In wrestling, every successful wrestler has that one signature move that they can rely on to end a match. Iconic examples include the Stone Cold Stunner, The Rainmaker, The Tombstone Piledriver, The One Winged Angel, etc. However, you don’t always stick with your first finisher forever, you need to adapt over time. We could be seeing this happen in AEW with Cody Rhodes, as he potentially moves away from The Cross Rhodes.
Cody Rhodes Signature Move Hasn’t Been Effective Lately
While Cody Rhodes is entering the finals of the TNT Championship tournament, he hasn’t won either of the matches that got him here using his signature maneuver. He defeated Shawn Spears by using a Figure Four Leg Lock after Spears would kick out of two Cross Rhodes, and he bested Darby Allin by slyly pinning him after he was hit with a Coffin Drop. Darby had also kicked out of the Cross Rhodes in their match, as well as in previous matches.
Cody is able to win without this move, and other moves like the Figure Four or his springboard cutter could eclipse his finisher. It is unlikely that he will ever completely abandon the move, but it could be moved into a lesser spot of his moveset. We could see him beat Joey Janela with the move this week on Dynamite, but a kick out there could finally kill this moves last bit of legitimacy.
Finishing Moves Should Be Protected
There is sadly very few finishing moves in modern wrestling that have rarely been kicked out of. Some examples include PAC and his Black Arrow, King Corbin with the End Of Days, and Kenny Omega with his One Winged Angel. Kicking out of finishing moves can be an incredible way to get a crowd out of their seats. This only works if they don’t see that coming. The more a finishing move is kicked out of, the effect dies down. People have come to expect numerous kickouts in major PPV matches for companies like WWE or AEW. Major NJPW matches particularly will rarely end with a single finisher. This is a growing issue, and one that moves like The Cross Rhodes has simply added to.
What should Cody Rhodes use as a new finishing move? Should finishers ever be kicked out of? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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