Ranking What Was Really The Best Wrestling Finisher Every Year 1990-2020

22. 1999 - Rock Bottom

Best Finishers
WWE.com

An ura nage, essentially, this wasn't a spectacular move on the surface, but there was a real in-character substance to it. It was also incredibly f*cking over, because the Rock did it, and the Rock was lava-hot in 1999 as Steve Austin's babyface successor.

The set-up was quintessentially Rock. He was a unit of a man as cocky as he was incredibly proportioned, and there was a subtly beautiful dismissive quality to the way he'd throw the trailing arm over his shoulder. It was like he was telling his opponents to go f*ck themselves with one simple physical movement. He used his wingspan to dominate the screen, much as he did in his resting state, and the impact was thoroughly believable as a match-ender because he was a 6'5" badass.

This is a man who got a strut over as a finish.

An underrated power move was always going to be undeniable here.

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!