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

23. 1998 - Stone Cold Stunner

Best Finishers
WWE.com

Picture the scene.

You're at school. You're pissing about. You tap your friend hard on the belly, winding them, and they leave their head prone. You reach your arms back and try to "get" them with the Stone Cold Stunner. It never works - they won't fall theatrically to their knees, it's teenage oneupmanship and they won't give up ground - but if you're lucky, they'll reflexively throw their head back and crack it against a doorframe or something.

That was virtually all of 1998 and 1999 for dumbass lads of a certain age. Austin's Stunner was a veritable sensation, and we copied it because Austin was cool as hell, primarily, but also because there was a primitive awesomeness to the set-up/snap of his finisher.

The dream could never be accomplished, but the dream was making your friend look a Mr. McMahon-sized t*t in front of year 9.

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!