10 Things That Have Lost All Meaning In WWE

6. Finishing Moves

WWE Universal Title
WWE.com

Of all the things WWE have ran into the ground over the years, few have lost their importance quite like finishing moves.

A wrestler’s signature manoeuvre used to be a certified killshot. When they hit it, you could be 99% sure the match was over, and finisher kick-outs were so few and far between that each one felt like a huge moment, and practically guaranteed an explosion of shock from the audience.

Nowadays, barely a big match passes without one competitor kicking out of the other’s biggest move. Fans have seen it so many times that these moments no longer feel significant, and the trope's value as a storytelling tool has been lost. WWE's biggest matches always seem to drift into an endless stream of finisher kick-outs, and while this can still build to an exciting conclusion (see: John Cena vs. AJ Styles), it only makes the aggressor look weak.

The most effective way to reliably win in WWE’s main event scene appears to be by spamming finishers over and over again. False finishes have become the norm, and the moves themselves have lost all credibility through their complete lack of protection, making it hard to view them as effective match-enders anymore.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.