10 Once-Devastating Finishers That Just Don't Work Anymore

Offensive maneuvers in wrestling are in a constant state of evolution. What was once considered a finisher, is today's transitional move. Such is the subject of this list; wrestling moves that were once considered to be the ultimate neutralizer, that simply no longer have the same impact.

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It's important to remember that WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race actually used a simple vertical suplex as a finisher, which is virtually unfathomable in today's wrestling landscape. Therefore, while it's entirely practical that it takes more innovation and effort to put your opponent away in modern wrestling, it also compromises some of the greatest offensive concepts in the history of the sport.

10 Lariat

Popularized by names such as Riki Choshu, and Stan Hansen, the lariat was once considered to be one of the most physically punishing moves in the sport. Barry Windham would use his own version in the 80s, but it was arguably JBL who perfected the move, christening it the Clothesline From Hell.

It really is just a simple clothesline, albeit delivered with deliberate and maximum impact. The closest thing we see to it in the modern age is Hangman Page's Buckshot Lariat. However, Page actually had to add a flip-over-the-top-rope in order to modernize the move.

9 Hurricanrana/Frankensteiner

It's funny to think that the staple of Lucha Libre, was actually popularized by the muscle-bound Scott Steiner. For those who remember seeing Scotty use it in his early days, it was a sensational sight.

Now, of course, it's typically a spot within the course of a longer sequence. Like many entries on this list, the hurricanrana has been both a blessing and a curse for the wrestling business. It was paramount for legends such as Rey Mysterio, but it's also been overused and subsequently devalued.

8 Moonsault

Much like the hurricanrana, the moonsault is considered a cornerstone of aerial-based wrestling. Originated by The Great Muta, the moonsault would go on to become one of the most ubiquitous moves in all of wrestling. Everyone from Vader to Lita would utilize it as a finisher, and a wrestler's athletic ability was often measured by whether they could execute one properly.

Even Terry Funk started to use it, late in his career. These days, the moonsault is still quite prevalent, Charlotte has an awe-inspiring version for example, but it's rarely if ever used as a finish, with the exception of Iyo Sky of course.

7 Sharpshooter

To be fair, the Sharpshooter was actually borrowed from Sting by Bret Hart, with the former calling it the Scorpion Death Lock. It's hard to argue the hold has become synonymous with The Hitman though. Or has it? Since The Rock began using it as a signature spot, the move has been adopted by Hart's seemingly endless parade of admirers or worse, every wrestler from Canada.

Outside of Natalya, there is no modern wrestler who actually beats anyone with the Sharpshooter, although seemingly 30% of wrestlers tend to use it.

6 450 Splash

For those of us who remember seeing 2 Cold Scorpio use the 450 Splash on an installment of WCW's Clash Of The Champions, it was a breathtaking moment. For years, wrestlers like Juventud Guerrera would use the move to great effect as a finisher, but now it is little more than a piece of someone's arsenal.

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AJ Styles for example, uses a beautiful version of the 450 but hasn't actually beaten anyone with it in recent memory. Ricochet has taken it to another level, by adding an additional rotation, and cleverly calling it the 630 Splash. But once again, it's an example of a wrestler having to go the extra mile to achieve the same result.

5 Shooting Star Press

The topic of the Shooting Star Press is a somewhat loaded one. It is one of the most dazzling moves in wrestling history but has also proven to be a dangerous one. Originated by the great Jushin Liger, the move was first introduced to American audiences by Billy Kidman. Many smaller-based wrestlers have used it as a finisher and rightfully so.

It's hard to forget the night when Brock Lesnar attempted one and almost lost his life in the process. These days, it seems as if most Shooting Star Press attempts come from a standing position, rather than the top rope.

4 DDT

One of the most simple but effective moves in wrestling is none other than the DDT. Invented by the diabolical Jake Roberts, the DDT was highly protected in its formative years. Jake wouldn't allow anyone to kick out of it, and as a result, he became a major draw, along with his snake handler gimmick.

Gradually enough though, the allure of using it as a transitional spot, or to garner a crowd reaction, became too much to resist. Jim Ross recently went on record, as saying that he wishes the DDT still actually meant something.

3 Superkick

The debate over this entry could and should go much deeper than we have space or time for here. It was Shawn Michaels who perfected the move, but it was "Gentlemen" Chris Adams, who invented it. It's such a cool visual, sudden, and audible, that an entire generation of wrestlers adapted it into their arsenal.

Most critics point to The Young Bucks as the most serious violators of overusing the Superkick, but truth be told, they've actually won some matches with it. These days, it's harder to find a wrestler who doesn't use some variation of the Superkick, than ones who do.

2 Destroyer

Imagine if someone had told you upon first seeing Petey Williams use the Canadian Destroyer, that it would one day just become a transitional spot in a match, how incredulous you would likely be. That is exactly where we are though. The "Destroyer," as it has unfairly come to be known, is simply a signature move at best.

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The fact that the Destroyer has become so commonplace, actually downplays how dangerous it truly is. Look no further than the gruesome injury that Dante Martin recently suffered as a result of taking it, and you will be reminded of just how underestimated this one has become.

1 Piledriver

This might be a slightly controversial pick for the top entry because the Piledriver has actually been banned by WWE in the past. However, it was its excessive overuse that contributed to its abolishment. The Piledriver is a move that should only be executed by certain individuals who are hyper-aware of its risk factor.

Nevertheless, even if the Piledriver were to be allowed to become a regular in modern wrestling, and in some ways, it has, it still wouldn't be regarded with the same level of sensitivity. There is no move other than the Piledriver that history has unfortunately denigrated.