10 Wrestling Finishers That Were Successfully Used In Pro MMA Fights

6. Dropkick: Ikuhisa Minowa Vs. Butterbean

The dropkick is one of the most commonly utilized moves in sports entertainment. However, it has also been used as a finisher from time to time.

Attitude Era superstar Hardcore Holly used to polish off his opponents with the maneuver. More recently, 'Gentleman' Jack Gallagher has been dropkicking his way to victory.

In the early days of MMA, there were a few fighters who actually tried landing a dropkick in the cage. For the most part, they ended up on the mat with their opponent pummeling them after failing to connect.

That being said, popular Japanese fighter and pro wrestler Ikuhisa Minowa successfully landed the move in a 2006 bout with Eric 'Butterbean' Esch. Yes, the very same 'Butterbean' that fought Bart Gunn at WrestleMania XV.

While Minowa's well-executed dropkick wasn't enough to take the big man out, it did manage to send 'Butterbean' backward and stagger him a bit. Given the fact that Esch is listed at over 400 pounds, the Japanese star's attempt would definitely qualify as successful.

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From 1999-2003 Jacques performed on the Florida independent pro wrestling circuit. He also has an amateur wrestling background and currently holds a certification in Krav Maga. Jacques graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2003, with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. Follow him on twitter @goodeals79.