10 Fascinating Facts About Famous Wrestling Finishers

2. An Interesting Note On The Pepsi Plunge

Undertaker Last Ride Thumb
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Now, this could be disputed, but CM Punk might well hold the record for the longest gap between executing a finishing move - in a notable promotion, anyway.

CM Punk took seven years off from wrestling, having left WWE in 2014 and resurfaced in AEW in 2021. He never used his old Pepsi Plunge finish in WWE, however. It was murder on the knees, as well as a political impossibility. He couldn't even pitch the avalanche pedigree because what could he possibly say?

"Hey Triple H, I do a cooler version of your finish. Can I do it, or...?"

Triple H would have snorted, called him a skinny fat ass behind his back, and told every influential figure in earshot that he didn't know how to work.

Actually, he did that anyway.

Punk last used the Pepsi Plunge in 2005 at the latest. He used it - to magnificent effect - during his first match with MJF on AEW Dynamite in 2022. With his knees and shoulders f*cked, Punk, working towards the turnbuckles in plain sight, made it seem that he arrived at the spot organically and busted it out in a moment of desperate improvisation.

At least 17 full years apart, this is surely a record until Steve Austin returns - but reach out if you can do better!

 
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Contributor

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!