Least Favorite Wrestling Move/Strike in Pro Wrestling

[Death From Above]

That weird thing in so many lucha matches where two guys shoulder bump then one guy starts running the ropes for no discernible reason. It leads to all sorts of cool shit but it's the dumbest, laziest, most non-sensical way to get to that cool shit I can imagine.

[subatomic_elbow]

Anything from the wheelbarrow position.

[Mad Dog]

I don't at all like the springboard/handspring cutter used by Jay Lethal and Will Ospreay.

This is the worst. It doesn't even look like it would hurt let alone finish a match.

[van_Fair]

 

I don't at all like the springboard/handspring cutter used by Jay Lethal and Will Ospreay.

 

This is the worst. It doesn't even look like it would hurt let alone finish a match.

Besides all of his other obvious faults his finisher probably makes up 60% of the reason why I have not interest in watching Lethals matches.

 

The Spring Board Cutter is easily the worst move in wrestling to me. The whole set up just removes the Cutters/Ace Crusher/RKO/Whatever else biggest advantage in that there are so many positions it can be applied out of, the whole "Outta Nowhere" thing. With the handspring the other guy just stands there like an idiot for like 30 seconds.

[Mad Dog]

At least with something dumb like the Canadian Destroyer it looks cool. I can forgive a dumb move if it's a cool visual. The springboard cutter just looks dumb and it gets botched in some way 9 times out of 10.

 

It's a shame with Lethal. He had some really great matches with Jarrett and Sting because they would force him to pace himself. I also thought his best work was as Black Machismo.

[Tim Cooke]

That weird thing in so many lucha matches where two guys shoulder bump then one guy starts running the ropes for no discernible reason. It leads to all sorts of cool shit but it's the dumbest, laziest, most non-sensical way to get to that cool shit I can imagine.

Check the lucha rules thread and read Steve Sims write up on shoulder bump - actually talks about why it is done

[Iron Anderson]

A lot of stuff in the last 15/20yrs that involve tables, ladders, chairs, etc. it just looks so bad when driving to the destination. I guess this doesn't fall under the op? but it really has stood out over the last several years and it's bad. I guess it comes down to the table spots. Just awful stuff.

[Matt D]

Any move that requires an overblown announcement, like The People's Elbow, Sweet Chin Music, The Worm, Superman Punch, whatever that dumb thing Zach Ryder does is, Five Knuckle Shuffle, etc.

I feel like we need to poke at this a bit.

[supremebve]

I think all of Cena's "finishers" are pretty shitty. The AA is a glorified fireman's carry takedown. His STF looks like his opponent could fall asleep in it. That springboard stunner was botched 98% of the time he tried it. Every time someone complains about the Rainmaker, I just want to say "That isn't even close to the worst main even finisher." I think John Cena is the wrestler who I hate the most about, but I love the most. He's essentially the drunk uncle of wrestling.

[Al]

 

 

Any move that requires an overblown announcement, like The People's Elbow, Sweet Chin Music, The Worm, Superman Punch, whatever that dumb thing Zach Ryder does is, Five Knuckle Shuffle, etc.

I feel like we need to poke at this a bit.

I don't mind cartoonish mannerisms. But a move shouldn't require a wrestler laying prone for so long that you could've just pinned him in that time.

[TheU_2001]

Ok, I hadn't seen much of Jay Lethal recently, and the move is called the "Lethal Injection, " which is being referred to earlier by some. I agree, his move (handspring cutter), does make his opponent look really dumb. So I see the argument there.

 

Most of Cena's moves are also pretty bad, along with the ones I had originally mentioned as well. Current move I hate the most is still the Superman punch to me though. Reigns' entire move set irritates me, but that's the worst of it.

 

I went to the NXT show in Portland this past Saturday, and No Way Jose's punch finisher is also dumb for the record, but man was he over with the crowd.

