10 Worst Finishers In WWE Today

3. The AA

Lightning Fist
WWE.com

John Cena is an excellent sports entertainer, because he grasps that wrestling isn't necessarily about the moves. It's how a performer registers and sequences and intensifies those moves to craft a story of physical determination. Broad and goofy they may well be, but Cena's charisma, facials and sense of showmanship is the stuff of full-on blockbuster spectacle.

A performer like Cena really only works in WWE's bright lights context, because as a fundamental pro wrestler, his stuff looks like it doesn't hurt much, if it all. Imagine John Cena in UWFi. He'd look like Tom Magee, if, at his worst, he's not there already.

The very prospect of bumping is terrifying, but you'd take an AA no bother. This is because the move is a fireman's carry. Cena doesn't propel his opponents to a frightening height, à la Undertaker's awesome Last Ride, but rather gently lowers them to the canvas as if he isn't quite sure if three-and-a-half is a suitable age to start play-fighting with your toddler.

Now, where Cena's feet land following the deployment of the move doesn't really matter, but it's still distracting. You're meant to ask yourself "Whoa, can his opponent kick out of that?" You're not meant to ask "Why do John Cena's feet stick out funny?"

The AA is the worst finisher in all of wrestling.

Actually, hold that thought...

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!