The Most Over-used Signature Moves

[Mr Wrestling X]

Modern WWE is a bad offender when it comes to over-using (and re-using) signature moves. At one stage in the last couple of years, Edge, Batista and Big Show were using the Spear as a signature move. Most recently, it seems that WWE has taken a fascination in using the Jumping Complete Shot and it's a move that has been quickly placed on another wrestler following the previous wrestler leaving the company. It's even extended to reverse variations of the move (which look awkward and are easily bothced) in the cases of Heath Slater (Sweetness) and Dolph Ziggler (Zig Zag).

 

In the past, a signature move was a move that was only associated with the wrestler that performed it. The finishing move was just as much a part of the wrestler as the character that they played. It was a move that other wrestlers - even those in rival promotions, wouldn't go near as part of the unwritten code of honor that existed in wrestling then (and still does to a degree today).

 

At some point in the early 1990's, things changed and it became common for newer wrestlers to re-use the finishing moves of the past. Eventually, these moves became so commonplace that they became regular moves in the arsenal of many wrestlers. The DDT, Leg Drop and Sleeperhold are just a few examples of the many moves that have been phased out from signature status in the vast majority of cases.

 

In Puro, it's a different story - one that mainly comes down to a wrestler "retiring" a signature move. In the case of Keiji Mutoh, he gave up using the Moonsault on a regular basis because it was knackering his knees. As a result, the move became fair game for others to use. The same goes for Jushin Liger and the SSP, presumably for similar reasons as Mutoh. Both still use the move on an occasional basis, but the moves have become practically world known and can be seen used regulary in pretty much every promotion.

 

Thoughts?

[smkelly]

The powerbomb and chokeslam come to mind for big guys.

[jdw]

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John

[FLIK]

It was a move that other wrestlers - even those in rival promotions, wouldn't go near as part of the unwritten code of honor that existed in wrestling then (and still does to a degree today).

Eh, you're kinda stretching here. Not using the same sig move within the same promotion is fairly common but things have always been open for guys in other feds.

 

In the case of Keiji Mutoh, he gave up using the Moonsault on a regular basis because it was knackering his knees. As a result, the move became fair game for others to use.

There were ppl doing moonsaults in Japan before Muta came along and countless ppl doing them all over Japan at the exact same time he was at his peak. Once Mutoh finally did give it up that didn't open things up for anyone and when he switched to the Shining Wizard aproximately 900 thousand billion million and 1 ppl stole that move from him.

[jdw]

In Puro, it's a different story - one that mainly comes down to a wrestler "retiring" a signature move. In the case of Keiji Mutoh, he gave up using the Moonsault on a regular basis because it was knackering his knees. As a result, the move became fair game for others to use. The same goes for Jushin Liger and the SSP, presumably for similar reasons as Mutoh. Both still use the move on an occasional basis, but the moves have become practically world known and can be seen used regulary in pretty much every promotion.

As FLIK says, lots of other people did moonsaults in puroresu even while Mutoh was doing it. Kobashi? Toyota used it. Others.

 

In All Japan, both Misawa and Kroffat used the Tiger Driver.

 

Power bomb? In All Japan in the 90s you had Tenryu, Gordy, Hansen, Jumbo, Kawada and Kobashi doing basic versions of it. Doc had the Doctor Bomb. Taue early in the decade came down on his knees, then later moved to the Dynamic Bomb which was a sit down version like the Doctor Bomb. Lots of others. For some, like Jumbo, it wasn't even a signature spot or a routine finisher... but just one of many he used. For Kobashi... he did all sorts of different versions of power bombs.

 

John

[KrisZ]

DDT

[KanadianKrusty]

Sadly, the spinebuster. It's not as bad as it used to be but it's still kinda all over the place and very few guys pull it off perfectly, which makes it worse.

[MikeCampbell]

My memory is probably exagerating it, but it seemed like every ROH show 2002-early 2004 or so would feature at least two or three spots where someone would get overhead suplexed into the corner.

[tomk]

In the past, a signature move was a move that was only associated with the wrestler that performed it. The finishing move was just as much a part of the wrestler as the character that they played. It was a move that other wrestlers - even those in rival promotions, wouldn't go near as part of the unwritten code of honor that existed in wrestling then (and still does to a degree today).

 

Thoughts?

 

When was this true?

Fritz von Erich, Mulligan and Rashcke used the claw.

Scott Irwin, Steamboat, Dynamite Kid and Bob Orton Jr used a superplex.

Dusty and Abby and others did a big elbow drop.

Austin Idol, Grege Valentine, Jack Brisco, Paul Ordorf, Buddy Landell all were billed as masters of the Figure Four.

Mr Wrestling II and Jake Robers and a binch of other guys mastered the knee lift.

Ordorf, Bob Sweetan, Ron Garvin and a ton of guys used a piledriver.

Matt Borne, Morales, Dundee all used that top rope buttdrop thing.

KokoB Ware, Jimmy Garvin, Killer Karl Kox and other folk used a brainbuster.

Kabuki and Chris Adams used a superkick.

Masked Superstar, Bobby Eaton, Honky Tonk Man and a bunch of other folk used a swinging neckbreaker.

 

The WWF always limited guys to where only Bob Orton used the superplex and when the someone like the Bulldogs used a move that "belonged to someone else (DDT or superplex it) would be a "whatamaneuver", "I don't know what to call that".

 

But I don't think there has been some sort of change from a period where moves "belonged to one guy" to a one where they don't.

[El-P]

Austin Idol, Grege Valentine, Jack Brisco, Paul Ordorf, Buddy Landell all were billed as masters of the Figure Four.

Add Tito Santana.

 

The Fabulous Freebirds and Arn Anderson used the DDT as a finisher in 90. Which was a good way to compare. Arn = great. Garvin = good. Hayes = shitty.

[Negro Suave]

It's a more a matter of making sure you don't see the same spot a million times on a card which happens all too often on the indy circuit (im guilty of this as well)

 

To a point it makes sense, we don't need to have 3000 moonsaults on a card Especially if you have a guy who's big spot is a moonsault. On the flip side at least on the Indy's you have a bunch of guys who are trying to stand out among a field of hundreds in their area in order to hopefully make a buck so these things get tossed by the wayside.

 

 

In a bigger promotion it really depends on who it is. The Pedigree is super protected as was the Sweet Chin Music (Balls Mahoney told me of a time where he wasn't thinking and did a superkick as a non finishing move and the Undertaker warned him 'Don't do that to Shawn') but really its generally up to the wrestlers and road agents to police themselves.

 

Either way finishers have generally been shared especially the simpler ones.

*EDIT*

 

I figured I should actually LIST some overused finishers and signature moves

 

Shining Wizard (guilty)

Super Kick

Enziguri (also Guilty)

Leg Lariat

Lungblower(Also guilty... geez)

Spear

Ace Crusher(including stunner variants)

Standing Moonsaults

 

That's all I can think about off the top of my head

[Coffey]

Diamond Cutters, Superkicks and Spears are all Indies seem to be lately. Especially when you get mother-fuckers like the Young Bucks in there.