We have a two-finisher “Battle of the Finishers” with Stone Cold Steve Austin. Once again, the most iconic finisher isn’t included but we’ll do that soon. We’re looking at two pre-Stone Cold finishers in his WCW finisher the Stun Gun and his early WWE finisher The Million Dollar Dream.
The Stun Gun: Steve Austin Hates Your Throat
I love the Stun Gun in all its forms. It’s not the flashiest move at all—it’s a flapjack lift into a throat-first drop across the top rope. That’s it. It’s a move that was generally a set-up or counter but Austin was using it as his finisher in WCW and ECW.
For the faster pace of early 90s WCW action, the Stun Gun was near-lethal as it worked the same as a counter for any running attack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB8Hvyd6cFE
Effectiveness: 4 out of 5
Simplicity: 5 out of 5
Razzle Dazzle: 2 out of 5
Final Finisher Score: 3.6 out of 5
The Million Dollar Dream: A Cobra Clutch for Rich People
The subtitle says it all. Ted DiBiase’s Million Dollar Dream was just a Cobra Clutch and Steve Austin picked up the finisher in WWE as The Ringmaster.
After becoming Stone Cold, he still used the move during matches to slow down the action but The Stone Cold Stunner—a move with much more razzle-dazzle—ended up replacing it.
A move that puts your opponent to sleep is always going to be effective and look believable. The simplicity level depends on how versed a wrestler is with their holds and also how quickly the move can be slapped on or executed.
I’m giving the Million Dollar Dream high marks on both. However, it continues the streak of moves that lack that razzle-dazzle.
Effectiveness: 5 out of 5
Simplicity: 4 out of 5
Razzle Dazzle: 1.5 out of 5
Final Finisher Score: 3.5 out of 5
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmbZccDKFHg
