The art of the false finish can provide the secret ingredient to a classic wrestling match. Fans needing to believe the match can end before it does adds to the overall excitement. Some wrestlers did a better job than others at knowing how to have viewers buy into the near finish. WWE is known for trying to protect the false finish by making their moments count.
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WrestleMania is the stage where most of the major shocking kickouts are meant to take place. However, the evolution of wrestling has led to wrestlers using the device more to make matches matter. Fans are used to major moments, so it takes more effort to make it count. Each of the following kickouts shocked the audience and made their matches better for it.
10 The Rock Kicking Out Of Hogan's Leg Drop
The infamous WrestleMania 18 match between The Rock and Hulk Hogan featured both men delivering an all-time classic. Hogan turned back the clock for one of the best performances of his career that saw fans reacting to him as a face, despite playing a heel.
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One specific moment to show the passion of the fans featured Hogan “Hulking up” and hitting his leg drop finisher. The genuine investment saw the audience shocked when Rock kicked out to extend the match when Hogan had his best chance at victory.
9 Seth Rollins Kicking Out Of The Red Arrow
WWE did a solid job building up the Red Arrow finisher of Neville during his early stint on the main roster and strong tenure in NXT. Seth Rollins defended the WWE Championship against Neville during a classic Raw match.
Everyone expected Rollins to win, but the crowd came unglued when when Neville hit the Red Arrow from the top rope and Rollins kicked out. The audience collectively gasped when witnessing Rollins kick out of the move for the flawless false finish.
8 CM Punk Kicking Out Of The Attitude Adjustment
The legendary match between John Cena and CM Punk at Money in the Bank 2011 is still discussed today, especially with Punk returning to wrestling. Punk delivered the performance of his career to pay off the Summer of Punk in front of his hometown Chicago fans.
Cena was the most protected wrestler at the time with fans anticipating him winning every match. Punk kicking out of his Attitude Adjustment finisher was shocking at the time and took the match to the next level before his stunning victory.
7 Shawn Michaels Kicking Out Of The Tombstone
The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels were known for having some of the best false finishes in wrestling history. WWE witnessed their finest match together atWrestleMania 25, where the two veterans stole the show with an all-time classic.
Undertaker continued his undefeated streak at the biggest show of the year, but fans were buying into Michaels picking up the win. The moment of Michaels kicking out of the Tombstone was so shocking and magical that it led to many rooting for HBK to end the streak.
6 Ultimate Warrior Kicking Out Of 5 Elbow Drops
WWE utilized two of their biggest stars and the draw of a retirement match when Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage was booked for WrestleMania 7. The match featured a lot of tropes for some great, dramatic storytelling.
Savage did not care about protecting his finisher this night when selling the story of leaving it all in the ring. Warrior kicked out after Savage hit his elbow drop finisher five times. The finishers were protected far stronger in the Golden Era to make it even more shocking at the time.
5 Mick Foley Kicking Out Of The Pedigree
The violent matches between Triple H and Mick Foley created one of the best rivalries in WWE history. Triple H got to the next level as a top heel following his feud with Foley, especially thanks to their match at the Royal Rumble 2000.
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The Pedigree was arguably the most protected move to start the new millennium for WWE. Foley kicked out of the move during the incredible match to the shock and delight of the Madison Square Garden fans. Triple H had to hit the move again on thumbtacks to pull out the victory.
4 Kenny Omega Kicking Out Of The Rainmaker
New Japan is considered better than WWE at protecting finishers these days since their main eventers usually have more meaningful victories. Kazuchika Okada is the face of the company and has made The Rainmaker his devastating finisher.
Kenny Omega was one of the first wrestlers to kick out of the move at Wrestle Kingdom 11. Fans were truly shocked. They had no idea it was coming, and the moment was saved for the perfect match. Okada eventually won, but the kick out made Omega a bigger star by proxy to extend their legendary rivalry.
3 The Rock Kicking Out Of Everything At WM 17
Steve Austin changed his career forever when he turned heel at WrestleMania 17 against The Rock. WWE booked the finish of Vince McMahon helping his former enemy win by handing Austin a steel chair to the shock of the fans.
Austin hit multiple Stunners and used the chair even more times to brutally beat Rock. The bigger reaction came when Rock kicked out a few times, shocking the heels. Austin still managed to win when using the chair more times in a sadistic manner, to show he’d stop at nothing to win gold.
2 AJ Styles Kicking Out Of The Super AA
WWE signing AJ Styles saw him becoming a star for the promotion within his first few months. Styles had a world of hype heading into WWE, but he didn’t get that top star status until a memorable victory over John Cena at SummerSlam 2016.
The classic match featured back and forth moves with a couple of great false finishes. Styles had the best kickout when Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment from the middle rope. Fans started doing the 'Yes!' chant when AJ survived, which added to the moment of his huge win.
1 The Undertaker Kicking Out Of The Sweet Chin Music-Pedigree Combo
One moment stands out among the rest when it comes to a dramatic kickout. The Undertaker and Triple H had an all-time great match at WrestleMania 28 inside of the Hell in a Cell structure, with Shawn Michaels as the guest referee.
Michaels got angered into hitting Undertaker with the Sweet Chin Music leading to Triple H following it up with a Pedigree all in one flawless motion. Undertaker kicking out from Michaels’ count provided a massive ovation from the fans. Michaels sold it perfectly crawling into the corner, with his head in his heads, eyes widened in disbelief.
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