Best of 2018: Finisher Of The Year
IMG Credit: WWE
Your tastes may vary here as what you might think is a good finisher could be a little different from everyone elses. My biggest criteria is does it actually finish things. There are some moves that are used time after time to put someone away, and that doesn’t exactly scream finisher to me. These are the better moves and the most devastating, in one way or another.
Phenomenal Forearm – AJ Styles
You don’t hold a title for over a year without a good finisher. This was a middle of the card move for AJ back in TNA and it’s the kind of thing that works very well for someone like him. It looks like someone flying like a superhero and that’s a great way to go with Styles. The move looks awesome, can be hit on anyone, and has piled up a ton of wins. That works for me, which is kind of the point here.
One Winged Angel – Kenny Omega
Sure we can get some Japan in here. Not only does this move has a great name, but it’s the kind of move that actually finishes a match. No one has ever kicked out of it in New Japan and given how many finishers it takes to win a big match over there, that’s quite the record to hold. The great name makes it that much better, which is saying a lot given how devastating it looks.
630 Splash – Ricochet
Ricochet is one of the best high fliers of all time, which you have to expect from a Kentucky boy. This is one of the flippiest flips in a world of flippy flips and Ricochet makes it look effortless. The thing comes off fast and hard, which makes it all the more impactful. Ricochet can fly a lot but this is his big one, as he doesn’t bust out the double moonsault all that often. He wrestles like a superhero (a popular idea) and this looks like a superhero move, making it a great fit.
Claymore – Drew McIntyre
As Bobby Heenan said of the Mafia Kick: “HE KICKED THE MAN IN THE HEAD!” That’s the simple idea of the Claymore, yet it’s one of the best finishers around. Drew McIntyre is a star both in the making and at the moment and that’s one of the best finishers he could have. His size and power makes the move look even better and when he hits it full blast, no one is kicking out of the thing.
Super Collider – AOP
Sure let’s throw in a tag finisher too. The AOP (still can’t believe they changed the name like that) are a couple of monsters who can hit each people really hard. What better finisher to give them than something where they pick people up, ram them together and slam them down? The move is especially devastating on jobbers, which is where the AOP specialize. It’s certainly better than the Last Chapter, which felt like something an old midcard NWA team would have used.
054 – Mustafa Ali
A lot of people can do a 450, but how many people can actually do the thing backwards? I mean, that’s just not normal. Ali has been the heart and soul of 205 Live for a long time now and the fact that he’s already getting to be a big deal on Smackdown makes me very happy. One day he’s going to win a huge match with that thing and it’s going to be a cool moment. The wrestler makes the move most of the time, but in this case it’s a little bit of both.
But then, there’s only way to finish this.
Black Mass – Aleister Black
I really love this move because it’s almost everything put together. Not only is it devastating and can be used on anyone, but it’s the kind of thing that looks tailor made for Black. He has the kickboxing background and strikes all the time, but this is the kind of move that looks like the big finale of everything he does leading up to it. It wouldn’t work for everyone but when Black does it, my goodness it’s something great. I could watch him kick people’s heads off for a long time and it’s earned the top spot here.
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