Let’s go into the most memorable Chris Jericho finishing holds for this “Moves of Doom Monday.” Jericho’s been in the game for over 30 years now and has changed his finisher up with the times as his style changed. We’re going to get into some of his more recent tricks and his old ones.
Lionsault
The Lionsault was something of a floating finisher. Sometimes, it ended matches while other times it was a move meant to end the match but his opponent just had a little too mustard to be pinned. I always liked the flashiness of the move since Chris Jericho usually hit it cleanly and popped it when he had the opportunity to do so.
As far as how devastating his springboard moonsault was—it varied. It was always an effective finisher but there were times when it seemed a little on the light side but it could also land with just…a slab of Jericho across someone’s chest.
DOOM Scale: 2.5 out of 5
Liontamer/Walls of Jericho
Jericho’s submission finisher has always been some version of the Boston Crab. Now, long-time fans will tell you that there’s a difference between the Liontamer and the Walls of Jericho. I tend to agree, the Liontamer was more of an elevated Boston Crab where Jericho really bends his opponent’s sh**.
Meanwhile, the Walls of Jericho started out that way before becoming more of a regular-ass Boston Crab. However, both have proven to be extremely effective in sealing Lionheart wins and championships. Of his moves, this one got the most mileage and delivered the most.
I do want to split these moves while rating but it’s the same hold with a slight difference.
DOOM Scale: 3.75 out of 5 (averaged)
Codebreaker
Chris Jericho utilized the double knee-assisted facebreaker as a finisher during his last WWE runs. The thing to know about Jericho is that if he reinvented himself, it was going to include his finisher. His Code Breaker came after he’d left, gotten into film, did some tours, dropped some albums, and matured.
While he always had a flashy finisher, Jericho was returning to a WWE where big, bombastic finishers were the wave. The Code Breaker was truly at home during the PG Era as it could be hit at any moment to very destructive results.
I dig this move, it’s often very cleanly executed and will finish a match in convincing fashion.
DOOM Scale: 4 out of 5
Judas Effect
Le Champion’s most recent finisher starting with him joining AEW and venturing into New Japan is his Judas Effect back elbow smash. As a brief aside: the husky Jericho had a nice Judas Effect. It just seemed to fit his build pre-weight loss better than the Lionsault or Codebreaker. This was one of his more physical, smash-mouth type finishers.
I could actually see this as his finisher during the Ruthless Aggression Era and it’s something that works regardless of the promotion. It’s not the flashiest thing but it’s wildly effective and I f**ks with any move that is a strike to the head or jaw.
DOOM Scale: 4 out of 5
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