A regular criticism of some big matches these days is that finishing maneuvers are repeated too many times in a single match or poorly booked, leading to the loss of their significance. Vince Russo, for example, lasted well over a minute in Ric Flairs Figure-4 Leg Lock, devaluing the move significantly, while many WWE matches have Superstars kicking out at finishers regularly. This is why All Japan Pro Wrestlings Four Pillars of Heaven had some of the best matches in wrestling history: they each had a special finisher that they only brought out on rare occasions. In Mitsuharu Misawas case, it was the Tiger Driver 91, named after the year he started using it. Essentially, its a Tiger Driver (Double Underhook Powerbomb) with the risk factor raised up to 11. Instead of having the recipient roll onto their back and shoulders, landing face up, with this move, the user hooks the victims arms midway through the roll, causing them to go straight down onto their upper shoulders and neck. Just watch that video: in each one of those instances it looks like the recipient is taking all of the damage on their neck. It shouldnt come as a surprise that only one person, Kenta Kobashi has ever kicked out of this move, and it was always the tool he used to bring down opponents who wouldnt stay down with his regular finishers.
Alexander Podgorski is a writer for WhatCulture that has been a fan of professional wrestling since he was 8 years old. He loves all kinds of wrestling, from WWE and sports entertainment, to puroresu in Japan.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen's University in Political Studies and French, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration. He speaks English, French, Polish, a bit of German, and knows some odd words and phrases in half a dozen other languages.
