10 Best Finishers In Wrestling Today

4. Will Ospreay: The Storm Breaker

RKO Luke Harper
New Japan World

Will Ospreay used the Oscutter as a finish in the not too distant past; a spectacular, aerial adaptation of the cutter, it nonetheless required a noticeable hesitation and cooperation on the part of his opponent. The finisher reflected his perception among his detractors; Ospreay was undoubtedly a phenomenal athlete, but his work was often transparent in its pursuit of the pop.

2019 saw a shift in this reception. Ospreay won many of those detractors over with his advanced storytelling craft, hulking physique, and the richer psychology underpinning his new finisher.

The Storm Breaker reflects his evolution from junior heavyweight to aspirational heavyweight, from crowd-pleaser to artist. The move starts from an underhook position; from there, showcasing the evolution of his strength, he hoists his opponent onto his shoulders before plunging them to the canvas with several twisting rotations. It looks at once spectacular and incredibly effective; his opponents circle the drain before being driven, head-first, to certain defeat.

Unique and protected, the victims of the Storm Breaker are sickened and killed off, rendering this a serious infection of a move; a fitting subversion of form from the once-divisive viral performer.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!