Who has the best finisher, for their character, ever?

[Mudlup50]

I wasn't sure how to phrase it, but what I mean is when a superstars finisher is so perfect for their character. My top 3 examples are:

1. Edge-Spear. When he had the ultimate opportunist gimmick the spear was absolutely perfect for him. All it would take is the slightest distraction and bam, Edge wins. He isn't the first to use it, doesn't do it the best and he won't be the last, but it suited his gimmick so well!

2. Lesnar-F5. I feel like it's the most dominant looking move ever. A lot of finishers look like they wouldn't hurt, but the F5 looks like it'd break your neck. Plus the firemans carry, then he spins you like you're a sack of potatoes, just shows off how powerful he is. I don't think Lesnar would look as dominant with any other finishing move!

3. Mick Foley/Cactus Jack/Dude Love/Mankind-Mandible Claw. Mick Foley made his career on getting his ass handed to him. Half of his gimmicks are basically the crazy dude who won't die. The mandible claw is in my opinion the perfect representation of this. He wedges his hand into your jaw(I'm really not sure what he does aside from that) it just looks like something you'd do if you were crazy and had given up on actually fighting, all you wanna do is break their jaw. It just works for his character so well.

 

[relentless1]

Tombstone fits the undertaker like a glove. The way the move is done is perfecty described by the name and it fits in the theme of taker perfectly.

 

[Mustangs_2]

I wouldbhave to say.....


Kurt Angle/The ankle lock
Angle has made a career on being a submission specialist. And with the ankle lock angle can put it on from just about everywhere. Someone could try to drop kick and he could catch it and put them in an ankle lock. He also sells it really well for it just being a submission.

 

[SinCityBlitz]

I loved Jake Roberts DDT. He made it look so lethal. It is a move that could be used on anyone no matter how big or small.

 

[boozinjedi]

I loved Jake Roberts DDT. He made it look so lethal. It is a move that could be used on anyone no matter how big or small.

Not to mention the fact that he could literally pull it out of nowhere!!

 

[The Butcher]

The Sharpshooter was ideal for Bret Hart. The name suited the "Hitman" gimmick, naturally, and the move itself fit with Bret's technical moveset.

Same goes for the Perfect Plex. Plus the way it was put over for so long as unbreakable when applied by Mr. Perfect took his gimmick to the next level.

Agreed on Tombstone and DDT.

 

[Hem]

Right now I think the Very European Uppercut suits Cesaro very well since he is the swiss superman and that move comes across as a beast.

Rey Mysterio and the 619 is also pretty good because I feel he's the only guy in wrestling that it suits.

Randy Orton is a beast with the RKO and Punk. The fact that he can pull the RKO out of nowhere is just awesome.

HBK always looked good doing the elbow from the top rope, kinda fit his character.

The Undertakers tombstone, no explanation needed.

 

[Wrestlingaholic]

F5 hands down, one of my favourite moves, brute strength and vicious power all in one move, fits Lesnar to a tee.

Didn't like Edge's spear, to me wrestling is better when it's believable; Edge's slight frame (for a wrestler) didn't lend believability to the move, especially when he used it against the likes of Batista and the Undertaker.

 

[OldSchoolWrestlingFan]

The key phrase to me in this question is "FOR THEIR CHARACTER" - I think there are far greater finishers than the Tombstone pile driver, but you couldn't ask for a finisher to fit a character better than it does w/ Taker.

I also have to give credit to Goldberg for making the spear what it has become - at the time (even though I despised him) when he would hit the spear it would make the entire arena pop. It truly fit his hard hitting, ex football player persona. So I think that he has to be a close second.

An honorable mention for me is Dean Ambrose - his weird, reverse DDT thing he does fits him perfectly because he isn't your normal cookie cutter wrestler so the fact he takes a well known move and makes it his own just fits his persona.

 

[Stingersplash89]

Three words. Stone cold stunner

 

[Bobbywoodhogan]

Some of my favourites:

Bret Hart - Sharpshooter, as far as submission holds go nothing beats this, it looks cool and I know from experience it hurts like hell. Hart did it better than anyone, most people who do it always make it look lazy (here's looking at you Sting) you can tell there's no pressure been applied but when Hart did it it looked like it really hurt.

DDP - Diamond Cutter, the thing I like most about the diamond cutter is DDP used to pull it out from everywhere. Also it has to be associated with some of the biggest pops in history (e.g. La Parka incident). Such a great looking manoeuvre too.

Hulk Hogan - Legdrop, has to be associated with everything in the buildup to it. The Hulk up, the punches, the big boot and then finally Legdrop. I've heard people say it wouldn't hurt but it sure as hell looks like it does. The big pop that usually goes with it and the way the crowd interacts is what makes it so special.

Goldberg - Spear/Jackhammer combo, is there a louder pop in wrestling that Goldberg's spear? My god that thing used to tear the house down. The spear was most effective when it was done with the big run up (few of the out of nowhere spears just didn't look right). Just when you thought he was done after that he'd then get the guy up for the jackhammer, most impressive has to be when he picked up the Giant for it. Just wow! Great combo!

 

[Wolf Pac]

These 3 finishers have already been mentioned but I've got them in mind for 3 other wrestlers too.

