Better "Star" - Five or Shooting?

[IrishCanadian25]

Eddie Guerrero and Rob Van Dam made the Frog Splash popular in pro wrestling, with Van Dam's name "The Five-Star Frog Splash" still resonating with any form of the maneuver, just based on how well he did it. The height and distance he got on it, the impact, his bounce off of his opponent, and his sell of the pain it caused HIM just to be able to cause that level of pain to his opponent made it a top-notch finisher in the world of pro wrestling in the late 90's and early 00's.

On the other side of the discussion, Billy Kidman and Evan Bourne and the visually impressive "Shooting Star Press." Essentially a front-facing moonsault, since its mainstram debut in WCW by Mr. Kidman, the move has earned pops of very high degrees in arenas world-wide. Brock Lesnar showed the world at Wrestlemania that it shouldn't be attempted by just anyone, while John Morrison showed us that it could be done from a standstill.

So allow me to ask the question - which STAR is better? The Five-STAR Frog Splash or the Shooting STAR Press.

For my money, I'll take the Five-Star Frog Splash any day of the week. It's more realistic, clearly makes a greater impact, and has a lower risk of injury to both the performer and the performee. Plus, so often the SSP is a vessel for a cheap pop, often performed by wrestlers that cannot get over with the fans any other way. Evan Bourne tends to have underwhelming matches in terms of crowd interest, but his SSP gets a pop, and that's it. It's why last week he was squashed by Seamus without ever even getting entrance music.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

RVD is the only guy I can think of that sells his own finishing move. If it hurts him, but he's willing to do it because it's more painful for his opponent, then it must be the better move. It's also say it's a better move visually.

There's probably more to the tread than that, but I didn't read the original post, so....

 

[D-Man]

Oooooooh... good thread, IC.

Personally, for me, since the sport of pro-wrestling is all about entertainment and suspension of disbelief, this seems to be a choice between reality and entertainment. Let me explain...

The Shooting Star Press is obviously a visually stunning move. It takes pinpoint accuracy by the attacker and tons of agility. It entertains us to watch it. But if we suspend disbelief for a minute, it doesn't compare to the Five-Star Frog Splash.

The Five-Star Frog Splash is a move that RVD has made a masterpiece out of. He took a (somewhat) bland splash off the top rope, contoured his body in mid-flight, lands on his opponent with crushing force, and sells his self-inflicted backlash (as a result of the move) afterwards. Watching it and seeing RVD's poetry really convinces you that this move just plain HURTS.

So, a decision has to be made as to whether we'd rather be entertained or tricked into thinking the move is like a knockout punch in the UFC. Personally, I enjoy RVD's Five-Star Frog Splash. I enjoy suspending my disbelief in a match and thinking that an opponent is incapacitated from a finishing maneuver. Deep down I kno that pro-wrestling is entertainment, but in my opinion, if I enjoyed the Shooting Star Press more than the Five-Star Frog Splash then I would have to feel as if the People's Elbow is greater than the Macho Man's Flying Elbow Smash. And that just ain't happenin'.

I hate RVD, but my choice is the Five-Star Frog Splash.

 

[Ferbian]

I'm gonna have to go with the Five-star Frog Splash, because it's basicly the same finishing move (by the looks of it, ofcourse not name wise) as Eddie Guerrero's Frog Splash, and him being one of my favourite wrestlers, and really enjoying watching Eddie fly off the top rope, also ofcourse enjoying RVD do it, because he also seems like a very entertaining wrestler to watch, not on the mic or anything, but mainly in the ring his jumping around.

Also as D-man and Y 2 Jake says, he sells his own finisher very nicely, making it seem fairly legit, which makes it such a better finishing move, also because seeing evan bourne use the shooting star press he doesn't sell it at all, it makes it seem less destructive because he doesn't make any sign that he took damage from it, not even in matches where he's been dominated for a few minutes to the mid-region.

Besides by the looks of it, seeing Brock Lesnar botch the move at Wrestlemania, and knowing that it caused severe damage (as far as I remember) you cannot deny the fact that the Five-star Frog Splash might be a safer move for the wrestlers who owns the finisher.

 

[Freddy4190]

I've always loved the shooting star press. I found it to be a beautiful move that not everyone can pull of successfully. I thought Billy Kidman always had a damn good SSP until Sydal[Bourne] came along and just threw down a picture perfect SSP. RVD made the frog splash for me. I love the Shooting Star Press, just because of the sheer athleticism it takes to pull one off.

 

[Dan E. Inferno]

I'm going to follow the masses here and say the 5 star frog splash.

RVD performed the move so well and it impressed me every time he hit it, especially when he would turn in mid-air. I loved the way he would also sell the move himself afterwards, like during the Royal Rumble last year, when he hit the frog splash and it weakened him so much, Jericho ( I believe) easily threw him over the top.

There is no doubt the shooting star press is visually impressive and impactful when performed right, but being the RVD fan I am, this was an easy choice.

 

[klunderbunker]

I've watched a lot of wrestling in my day and I've been to a lot of live shows. One time have I ever been in awe of a move, and it was the 5 star. Also, think of how many people have used the shooting star. People can do it from a standing position. That to me says while it's impressive, it's not as unique as the five star. RVD's gets this.

 

[RVDgurl]

I have 2 answers for this question.

If you mean "best" as in what is more visually pleasing, then I will answer without a doubt that Evan Bourne's shooting star press is a thing of beauty to watch. No one performs this move with more grace and style than Bourne.

If you mean "best" as in what move is more realistic then I will quickly say that RVD's 5 star frog splash is the most well executed move in wrestling history. Not only does he get great height and extension, but he sells the shit out of his own move. He makes it completely realistic.

And being that RVD is the greatest wrestler ever, I will vote for his frog splash- even if Evan Bourne's move looks prettier.