The Undertaker's Finishing and Signature Moves
Tombstone Piledriver, Last Ride, and More of His Popular Maneuvers
With Teddy Long’s recent Smackdown declaration that The Undertaker’s submission hold the Devil’s Gate is now legal, now is a good time to examine Undertaker’s signature moves. Undertaker is known as a big man, but he has the ability to accomplish some wrestling moves than men of equal size, or even smaller, cannot.
He can brawl, he can do technical wrestling maneuvers, and he can even on occasion do high-flying moves. His versatility in athletic achievement is what has helped him stay relevant, successful and beloved over his near twenty-year career in World Wrestling Entertainment. His diverse finishing and signature moves illustrate this.
The Tombstone Piledriver
Probably the most famous of Taker’s moves is the Tombstone Piledriver, a belly-to-belly piledriver that is dangerous to execute and almost always allows Taker to win his matches. When successfully executing this move, he holds his opponent upside down with the opponent’s head above Undertaker’s knees and his head between the opponent’s knees. He brings the wrestler down to the mat by dropping to his knees, with the other man’s head theoretically hitting the mat.
The Last Ride
Undertaker mostly used this finishing maneuver when he was known as the American Bada**, and later Big Evil. The Last Ride is an elevated powerbomb. His great height (purported to be 6’10 ½ , but really 6’8”) as well as strength helps him utilize this maneuver. Undertaker lifts his opponent onto his shoulders and then raises him up above his head, then slams him down to the mat. It is simple but effective.
The Chokeslam
The chokeslam is just as it sounds. In Undertaker’s case, he uses a single arm chokeslam, also known as the goozle, in which he grabs his opponent by the throat, picks him up and slams him down to the mat. Undertaker sometimes uses this move with larger opponents that are too big for him to piledrive or powerbomb.
Hell’s Gate/Devil’s Triangle
The Hell’s Gate, formerly known as the Devil’s Triangle, is Taker’s most well-known submission move. It was banned by former Smackdown General Manager Vickie Guerrero, who declared it to be too dangerous, though she really banned it just to continue antagonizing the Phenom. The move having recently been reinstated by current Smackdown General Manager Teddy Long, however, puts a spotlight on the move.
In this submission hold (known as a modified gogoplata), Taker is on the mat, and his opponent is caught as the Undertaker grasps his opponent with his legs and arms, with the pressure of his legs being forced onto the opponent’s throat. This causes the other wrestler to apparently bleed from the mouth, and when the hold has been utilized, the opponent always taps out.
Suicide Dive
This is a more dangerous and rare move for Taker to pull off, and it has not always had the best results for him. But when he does this move, it inspires awe if nothing else. He simply bounces off the ropes, bolts across the ring and projects himself over the top rope, no hands needed, and when he’s successful, lands on his target.
Old School
This move was coined “Old School” by Taker because it hearkened back to his gray-and-black Undertaker days, though he’s used the move for the majority of his career. It is simple but rare since not many wrestlers are known for this maneuver. In it, Undertaker twists his opponent’s arm. He then climbs the turnbuckles and walks across the top rope, then brings his arm down across his opponent’s back.
Guillotine Leg Drop
Another simple but effective move, the Phenom lays his opponent out across the ring apron, with half of the opponent dangling off of the side. He then drops a leg onto the opponent’s chest or throat. This does more damage to an opponent than a regular leg drop, but is less beneficial for the executor because he usually ends up falling after doing the move.
Flying Clothesline
Proving that a big man can fly as well as he can brawl, the Undertaker often uses this move, either in the middle of the ring or against the turnbuckles. He moves toward his opponent and then leaps into the air, then clotheslines him for maximum effect. He has been using the move even from pre-Undertaker days.
Undertaker’s Impressive Arsenal of Moves
With the list above, as well as numerous other moves that the Undertaker utilizes in his matches, it proves that he is a very well-rounded athlete. Most men his size cannot move the way that he does, yet he does so with aplomb. His wrestling abilities have and will ensure him a lasting reputation of success in the wrestling industry.
Sources:
Big Book of Wrestling Moves by Death Valley Driver
How Stuff Works: Pro Wrestling
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