Does a finisher make a difference?

[KBeef]

I am curious of the peoples opinion on this and if this has been done before, I apologize.
I would like to use Roman Reigns and Big E as examples, if their finishers were switched would they be in the same positions?

Roman has a quick powerful finish and its able to be hit on anyone, but on the mic he reminds me of face Brock Lesnar in 2003 a bit awkward and over excited at times. He does have a level of bad ass to him though.
Big E has a bad finish for someone like him in my opinion, but he has good charisma and can talk well. they both are athletic.

So if finishers were switched would they be booked the same?

 

[Bockwinkel's Class]

I am curious of the peoples opinion on this and if this has been done before, I apologize.
I would like to use Roman Reigns and Big E as examples, if their finishers were switched would they be in the same positions?

Roman has a quick powerful finish and its able to be hit on anyone, but on the mic he reminds me of face Brock Lesnar in 2003 a bit awkward and over excited at times. He does have a level of bad ass to him though.
Big E has a bad finish for someone like him in my opinion, but he has good charisma and can talk well. they both are athletic.

So if finishers were switched would they be booked the same?

I can remember when finishers weren't that big a deal and every clean win didn't involve the use of one

 

[KBeef]

I can remember when finishers weren't that big a deal and every clean win didn't involve the use of one

I can also, those were some good times.

signature moves also used to end matches. Those times are gone.

 

[Bockwinkel's Class]

I can also, those were some good times.

signature moves also used to end matches. Those times are gone.

Finishers didn't really become a fetish until Junior took over the WWF from his daddy and it didn't really become industry wide until the '90s. My biggest problem with it is that it really kills any suspense over a near-fall. You can't take near falls seriously anymore. I see one now and I KNOW the guy is going to kick out because the fall wasn't off the finisher.

 

[Reflection]

Definitely, they do. Would Stone Cold segments be that much fun to watch without the possibility of him Stunning someone?

Good finishing moves and signature moves are a massive plus. Roman Reigns's spear and superman punch, Cesaro's swing and uppercut (compare with him not using the swing lately), Luke Harper's suicide dive, Randy Orton's punt kick (or its tease), Usos' double frog splashes... these are moves that people want to see, and will get behind of. And moves like this also help the wrestler get over.

On the other hand, we have moves like the Big Ending, Axel's neckbreaker, Skull Crushing Finale, Punjabi Plunge, Rowan's jumping splash etc., which the people know as the wrestlers' finishing moves and they must hurt, but that's about it. Nothing interesting about these that will benefit the wrestler in a special way.

 

[JoeFromTomsRiver]

Definitely, they do. Would Stone Cold segments be that much fun to watch without the possibility of him Stunning someone?
.

Although him giving Vince a "stun gun" would be pretty hilarious.

 

[FlairFan2003]

A memorable finisher/move is a huge moment in a match, it's also something both wrestlers build towards and the crowd anticipates.... It also gives the other wrestler a chance to look good by evading the finisher.

if a wrestler doesn't have a set "finisher" then what does he build to match wise ? Who cares when Hogan "Hulk's Up" if there's no boot-leg drop combo being built to (you watch to see if he nails it or if the opponent escapes). It's major part of the package and helps enhance the wrestler.

 

[Slash-LN]

I can remember when finishers weren't that big a deal and every clean win didn't involve the use of one

I don't go back as far as you do (given your age) but I remember when finishers were actually finishers.

When it was rare to see a guy kick out of one.

Now it's expected in almost every match and it dilutes the affect of the finisher.

I think in that regard wrestling has transitioned in a terrible way.

I'm sure back when you started watching it was exciting because you never knew what was going to win the match.

Also for people who say finishers are important because it gives the wrestlers something to build to. I agree and disagree. I'll take a seemingly out of nowhere win over a predictable win. Owen Hart countering Bret's victory roll for example.

As far as would Big E be in Roman's spot if they traded finishers?

I don't think so. Roman didn't really get over because of his finisher. He got over by being part of the hottest group going in the WWE for a year.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

It depends on what the finisher is, what it ultimately has to do with the wrestler's persona, how over the wrestler is and how good the match has been when he ultimately winds up hitting it, at least that's how I look at it.

When you look at guys like Roman Reigns or Big E, you see a couple of guys with thickly muscled builds. As a result, most people expect something that generates a lot of force and/or displays a lot of strength. In terms of Reigns, his finisher is the spear and it's probably the single easiest move to perform. Just run straight at the guy and make sure you catch him around the mid-section with one of your neck & shoulder lines while keeping your head out of the way. It can really look intense of enough momentum has been built up and if the match has been particularly strong.

