10 Wrestlers Banned From Using THEIR OWN Moves

2. Samoa Joe

Nakamura Samoa Joe Muscle Buster
WWE

Samoa Joe's Muscle Buster is a great finish.

The recipient is bent into an ungodly position, trapped in the hermetic seal of Joe's massive arms, and driven back-first into the mat. Or compressed back-first into the mat, because that's what it looks like. It's one of the most painful-looking bumps that isn't delivered to the neck or head.

Ideally, anyway; tragically, when Tyson Kidd took it, in a 2015 dark match, the injury to his neck was so severe that his career ended then and there. He was lucky to survive. It was described by everybody involved as a total fluke. Kidd told Chris Van Vliet earlier this year that it was just "one of those things". Joe went to the hospital with him. There are "zero" hard feelings.

Joe continued to use the Muscle Buster, albeit at a less acute angle, in NXT - but by the time he was "promoted" to the main roster, his Coquina clutch was emphasised in favour of it. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that it was banned not because it was deemed unsafe, but rather out of respect for Kidd.

Joe himself disputes this, claiming his not using the move for a significant period on the main roster was his own artistic decision.

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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!