10 Times A Wrestler Did A Move Better Than The Innovator
6. The Ace Crusher
Exemplifying the old broken clock maxim, John Laurinaitis, the man who signed the wrong one-legged wrestler and effectively destroyed WWE's future - twice! - innovated one of the greatest wrestling moves ever: the cutter.
His Ace Crusher was excellent and distinct from later variations because he added a driver element. He wrapped his right arm around the throat and back of the neck of his opponent and used his left to drive their heads to the canvas. He executed the move so effectively that it was at once difficult to escape from and painful to absorb.
Diamond Dallas Page took it on and, for a blinding run in 1997, manoeuvred into it from several unique defensive positions. His version wasn't quite as hermetic as Big Johnny's, but he compensated with creativity.
Randy Orton perfected the finish with the gorgeous, flawless mechanics with which he can work a gentleman's three in his sleep. He added a star and a quarter to that whenever he unleashed his awesome catch variation, which required phenomenal timing to execute.
Orton's outstanding grace wins a very tight race, just, but don't discount Johnny's blinding '90s AJPW run just because he, you know, is an idiot.