10 Incredible Wrestling FIRSTS You Didn't Know About

5. The First Instance Of Finisher Theft

First ladder match
WWE

Finisher theft is a common trope in pro wrestling.

Really, it happens so frequently because it generates a pop (which is why everything in wrestling happens). In the hands of the most capable, it can still mean something.

The Rock and Steve Austin stole one another's finishers during their legendary rivalry because it put over the immense level of competition. They were so close as rivals - the 1 and A of top stars in the WWF - that they had to resort to using one another's arsenals just to gain an advantage. CM Punk and Hangman Page attempted this to less successful effect at Double Or Nothing 2022.

Punk has done this very well in the past, however; at WrestleMania 29, he generated an all-timer of a near-fall by attempting to put the Undertaker away with the Tombstone. He had redefined the 'Streak' in such an effective way. The doubt had long since been extinguished; Punk was clever enough to make the fans hope that he'd lose instead.

He drew influence from Tatsumi Fujinami here, who, as part of his profoundly influential series with Riki Choshu nailed his rival with their own Scorpion deathlock. This was a fantastic eye-for-an-eye spot.

Their rivalry was premised on transgression, with Choshu raging against the established New Japan order; Fujinami in a great and novel spot told him to f*ck off right back with a disrespectful gesture of his own.

Contributor
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!