With the Royal Rumble in the past, those of us with WWE network so graciously priced at only $9.99, have already re-watched the main event three or four times. So many water cooler moments ranging from J&J getting the AA, or Lesnar grounding both challengers in 90 seconds, J&J getting more or less German Suplexed by Lesnar at the same time, Rollins “breaking Lesnars rib” with a suicide elbow drop from the top, or even Lesnar being damn immortal the entire time!
Yet to many of us Seth Rollins pulling out a gorgeous flawless Phoenix Splash may have been the most breath taking and surprising moment in the entire match.
In honor if this Phenomenal Move in the most epic title match, we will go over ten of the most amazing high flying moves in WWE history.
#10: Flying Elbowdrop
History will remember Macho Man Randy Savage as the man who popularized this move for wrestling as a whole. Many great names such as Test, Christian, HBK, Saturn, and even Shane McMahon have had a fair share of great moments. As of late both Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins have put their own historic elbows in the books.
For me personally as an independent wrestling champion who has flown his elbow into the hearts of other men, I feel CM Punks tribute elbow to the Macho Man is the most exciting in recent memory.
If you are somehow new to this, you climb to the top turnbuckle, then leap high into the air sweeping your legs out of the way and drop elbow first onto the mound of flesh below, that is the legendary flying elbow drop aka what I call The Elbow of Justice!
#9: Swanton Bomb:
You will all cherish the suicidal dive Jeff Hardy performed from the top of ladders and taller ladders.
This move takes your opponent out if hit acurateley, although takes you out if they move.
Sure people can save 450s and moonsaults, but if your opponent moves, you crash… Period!
Now for me the late and underrated Sean O’Haire had the best Senton Bomb as he let his hair touch his opponent before he flipped through. And yes before you ask, I have hit a Senton Bomb but I have a lot of practice to go before I master the grace required to delay the flip into a glorious Swanton Bomb.
Regardless this move has made more highlight reels than I care to count and his a beautiful thing if executed correctly.
#8: Flying Huricanrana
While most moves on this list finish off a prone opponent, this one is used to take down a standing foe.
Simply post on the top turnbuckle, wait for stunned or unsuspecting opponent to turn around, then fly towards your opponent with legs spread open with intent to wrap those legs around your opponents neck, then with momentum and physics as your allies hurl the opponent towards the mat face/head first with the daredevil hurricanrana!
While Kid Kash, Ultimo Dragon, Juvi Guerrera, Esa Rios, and even Rey Mysterio have nailed this move, it was a woman who did it best.
Thats right Lita did this move with a stunning beauty that has yet to have been matched, and some may argue this move is a prime example of why she is one of the few women to grace the WWE Hall of Fame.
#7: Samoan Splash
You can call it the flying splash, Val Venis called it the Money Shot, and Superfly Snuka made it famous off the cage. But today Jimmy and Jey have taken the move and made it their own.
So watch the WWE network for only $9.99 then watch the many WWE Pay Per Views where Jimmy hits the Splash, or Jey hits the splash, or they take turns splashing the same opponent, or they jump together for a double samoan splash.
In either case few men or women get quite as much energy from the crowd, or percision to the form of this flying belly first splash as the Samoan Twins, thus Samoan Splash!
#6: 450 Splash / Reverse 450
For some Flash Funk introduced them to this gravity mocking manuever. For me and my family Juvi “The Juice” Guerrera was the one to introduce his 450 spinning splash from the top.
I dare say Justin Gabriel who recently left WWE was not only one of the most underrated stars in WWE recent history, but he was no doubt a master of this move.
Fear not however, even with Justin gone, you will still see this amazing finisher when The Man Gravity Forgot Adrian Neville faces the crowd instead of his opponent, jumps backwards off the turnbuckle and still manages a perfect 450 splash now know as the reverse 450 splash.
Personally I would say my indy brother Tracer X (available on youtube) has made this move his own as well. But for WWE fans I suggest you start watching nXt if you have any hopes of seeing this air like phenomena used on the WWE network for… Ya you got it $9.99 not 450!
#5: Shooting Star Press
In WCW Billy Kidman floored fans with a forward direction back flip he called The Shooting Star Press. In WWE Evan Bourne hit it as his Air Bourne, and many other great talents have hit this move. Yes Adrian Neville even hits this move from a standing position.
No matter who you like performing this move, (including my opponent Ryan Conn who has an excellent SSP) this move is one of the most difficult as well as devastating aerial moves in the business.
Only problem is if the opponent moves, well you will be crashing face first as current WWE Champion Brock Lesnar found out when he faced Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania!
#4: Harlem Hangover
There is only one man who has had the ability and opportunity to take this move and break it out on the grandest stage of them all.
Thats right Suckaaa! Booker T uses this move in his biggest and best bouts and it still leaves me marking out.
The former champion and Hall of Famrt flimbs to the top turnbuckle, then cuts a front flip into a leg drop totally rendering his opponent to the edge of
#3: Poetry In Motion
This move is oddly enough just as effective to a standing opponent as it is to a downed and stunned foe. Simply run up the turnbuckle, jump up and backwards, cutting a twist mid air to face your opponent increasing the momentum of the move, and a front flip forcing your body into a cannonball like senton into the enemy below.
Origionally made popular and named by Jeff Hardy and now used by the Tag Team Champions the Usos.
In both case this running spot of ariel offense leaves the fans cheering and clamouring for more!
#2: Phoenix Splash
At the Royal Rumble 2015 The Arcitect and Mr. Money in the Bank Seth Rollins pulled this move out in perfect form. Hayabusa in Japan, and Jack Evans as well as many others cruiserweights have been bringing the fans to their feet with this death defying stunt.
Now we all have one more reason to keep our eyes on the Future and Now of the WWE in Seth Rollins!
#1: Red Arrow
There are moments that make you question if another person is a human being or something else all together. Adrian Neville has for years been making me and others wonder as he continues to push the limita of gravity and physics.
Nothing in wrestling I feel does this more than when thia flipping ball of super human energy climbs to the top and executes the Red Arrow.
Neville doesn’t just jump off the top rope and flip backwards while maintaining forward momentum, but he twists at the same time just to mock gravity as a whole.
Watch nXt if for no other reason, watch the Red Arrow and know that this is not only the only man I have ever seen execute this incredible move, but that indeed Adrian Neville has truly been forsaken by the element of gravity!
Honorable Mentions:
The Vader Moonsault because no one that big should be allowed to flip inside out.
D-Brys Flying headbutt cause finishers that lead to surgery deserve mention.
Kane’s Flying Clothesline because it ain’t pretty but damn its effective.
Edge’s Flying Spear cause it is just damn awesome!
Frog Splash cause weather it was Eddie Guerreros perfect execution or RVDs 5 Stars this move is superior to most splashes!
The Summary:
That is my list of the top ten high flying finishers in the business. Now is the time you agree or disagree and tell us what you think is the best finisher from a flying wrestler!