Does it have anything to do with a wrestler's popularity? I'm more of the opinion that it can be a byproduct of the wrestler's popularity. As stupid as it was, whenever Santino went for "The Cobra", it ultimately wound up getting a pretty strong pop. The reason is because people like Santino, all things considered. He was primarily a mid-card comedy act who wasn't really a threat to the guys higher up, so a lot of fans liked his schtick as long as it was kept within his level on the card. To move further up, however, he would have had to be repackaged and use a real finisher instead of a sock puppet if fans were to accept him.

 

[Bockwinkel's Class]

A memorable finisher/move is a huge moment in a match, it's also something both wrestlers build towards and the crowd anticipates.... It also gives the other wrestler a chance to look good by evading the finisher.

if a wrestler doesn't have a set "finisher" then what does he build to match wise ? Who cares when Hogan "Hulk's Up" if there's no boot-leg drop combo being built to (you watch to see if he nails it or if the opponent escapes). It's major part of the package and helps enhance the wrestler.

If you aren't doing a cookie-cutter "formula" match you don't need to build towards anything other than the climax of the story you're telling.....whatever that climax is.

I don't know about you but I don't like watching basically the same match over and over again: Which is exactly what you're getting with the "build to the finisher" formula. Match after match, show after show, it's all cut from the same template.

 

[Bockwinkel's Class]

I don't go back as far as you do (given your age) but I remember when finishers were actually finishers.

When it was rare to see a guy kick out of one.

Now it's expected in almost every match and it dilutes the affect of the finisher.

I think in that regard wrestling has transitioned in a terrible way.

I'm sure back when you started watching it was exciting because you never knew what was going to win the match.

Also for people who say finishers are important because it gives the wrestlers something to build to. I agree and disagree. I'll take a seemingly out of nowhere win over a predictable win. Owen Hart countering Bret's victory roll for example.

As far as would Big E be in Roman's spot if they traded finishers?

I don't think so. Roman didn't really get over because of his finisher. He got over by being part of the hottest group going in the WWE for a year.

Ya, Scott Hall was talking about that in an interview. It dilutes the power of the finisher if you're using it for high-spots leading to false finishes. The problem is they've become so dependent on using the finishers for their formula endings that they've killed the suspense of the near-fall and now have to use their finishers to get the suspense from a near-fall. It's an ugly cycle.

 

[NtwrestlingMaster]

I think a finisher does make a difference to some degree. The Rock did a standing elbow drop as a finisher and got him over. He was still a top guy, and the finisher didn't affect him negatively. You look at someone like a Heath Slater, and his finisher is a neck breaker. He is a jobber, but if his finisher instead was something like let's say a Canadian destroyer he would be noticed a lot more. Curt Hawkens was allways a jobber, but after seeing a top rope firemans carry to the ring apron in the Indys, I have thought of him very differently.

 

[flaircokenotstril]

Finishers used to be so much more meaningful and impactful in wrestling matches, both tag and singles.

 

[21 and Bork]

You look at someone like a Heath Slater, and his finisher is a neck breaker. He is a jobber, but if his finisher instead was something like let's say a Canadian destroyer he would be noticed a lot more.

It's funny you mention that particular move as when I read the thread title my first thought was about Petey Williams. I used to mark out for him as a kid, but I couldn't tell you a single other move he did. But damn if I didn't wait for that spot every single time.

 

[Pedigree1]

I love Finishers in matches.. Just the whole buildup to it and the anticipation to said wrestlers finishers is worth the wait.. So many to mention over the years..

I dont think its necessarily a by product of a particular wrestler but guys like Santino is a good example.. The cobra finisher we all knew it was a comedy act,never intended to be taken serious but the crowd ate it up.. Even mankinds Mr Socko,wasnt that great of a finisher but the crowd loved it..

SCSA stunner is a good example.. Especially in his interviews post career,we all knew a stone cold stunner was coming and we all enjoyed it.. SO yes a wrestlers finisher is definitely important.. From the greatest Spear delivered by Goldberg,and Romans Superman Punch and Spear to Ortons RKO! BTW you can just see how happy he gets when he is about to deliver it,makes us the audience enjoy the product even more

 

[baufan2025]

They used to mean something. Now though in a ppv and Raw match it seems like finishers get kicked out of more than anything. Back in the day if you kicked out of one you were a real bad a because it was rare.