10 Worst Finishers In WWE Today

2. The STF

Lightning Fist
WWE.com

Right. Look at the picture above.

Now look at this picture:

Cena STF
WWE

It is infuriating.

John Cena knows how to properly apply his STF to make it look like it hurts. This is key to every professional wrestling hold and attack, much less the finishing move used by a man WWE has marketed in 2019 as the greatest of all time. Ideally, it should look like it hurts.

John Cena's STF all too often looks like it does not hurt. It looks like it doesn't hurt because, for whatever reason, he refuses to apply pressure, instead opting for the classic pro wrestling strategy of an intimate embrace. Let us, through the process of elimination, deduce why that is.

Is John Cena a forgetful man?

No. He is very fastidious when it comes to his house rules. He also maintains an intensely busy schedule. He isn't some bumbling oaf, despite what his dropkick might suggest.

Is John Cena under sponsor pressure to keep his act child-friendly?

Almost certainly, but he did also bludgeon Wade Barrett with several falling chairs at TLC 2010.

Is John Cena under instruction to do this, in order to provide fans with a visual of his pained, panic-stricken opponent?

Then press his gums into his throat, you dumb f*ck, because then we'd still see their eyes.

Is John Cena just a bit useless at the fundamentals?

Hey, if you have to ask the question...

The STF 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!