100 Best Wrestling Moves EVER
100. Bret Hart | Punch
Just about every match has one and just about every wrestler has to learn to throw and sell one, but the worked punch remains a timeless source of contention and consternation amongst the most hardcore of wrestling fans.
Terry Funk and Jerry Lawler are often held up as the best practitioners, and this entry certainly won’t try and argue otherwise, but in the same way he strived to be the best at absolutely everything between the ropes, Bret Hart did his very best to make you think every single blow was excellently executed.
Like all of his offence, his punch was and still is grounded in subtlety and believability. It’s all about the mechanics, because of course it is; the snap of his arm, the way his fist connects at just the right angle, the sharp recoil that gives the illusion of force without compromising safety, and the impact being felt regardless of the selling ability of his opponent.
Bret sells the punch not just with his arm but with his whole body, no matter how his victim moves in the aftermath. His shoulders and torso rotate slightly, lending the motion a natural flow that simultaneously mimics a legitimate boxing strike while feeling intrinsically pro-wrestling. The timing, naturally, is impeccable too - delivered with speed and fluidity, his strikes land in seamless rhythm with the match’s pacing, ensuring they feel organic rather than choreographed.