10 Wrestling Moves That BLEW YOUR MIND The First Time You Saw Them

8. Rob Van Dam's Van Terminator

Van Terminator
WWE

Rob Van Dam is one of the most influential pro wrestlers of all time, though he doesn't quite receive enough recognition for it.

Dynamite Kid is considered the chief architect of the super-athletic, big-bumping modern style, the blistering pace of which was set by his futuristic series opposite Tiger Mask. Van Dam's series with Jerry Lynn in ECW is iconic without garnering quite the same level of critical acclaim - but an entire generation was watching.

The counter-driven, kung-fu inspired rhythm is hard-coded into the DNA of virtually every sequence in the dominant North American genre. Sloppy at times, Van Dam was amazing in the strictest definition at his best, and his best move was his majestic, impossible Van Terminator.

He travelled a distance - and a route - that was unfathomable by ascending the turnbuckle, chair in hand, and clearing the full breadth of the ring to smash it in his opponent's face.

Why is "video game wrestling" a pejorative? This looked more coded than performed; a move that defied physics and generated an incredulous monster reaction.

On the subject of video game wrestling...

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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!