[Gutenberger]

I like Sweet Chin Music. Yes, it has a long announcement, but if failed most of the time, anyway. But I much more liked the sudden execution which could come out of nowhere. Best example would be Survivor Series '09, where the Triple Threat starts with it. Out of nowhere!

[El-P]

 

Any move that requires an overblown announcement, like The People's Elbow, Sweet Chin Music, The Worm, Superman Punch, whatever that dumb thing Zach Ryder does is, Five Knuckle Shuffle, etc.

I feel like we need to poke at this a bit.

 

I've been saying this for years. The Worm is hideous. At least the People's Elbow looks cool because of the Rock's maneurisms and the Mutaesque snap. Cena's version with the shitty fist-drop is ridiculous.

[Laz]

The Figure 8 is the first one that popped into my mind. I understand how its suppose to be 'cute' and an extension of a legacy, but doesn't the elevation actually lessen the pain?

It's following the same principle as a Boston Crab, pulling back on the legs to add pressure. It changes the angle of the pull on the targeted leg, effectively enhancing the amount of pain it produces.

[Laz]

Fuck the Stroke. Worse finish I've ever seen.

[El-P]

Fuck the Stroke. Worse finish I've ever seen.

 

One of them, clearly. It's amazing that a veteran like Jarrett would just not have the sense to understand thet it looked like shit.

[supremebve]

 

The Figure 8 is the first one that popped into my mind. I understand how its suppose to be 'cute' and an extension of a legacy, but doesn't the elevation actually lessen the pain?

It's following the same principle as a Boston Crab, pulling back on the legs to add pressure. It changes the angle of the pull on the targeted leg, effectively enhancing the amount of pain it produces.

 

Most wrestling submissions don't make sense, how is the Figure 8 the one people are hung up on? It doesn't make sense to be in a sleeper for more than about 10 seconds. Trying to work over a guys arm with an armbar is also stupid, just break it and end the match. Why is a single leg crab a leg submission, but a Boston crab is a back submission? A short arm scissors(which is called a bicep slicer in submission grappling) can legit destroy your arm much worse than most submissions. The Figure 8 isn't any more or less logical than the rest of those things, especially when you couldn't put a figure four on anyone who wasn't unconscious already to begin with.

[superkix]

I'm getting pretty tired of the double footstomps. Rarely do they look good (I think Low-Ki's is one of the better looking ones) but they just keep popping up like the Backstabber, especially in Japan.

[supremebve]

I'm getting pretty tired of the double footstomps. Rarely do they look good (I think Low-Ki's is one of the better looking ones) but they just keep popping up like the Backstabber, especially in Japan.

I agree with this 100%, and it seems like a move that is needlessly dangerous. Someone is going to shatter an ankle and we're going to get a Sid Justice(Vicious) situation.

[ragemaster]

Single person flap jack, its a two man move for fuck sake, even worse when someone uses it on there own in a tag team match.

[funkdoc]

i've seen the argument before that Cena's STF is that loose on purpose, so kids won't kill each other if they imitate it. like maybe he hinted at that in an interview or something? i forget exactly

[GOTNW]

Torture Rack and every quasi-submission that involves one wrestler picking the other up and then doing absolutely nothing to him. Atlantis' version is the only one that looks good.

[C.S.]

i've seen the argument before that Cena's STF is that loose on purpose, so kids won't kill each other if they imitate it. like maybe he hinted at that in an interview or something? i forget exactly

 

I've seen that too. So my question is, why use it at all? Surely he can find other moves that look better and would be safer for kids to practice on each other.

[ragemaster]

More of an execution issue than a move issue, but i hate it when a wrestler does a snapmare and doesn't drop to one knee when performing the move.

90% of wrestlers do this, they the grab the head and do the motion of a snapmare and the other guy bumps.

Then to make matters worse, they then drop down to one knee and then put on a head lock.

Should be done in one motion, looks like crap otherwise.

Also make it easier for the wrestler taking the bump.

​

[Noah's_Savior]

I hate Dean's rebound clothesline, he does it too often and it never looks good.