The latest Fourth Wall podcast is available right here (and also on iTunes), and after the Miz kicked out of an Attitude Adjustment on a mere episode of Raw this week, I thought it was important to discuss the slow and painful death of the finishing move.
Here’s what we came up with:
Pete: “This is one of those, ‘Back in my day...the finisher used to work’ conversations. The Miz kicked out of an Attitude Adjustment on Monday Night Raw. John Cena’s finisher. So if the Miz is kicking out of Attitude Adjustments—and I know we saw it with Roman Reigns, we always see it with Roman Reigns. He kicks out of finishers all the time. This is something that only used to happen on the big pay-per-views. Then it started happening on every pay-per-view. And now we’re getting false finishes on a week-by-week basis. Is the finisher dead, Zach?”
Zach: “It’s not dead, but it’s hurting. I think it’s a problem. I don’t like it. I think you have to protect those things. I think it’s all about setting bars of expectation. I think it’s consistency. It’s eating your vegetables, so the dessert is even better. It can’t all be dessert, and I think that’s what happens when you start doing these things. The line continues to move, and so that’s what we’re seeing happen here. I think it’s better to protect these things. I kind of like it when you don’t see the finisher all that often. I think that’s kind of cool—when seeing the finisher is still sort of rare. I think that’s kind of how it is with Seth (Rollins) and the Curb Stomp “Blackout” right now. You’re still not sure if you’re going to get it every match with him. And I think that’s cool. It makes it special when you do get it.”
Pete: “Maybe it’s just an old-school thing, but I just remember, if Bret Hart got that sharpshooter on, you were done. If you got Hulk Hogan’s leg drop, you were done. And there just was something about you were always looking for that move, and now, if it’s too early in a match, you’re just assuming they’re going to kick out of the other finisher. If you see a “Superman Punch,” even people are kicking out of that now. I just don’t know if I like the direction it’s going in. Maybe it is a strategy. Maybe they’re saying, ‘You know what, maybe in the Reality Era, some of these moves wouldn’t work to knock somebody out.’ Maybe that’s the direction they’re going in? It’s just odd to me, and it’s a definite change from the past. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I think as I’m talking about it, I don’t think I’ve even figured it out myself yet.”
Zach: “As we’re talking about it, I keep thinking about the end of Omega-Okada 1 and the finishers. They keep kicking out of finishers, but they get progressively more brutal. More brutal variations on each finisher, so each kickout seems bigger, because you’re like, ‘Surely, this must be it,’ as they build to that fever pitch with each kickout, that’s how it should go. Do you know what I mean?”
What do you think Cagesiders? Weigh in below.
Also, to listen to the full show, in which we discuss the segment of the year featuring Braun Strowman, John Cena’s clear Undertaker tease and how bad Smackdown is, use the player below or click here.