Wrestling maneuvers usually fall into two categories - flashy or effective. A flashy maneuver like a moonsault may be cool for fans to look at, but it may not pack the same kind of punch that others do. On the other hand, an effective wrestling move looks like it has decisively ended a match, and that comes from striking an opponent with such force that they cannot continue the contest.
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Many wrestlers have tried to convince fans that their strikes are the most effective, but only a handful can truly say that their strikes are the best of the best. The list of wrestlers that have been put down by hard-hitting strikes read like a who's-who of the best in the business because of how dangerous they are. While the moves may not look the prettiest, there is denying that they end matches decisively.
10 Stan Stasiak - The Heart Punch
While big and brutish wrestlers are no longer as prominent in modern-day professional wrestling as before, wrestlers like this used to be the main focus of a promotion's roster. And while there may be more recognizable WWE Champions from the company's early era, there were few as menacing as Stan Stasiak.
The Canadian bruiser had a strong presence and was unafraid to defeat his opponents in a true menacing fashion. Stasiak's Heart Punch was a straight punch delivered directly to an opponent's heart meant to have enough power to stop the organ. While it may not look dangerous at first, it struck fear into fans' hearts as well.
9 William Regal - The Power Of The Punch
William Regal is a well-known rule-breaker in the world of wrestling, but he took that to a whole different level in 2002. The English wrestler has always been able to pack a punch and knows how to strike an opponent, but his true Power of the Punch made him even more dangerous.
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By hiding a pair of brass knuckles in his tights, Regal would put them on behind official's backs and strike his opponent and knock them out cold. While this move is certainly illegal, there is no doubt that it was one of the most effective in Regal's career.
8 Josh Alexander - Ripcord Elbow
Some infamous finishing moves take a long time to become historic and others can make an unbelievable bang the moment a wrestler does them. Long-time Impact World Champion Josh Alexander certainly has a way of making his moves pop more than others in a very believable way.
The Walking Weapon uses a combination of finesse and incredible striking power to make his Ripcord Elbow a memorable part of his matches. By winding up his opponent and spinning them around until he connects with his forearm to their jaw, Alexander makes the move memorable by adding the deafening sound of bones to faces.
7 Shawn Michaels - Sweet Chin Music
The superkick has undoubtedly become an overused move in wrestling in the modern era, with most wrestlers using it multiple times in matches. However, if imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, Shawn Michaels should be honoured that the move he perfected is used so often.
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Few moves get fans more riled up than the sound of Sweet Chin Music, and Shawn Michaels used it to perfection throughout his singles career. Fans knew that when Shawn connected with his boot to an opponent's jaw that the match was over, and it continued to be effective at each stage of his time in WWE.
6 Bradshaw - Clothesline From Hell
Whether or not fans agree with his wrestling persona or his reputation in the business, there is no denying that John Bradshaw Layfield is one of the most realistic strikers to ever step into the ring. Brute force is the true power behind a good striker, and Bradshaw has that in spades.
By bouncing off the ropes towards his opponent and swinging his arm with the force of an eighteen-wheeler, Bradshaw's Clothesline from Hell carried him through his time as a tag team wrestler all the way to a solid WWE Championship run and beyond.
5 Drew McIntyre - Claymore Kick
Drew McIntyre's first WWE run may have pegged him as the chosen one, but it was not until his 2017 that he truly found his stride. While he truly showed promise in his younger years, he developed into a well-rounded wrestler that found drop opponents with a single move.
McIntyre debuted his Claymore Kick when he burst onto NXT and let fans know that he meant business this time around. Moving with surprising agility for a muscular wrestler, McIntyre uses the force of his entire body to thrust his boot into his opponent's face, and it tends to end matches decisively.
4 Bryan Danielson - Flying Knee
Bryan Danielson is most known for being one of the greatest technical wrestlers to ever step into the ring, and his mat wrestling game continues to prove that decades into his career. However, his mat-based offense should not get opponents confused that he is not also an incredible striker.
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Danielson's flying knee has put down some of the biggest stars in wrestling and has also won him numerous championships. Jamming his exposed knee directly into his opponent's face has been an incredibly effective and hard-hitting maneuver that clearly signals the end of a match.
3 Stan Hansen - Western Lariat
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While newer fans or those that only watch WWE programming may not know who Stan Hansen is, it is likely that there isn't a single opponent who has forgotten him. Known as one of the most hard-hitting wrestlers to ever step into a ring, Hansen's strikes were known around the world.
Building a reputation for being able to put down opponents twice his size, Hansen's strong Western Lariat put down the likes of Bruno Sammartino and Vader throughout his career. A legend in Japan, Hansen's swinging clothesline helped give inspiration to many wrestlers who came after him, but none were able to do it better.
2 Malakai Black - Black Mass
Strike maneuvers are normally hit so hard that fans can see them coming a mile away because of how they need to be set up. Also, some of these incredible strikes are performed by very large wrestlers comprised with muscles to spare.
What makes Malakai Black so impressive is that his Black Mass kick is so swift that it looks effortless, but the sound that it makes when his boot connects with his opponent's head signals how hard-hitting it is. Due to his extensive background in martial arts, Black is incredibly dangerous in the ring, even if he does not look as menacing as larger wrestlers.
1 Randy Orton - The Punt
When it comes to simple-but-effective maneuvers, Randy Orton's Punt Kick is at the top of the list. The list of wrestlers that it has taken out reads like a who's-who of legends in wrestling, and its reputation quickly made it incredibly dangerous.
With a simple kick to an opponent's skull, Orton has rendered numerous opponents motionless, and it made the multi-time world champion even more dangerous in the ring. Fans knew that if Orton hit this kick not only was the match over, but his opponent's career would be in jeopardy.