Ken Shamrock (Ankle Lock) - Shamrock is the innovator of the move and I love Angle's version too, but Shamrock's version looked more dangerous than Kurt's. At times, it looked he would legitimately snap and break his opponent's ankle, which fit his submission style of fighting and his moniker as The's World Most Dangerous Man.

Raven (Evenflow DDT) - Raven's gimmick is a (grunge) tribute to his mentor, Jake Roberts, from his weird, dark personality down to the DDT. I'm also guessing he named his finisher after the Pearl Jam song.

Rhino (Gore!) - His name's Rhino, he's built like a rhino, rhinos gore/spear, still don't get it?

I'll try to think of different finishers that haven't been mentioned yet.

 

[OYDK]

Big Show- KO Punch: 7 ft, 500 pounds, straight right hook to the chin... No matter who you are, you're going out.

Stone Cold- Stunner/ Randy Orton- RKO: I'll put both of these guys together because my reasoning is much the same for both. The stunner and the RKO can literally come up and strike you out of anywhere, much like a Viper or a Rattlesnake could, and both are so sudden. Perfect for their gimmicks.

Viscera- Big Splash: Man, I used to cringe every time he splashed somebody, but his size made this the perfect finisher for him.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

It has to be the Tombstone Piledriver.

The way 'Taker holds his opponent upside down and then drives them headfirst into the canvas before crossing the arms across the opponents limb body and posing with his eyes rolled back in his head and tongue out is PERFECT for the whole character.

It's a move that just looks devastating, and even the name is perfect.

 

[WBL]

Yokozuna.

Banzai Drop.

Using all that mass and girth he has at once. Mass and girth you need to be a sumo wrestler.

 

[JJohns]

Earthquake's "Earthquake Splash", especially when he did the jumps before it to get the ring "shaking"

Stan Hanson's "Lariat", his gimmick was that he was a hard hitting Texan. What better way to finish a guy than with a hard hitting clothesline.

Sgt. Slaughter's "Cobra Clutch", as a Marine Drill Instructor, one of the things he would be versed in is a choke hold.

 

[Slash-LN]

Love him or hate him Randy Orton with the RKO has to be one of the best if not the best. Especially since he's taken on the Viper persona. Because he can hit it from nowhere. It fits him all the way around. He waits for his moment and then attacks.

Credit goes to DDP for making me aware of the move with the Diamond Cutter and he used it in an excellent manor as well but if we're basing it on character alone I give it to Orton over Page.

 

[daddyJ_t]

fitting not exactly his style per se but his look is seth rollings curb stomp the man is a great athlete and technical and highflying(rare combo) but his look with the beard and big white streak in his hair he looks like a punk, and what do punks do in streeet fights? they curb stomp people.

 

[CrucifiedRaven]

Three words. Stone cold stunner

Exactly this.
The Stone Cold Stunner was and is still probably the most perfect finishing move. It can come out of nowhere, actually looks like it should knock you out, and is/was at the time a pretty unique and immediately recognizable move.
Now with that said, it was perfect for Austin. Especially when you factor in the double middle finger and kick to the gut. His character was unpredictable, ruthless and unique, just like his finisher.

 

[Kayfabe]

in keeping with the theme, the best finisher "for their character" - then you have to also mention the People's Elbow by the Rock.

a bombastic, ridiculous move performed by a bombastic, ridiculous personality. perfect fit.

 

[lowandmighty]

Earthquake. The earthquake splash. Jumping around the ring causing it to shake as if it were an earthquake and then crashing down on his opponent. Pure gold.

 

[Reflection]

Samoa Joe - Coqina Clutch: During the Samoan Submission Machine's 18-month undefeated streak, this was often the move that got the job done, along with the Muscle Buster. An unescapable submission from an unstoppable powerhouse.
Batista - Batista Bomb: The Batista Bomb perfectly suits the "Animal" character of Batista; the Spine Buster, the Ultimate Warrior tribute, the thumbs-down, and then the Batista Bomb- this is what comes to mind when we think of a Batista match.
Rob Van Dam - Five Star Frog Splash:: RVD defined 'Extreme' for many of us; someone that was incredibly fast, flexible, innovative, and never afraid of taking risks. The Five Star Frog Splash was all of that.
Team 3D - 3D This is the move that made them 25-or-so-time tag team champions. When a table is brought to the mix, it becomes one of the most anticipated moves ever. Dudleys, Tables, and the Dudley Death Drop- a perfect combination.

 

[The Warlord]

Jake "The Snake" Roberts

He would coil up with that short arm clothesline and then suddenly strike with the ddt (snap!)

1-2-3

The move by itself was awesome...For his character it was perfect!

 

[Freddy4190]

Kurt Angle: "Anklelock"
Dude was built around being a submission God, and he was able to hit this move on anyone, regardless of height, weight, girth, whatever. This move was so vicious, just like Angle. Fits him liiiiiike a gloooove.

Randy Orton: RKO/Punt

It's a tie for Orton's finishers because they're both perfect for him. The punt is just incredibly violent, incredible ruthless, just really dirty, dastardly move to do to a person. YOU JUST KICK THEM IN THE SIDE OF THE HEAD. That fits Orton great. The RKO can be hit outta nowhere, and we've seen him hit it in unbelievable situations, seen him hit it on chairs, cars, wood, steel, everything. Hard-hitting, impactful, just like Orton.