2. Tiger Driver ’91
Japanese wrestling during the 1990s was one of the most dramatic and exciting periods in wrestling history. A major reason for this was the degree of realism and multi-layered storytelling that went into many matches.
This was achieved by building matches up many times over, with every signature move built up like a potential match-ender. But at one point that storytelling evolved into a ‘let’s-see-who-can-execute-the-most-dangerous-move-possible’ direction, leading to the creation of the Tiger Driver ’91.
This move was popularized by Mitsuharu Misawa in 1991 (hence the name) and served as his super-finisher for years. It’s basically a Tiger Driver on steroids. The victim gets picked up, but instead of rolling onto their backs, they’re dropped directly onto their necks and shoulders. It’s a vicious finisher if there ever was one.
The finisher is sickening to watch, as Misawa’s opponent’s body is folded over them as they land on their necks. But it was through finishers like these that Misawa and his opponents became immortalized as some of the toughest wrestlers ever.
The only reason this move doesn’t rank at #1 is because it was kicked out of once. In response to that kick-out, Misawa would create another super-finisher called the Emerald Flowsion. The man who kicked out of the Tiger Driver ’91, Kobashi, would respond to this move by coming up with his own super-finisher…