough Cough heath Slater) as a Finisher. The BFT Aka Snapmare Driver Fits His Gimmick.

[@jasontodd1896]

He should use the air raid crash as a finisher. His snap mare driver sucks

[@JamesNelson-j4j]

I like Kevin Owens old Finnisher the steenallzer.

[@BeastMaster4988]

The thing with the money maker is is a really cool move, but I think it’s just too complicated with how much movement you have to do before actually getting to hit the move

[@50shadesofblue92]

Bro really said a stunner was a downgrade 💀

[@tonyrandall4364]

I have always said you want a finisher you can do on any opponent no matter how big they are. Also with age you wouldn't be able to do bigger moves like power bombs. Texas clover leaf would be mine.

[@ChicoMasterMindBeast]

I think KO actually went out of his way to say that he didn’t like the pop-up power bomb because everyone had a Power bomb. Hard to stand out with your finisher when it’s being used by other people.

[@PascalSiakam-102]

Stopped mid stroke to watch this banger🔥🔥🔥

[@TripleA_1010]

What !!

[@Frosty8111]

you did NOT need to share that....

[@AmirBandy-qe6dt]

Tmi

[@t2mutch]

Quit being dirty minded tap out corner saved his life

[@TripleA_1010]

@@t2mutch nah bro u r just too positive

[@GeorgeHiken]

seth rollins also used ripcord knee as a finisher for a while

[@StoneWinds]

Undertaker is the only wrestler I can think of with 5 different finishers. - TCB - Chokeslam - Last Ride - Tombstone - Hell's Gate

[@eljay7i]

Chris Jericho -Lion Tamer Walls of Jericho Breakdown Code Breaker Judas Effect

[@mateuszmalag878]

Seth was also using knee to the face finisher after curbstomp was banned. Which was the worst of them all

[@SNOWDUDE13]

God the Ataxia always looks awesome.

[@rdtworld9720]

Jericho should have been on this list twice, as he used two different finishers called the Breakdown in 2001 and 2002: the Reverse Russian Legsweep (he beat Rock for the WCW Title with it I think) and the Sleeper Drop, and both just didn't work.

[@sundarsubramaniam7274]

The Attitude Adjustment is actually one of the weakest finishers ever. The STF was an upgrade.

[@Porksword63]

The pop up powerbomb just isn’t believable from Kevin Owens. Dude has the muscle mass and tone of a marshmallow

[@TBarmor]

Great list, wish they all reverted. Except bayley, she needs another new one

[@Undefined9]

Uhh the last one looks like "Razor's Edge" combined with a DDT and is pretty unique compared to a boring submission hold...

[@dgotkix]

Hot Take: R-Truth’s lie detector is fun to watch😂

[@KingMurese]

Roseplant from Bayley, Seth Rollins DDT are actually good. If Rollins just used it just as a move

[@johndash2841]

Bailey should combine an omoplata with her Rose Plant. And then give her the option for the pin or the omoplata submission.

[@youngreece864]

The Big Shows Chokeslam was always great but it looked absolutely devastating when he use to fall with his opponent. It looked like he was gonna drive them straight through the mat

[@CarlMarxPunk]

Including wrestlers that changed their finishers because they turned heel shows you don't understand wrestling to a fundamental level.

[@Joker_JAK]

Yeah. "Undertaker changed his finisher because he didn't want people cheering him, but I hated it. Boo!" Almost as if that was the intention. Lol

[@aayzajm]

For Undertaker I thought you were going to say Hells Gate. TCB was pretty good imo, could get those Big Evil facials in when he was doing it and it genuinely looked like it would suck being in it 😅

[@KyokujiFGC]

I'd imagine Truth stopped using the scissor kick 'cause Booker was also a WWE guy

[@IRanOutOfPhrases]

You touched on it, but thought I'd spell it out even further: The ckothesline from behind just looks weak, particularly in comparison to Bradshaw's. The guy being hit in the back can only do so much to sell it. When facing it head-on, the seller can completely kick their legs out to make it look devastating. Also, what you said about the spinning elbow and how it looks too similar to accidentwlly clipping a ref? I feel that can be half-applied to the clothesline from behind. We do see others doing that in instances of interference dont we? Just adds to how mundane it is.

