The Art Of The Finishing Maneuver

The finishing maneuver is a wrestlers' secret weapon, the ace up his sleeve or the "special" move. Not only does it usually foreshadow the end of the match, but it also serves as something that can get them over with the crowd.

Lately, however, the recent rush to pump new superstars into the veins of WWE's roster seems to have caused management to overlook this handy tactic. Wrestlers such as Cody Rhodes, Santino Marella, JTG, Primo Colon, and many others are victims of this plague.

Before I go any further, let me just say that a finisher does not make a wrestler. Santino and Primo have done a great job getting the fans' attention without the help of a finisher. But a finisher can help promote the superstar and make him a more exciting talent to watch—something I'm sure these two could still benefit from.

Recently, the Slammy Awards were held, and the category of "Best Finishing Maneuver" was introduced. Prior to the ceremony itself, I was found myself asking: What makes a good finisher?

The Art of the Finishing Maneuver

Type of Maneuver

Finishing maneuvers come from all angles and heights. Some take special circumstances to occur, as well. Each has flaws, and some have more benefits than others. Some even fall into multiple categories, giving them a combination of benefits to aid in the match, as well as receiving praise from the audience.

• The Standard 

The most basic set-up for a maneuver. Both men are standing, usually facing each other, although sometimes an opponent is facing the opposite direction.

The standard is the most versatile of the types of finishing maneuvers. Sometimes it does not even matter the exact direction an opponent is facing for the maneuver to be pulled off. The RKO is a maneuver that demonstrates this, as Randy Orton can perform it from the front, or start from the back of the opponent while running and/or jumping forwards.

The simplicity of this set-up leads to many opportunities for the completion of the maneuver.

• Location Specific 

These require the opponent to be in a certain position, or within a certain range of positions to be executed. Sometimes it is prone on the mat, other times the maneuver may require the use of turnbuckles or ropes.

The Lionsault is a spot-specific maneuver that comes into play when the opponent is prone, face-up on the mat, usually in the centre of the ring, or close to centre at least. It also requires the use of the ropes to be completed, or possibly some other suitable substitution.

Unlike the standard set-up, location-specific obviously does not have the versatility element, as it requires certain criteria to be met.

This also makes the move harder to perform, as the requisite situation needs to be met in order for the move to be completed. This opportunity may come only once a match, or sometimes never.

• Aerial 

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