10 Most Copied Finishing Moves In Wrestling History
5. The Figure-4 Leglock
The Figure-Four has, unfortunately suffered from a terrible fall from grace, especially in Japan. Once revered as a devastating submission hold that brought victory to the likes of Buddy Rogers, Ric Flair and , the Great Muta, the Figure-4 has become nothing more than a commonplace rest-hold. It’s now more commonplace in some promotions to see a wrestler slap on a Figure-4 Leglock without much build whatsoever and use it as a rest-hold instead of a match-ending maneuver.
The reason for this is that the influence of MMA and shoot-style wrestling in Japan has led to more theatrical holds like the Figure-4 becoming perceived as weaker, and when videos of this move being treated that way reach the United States and elsewhere, the popular image of the hold becomes weaker.
This, in turn, devalues the presentation of the maneuver, which leads to it no longer being seen as an effective maneuver; which prevents subsequent users (like the Miz, for example) from getting over by using the legendary hold.
Nevertheless, many people have still tried to become successful by adopting the Figure-4 Leglock as their finisher. These people include: A.J. Styles, Greg Valentine, Dean Ambrose, Naomichi Marufuji, and Stardust. Needless to say, if any of these men found success in emulating the move that made Flair famous, they’d still be using it today.