[@ruckasnucka2752]

Cena's STF is actually a good finisher but his implementation changed over the years, instead of choking them he started to squeeze his opponents head between his arms and that doesn't look like it hurts.

[@TheLonelySoulja]

@TapOutCorner The STFU wasn’t his finisher it was still the FU(am not calling it the lame PG name).

[@gabemyers4516]

You’re appreciated I just want you to know that

[@christopherdetourbet725]

Your capping hard on Lie Detector. That move was tough.

[@shadowbanned-ok]

STF is far more better than Bank Statement. Bank Statement looks horrible.

[@HeyJared]

Drawing such a blank right now.. what was Taker's submission on the ground? Like Hell's Gate or something? The triangle lock thing lol

[@SeiryuuX]

Technical name: gogoplata Gimmick name: Hell's Gate

[@MitchellGoodluck]

I'm so glad you mentioned Austin Theory 😅

[@CL0XIF_Y]

Seth Rollins finished is literally my CAC in WWE2k23 and 24 it's not the most flashiest but it definitely has a impact when it's combined with a reversal or a signature

[@TsikoMania]

Stunner doesn't have the it factor anymore in today's world of big moves

[@najacipedo6898]

its not like a powerbomb has the "it" factor when nearly everybody does it nowadays for a 2 count. Its up to the person using the finisher to make the finisher mean something. Gunther won the world title with a sleeper hold in 2024. Let that sink in.

[@TsikoMania]

@@najacipedo6898 powerbomb has that high impact when a person hits the ground

[@jipsumies3435]

4:47 I don't remember this at all but i remember that weird elbow smash thing he did like 5 years aho as his finnisher

[@georgeacosta4431]

That justifying of the Judas being a bad move was abysmal

[@kylekuhn5882]

Should have not said anything and let the video speak for itself.

[@georgeacosta4431]

@@kylekuhn5882 it didn’t

[@kylekuhn5882]

@@georgeacosta4431 it really did🤣

[@dku222]

Bro Can you do Bell to bell Randy Orton

[@alternative7586]

I think Austin Theory should go back to using the TKO as a finisher and use the Ataxia on smaller wrestlers.

[@AsianBraydenFN]

BOBBY LEASHLEY BELL TO BELL PLEASE

[@kratosgow342]

If I remember why Cena doing STF differently from his debut because the move legit KO Edge in their TLC match on PPV that's why he have to change his arm lock to make it safe

[@JJTN2K]

To me the thing most of the time with iconic moves is not to do a 630 inverted diving canadian burning vertebreaker irish whip suplex, is not that creative and complex moves arent great to watch, but the trick about iconic moves is to have the enough carisma and technique to turn a simple punch or the likes of it into a special moment, and that works better with moves the crowd find belivable.

[@damianking42]

I thought Theory changed his finisher for a second

[@yaboiscrik]

I think when he turns face he'll change it to the ataxica or however tf you spell it

[@heartlyartsak8661]

i remember my jaw dropping when i saw KO popup power bombing a wrestler to edge of ring😮

[@KyokujiFGC]

The Roseplant is basically a modified playmaker, which I always thought looked like shit as a finisher.

[@garyrowland3606]

Santino and his cobra were lethal. 😂

[@Jei708]

The rose plant looks amazing when the receiver sells it right

[@Rocket1377]

Which is only about 10% of the time. Most of her opponents just don't sell it correctly. Io Shirai is the only one on the roster who consistently makes it look good.

[@brianstallings4252]

Yeah. That Dragon Sleeper was nice.