10 Wrestling Finishers That Were Successfully Used In Pro MMA Fights
Piledrivers are banned in MMA too - this is why.
Watching incredible athletes perform awe-inspiring maneuvers is one of several reasons so many people enjoy the genre of entertainment that is professional wrestling.
While the results may be pre-determined, most of us know by now that the men and women performing can (and often do) suffer serious injuries; of course, many of these injuries are the result of a maneuver being executed incorrectly or poor timing.
However, what most wrestling fans don't know is whether or not the moves they watch their favorite WWE Superstars perform week in and week out would actually work in a live combat situation.
Believe it or not, over the years, there have been several professional mixed martial artists who have used patented WWE finishers to hurt their opponents - and in some cases even win their respective fights.
Generally speaking, professional mixed martial artist shouldn't rely on a WWE-based arsenal to get the job done. That being said, a well-timed superkick can certainly catch an opponent off guard.
With that in mind, it's time to take a look at some WWE finishers that have done some serious damage inside an MMA cage.
10. The Rock Bottom: Travis Fullton Vs. Jeremy Bullock
The Rock Bottom is a finisher popularized by 'The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment,' Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. Booker T also used his own version of the move, which was dubbed the Book End.
The maneuver essentially involves grasping the opponent's shoulder, hoisting them in the air (or having them jump), and then dropping them on their back.
In 1998, at Extreme Challenge 22, a mixed martial artist by the name of Travis Fulton decided to use a modified version of the Rock Bottom against a local martial arts teacher named Jeremy 'The Taekwondo Kid' Bullock. It worked remarkably well.
Fulton, who would go on to have a respectable career, made short work of 'The Taekwondo Kid.' In fact, he literally picked Bullock up off the mat, hoisted him in the air, and proceeded to execute a Rock Bottom that would make 'The People's Champ' tip his cap.
The move actually earned Fulton a TKO victory. Moreover, his opponent had to be carted off on a stretcher. Fortunately, the Taekwondo instructor would go on to make a full recovery.