“It’s all over but the screaming!” as Gorilla Monsoon used to shout from the announce table. Or “Stick a fork in him, he’s done!” as the ref counted 1-2-3, with certainty. It signaled the absolute end of the match. The hero or villain had landed their textbook, trademark, signature special move and the match was a forgone conclusion. Their foe? Obliterated. Knocked cold. Trampled by sheer power and precision.
Flash-forward decades later, from the heyday of Monsoon and co-commentator Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and a WWE Superstar’s finisher doesn’t always guarantee a win, as the trend is to have opponents kick out of what used to be killer maneuvers, especially during important matches on super-hyped cards. But if you grade on a curve you can still figure out which of today’s finishers are the most revered. They may have to be used twice sometimes, but they’ll still get the job done.
Source: IGN.com Most Devastating Finishing Moves in WWE History