Winning with signature moves (not finishers)

[foxboi2008]

Hey guys.

I know there is a veritable wealth of wrasslin' knowledge here. So, here's a good question. When have wrestlers won important matches using their signature moves (moves that are important to their offense/moves leading up to their finishers) instead of their finishers?

I can think of two, but they're not very specific.

1. Undertaker beating Hulk Hogan at JD 2002 with a choke slam. Side note: This match was terrible. There's one part where Hogan sort of sandbags 'Taker when he's doing a choke slam and it looks like a mini choke slam. Lawlz.

2. HBK winning a match using his Picture Perfect Elbow Drop. I can't remember who it was, but I'm sure he did it.

Any other examples?

[jamin90]

Benoit beating MVP at WM with the Headbutt

[foxboi2008]

Good call. ^_^;

[Macho Dude Handy Damage]

jamin90 said:

He who shall be named beating MVP at WM with the Headbutt

Fixed


I just couldn't resist

[mainsupreme]

Kane beating people with a chokeslam before it became his finisher (first it was a tombstone)

[jamin90]

Hardy beating Umaga with the Whisper in the Wind...or does that not count cause he did it off a cage?

[foxboi2008]

It counts. Good call. ^_^;

[bitteroldman]

Where does Hogan figure into this? He used a clothesline to set up his leg drop here in the U.S but in Japan it's his finisher (axe bomber).

[Bobby Womack]

does the rock bottom count?

[TeeJ]

When RVD won during the ECW invasion of RAW back in 1996 or 97 (Whenever it was) with the split legged moonsault

[Sumbody Gon' Get Dey Kneelift]

Dude, more. This thread is awesome.

[Arthur Digby Stamp]

I remember one match in particular where the Undertaker beat Big Show with a running DDT, and I think it was on Raw a LONG time ago.

[cactusrob]

And undertaker winning with the gogoplata (the choke) a few times recently.

[Marvelously Mediocre]

RVD has won with the Van Daminator before

[Lawless66007]

Kurt Angle's Ankle Lock.

[SassovsHart]

Has Matt Hardy ever won with the Side Effect? The crowds always seem to buy into it when he gets a near fall with that move, but I can't remember if he's ever won a match with it. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I, knows the answer.

[Slammywinner]

The Rock won a few matches as champ with the Sharpshooter.

Also, I remember face Bob Backlund would win with all sorts of roll-ups and bridges. He didn't really use the crossface chickenwing until he turned heel. For that matter, Razor beat him at WM9 with a roll-up.

Bret Hart would win all the time with an inside cradle. I remember especially that he beat both Roddy Piper for the IC title and Diesel for the World title like that. Watch his DVD. In a big match, it seems like he would win more often like that than with his sharpshooter.

[Big Daddy Bad Booking]

slammywinner said:

Bret Hart would win all the time with an inside cradle. I remember especially that he beat both Roddy Piper for the IC title and Diesel for the World title like that. Watch his DVD. In a big match, it seems like he would win more often like that than with his sharpshooter.

Touche. But also notice that in both of those matches he was the man being picked apart, beaten up, and with Piper, bloodied. Bret won with a like a bulldog-cradle-pin with Piper, and he countered out of the Jackknife against Diesel into the small package, making that win seem kind of like a fluke.

[mcmxzyptlk]

Slightly OT, but this makes me think.

You gotta wonder what wrestlers are thinking when they're caught in a finisher like the Twist of Fate or the Fishergirl Buster. Shouldn't they at least struggle to get out before it's too late?

[The Peoples Elbow]

jamin90 said:

Benoit beating MVP at WM with the Headbutt

Are you sure it wasn't called the Brainscrambler? Too soon? Yeah, too soon. ;D