100 Best Wrestling Moves EVER
7. The Undertaker | Tombstone Piledriver
The Undertaker breathed an almighty sigh of relief in the mid-90s. Matches vs. Kevin Nash, Mick Foley and Bret Hart let him show off a side of himself that had been under lock and key since his 'Deadman' character debuted earlier in the decade. Spreading his wings, 'Taker started showing off flashy moves aplenty; including a cracking leaping clothesline, the famed (and slightly quicker) 'Old School' rope walk, dynamic chokeslams and more.
Nothing can come close to his Tombstone Piledriver though.
Others have used the move - Kane, mostly - but even 'Taker's kayfabe brother couldn't deliver the Tombstone with the same kind of panache as his mate. Everyone trusted The Undertaker to put them down carefully whilst protecting their neck and making it look like he'd just dropped them right on the top of their heads. Hardly any Tombstones, even on some of WWE's largest workers, looked half-baked or hokey. That speaks to the pride 'Taker had in his performance from day one.
Purists always appreciated the way he'd position opponents right above his knee caps before dropping. The legend was very careful about that. He wouldn't drop to his knees until he knew they were in exactly the right position. That's probably why 'Taker was so furious with Hulk Hogan when the big red and yellow menace alleged he'd been legit injured by the move in 1991.
The WWF's own footage proved that he was talking nonsense. The beauty of any successful piledriver comes from looking dangerous without actually endangering someone's life. Or, at least, mitigating the potential for disaster. Few were better at doing that than The Undertaker.