by Mike DeNucci, PWTorch Specialist

Welcome to second edition of Top Moves! The feedback was great on the first edition and I received a number of Top Move Nominees throughout this past action-packed week in wrestling.

Expectations were high with the week of television leading up to the Royal Rumble, and the first Top Moves featuring a pay-per-view did not disappoint. It was tough to crack the Top 10 this week, and I just want to make a quick mention to a couple moves that were nominated by some readers, but just missed the cut.

Included, but not limited to, are Michelle McCool's stiff kick to the face of NXT Season 3 winner Kaitlyn for a win on Smackdown, Natalya's double sharpshooter on Layla and Eve at the Royal Rumble, and Daniel Bryan hitting a running dropkick on DiBiase while he was locked in the ropes on NXT. Those moves were all great in their own right, but weren't great enough to be considered Top Moves of the Week...

#10- Melina applies Leg Full Nelson on Natalya
Monday Night Raw 1/24

Innovative submissions, especially in WWE - a place not known for its submission specialists - will almost certainly land a wrestler a spot on Top Moves. This one by Melina is no different. During the Divas Championship match this past week on Raw, while Natalya was seated on the mat, Melina pulled off what looked like a full nelson. But, what was unique about this was instead of Melina utilizing her arms to lock in the submission maneuver, Melina decided to use her legs instead. While Melina was behind the Divas Champion seated on the mat, the unbelievably flexible challenger pulled back Natalya's arms with her legs while putting pressure on the back of her head with her feet. This will not be the last time we see Melina's flexibility here on Top Moves...

#9- Edge hits Killswitch on Dolph Ziggler to retain World Heavyweight Championship
Royal Rumble 1/30

Many people felt that the Rated-R Superstar was going to be victim of the "youth movement" and that Dolph Ziggler had a chance to win his first ever World Heavyweight Championship. Add to the fact that The Spear was banned and Edge is not known for finishing off matches in various different ways. You had a feeling that he was going to be able to deliver a Spear one way or another, but how was he going to finish off Ziggler? With a little shout-out to his old tag team partner Christian, Edge was able to engage the Killswitch for the victory to retain his title. The deck seemed to be stacked against Edge, but he was able to hold onto the title and still has a chance, for the time being, to be in the Main Event of WrestleMania.

#8- Chavo attempts "Three Amigos" on three Superstars and is finally successful on fourth attempt
Royal Rumble 1/30

The Royal Rumble is always filled with surprises and one of them was the little tribute they had for Eddie Guerrero with Chavo continuously attempting the Three Amigos until he was able to complete all three rolling suplexes. Chavo entered the Rumble and immediately began to attack Ted DiBiase. Chavo was able to snap off two before C.M. Punk came in and stopped the third. Chavo dropped DiBiase, and began hitting suplexes on Punk. Again, after two successful suplexes, he was thwarted, this time by John Morrison. Again, Chavo shifted his attention to the most recent attacker and snapped off another two beautiful suplexes on Morrison. But, before he was able to complete the third, it was Daniel Bryan's turn. But, this time, nobody was able to come to the aid of the United States champion. It took four Superstars and nine total snap suplexes, but the Mexican Warrior was finally able to complete The Three Amigos, with the crowd loving every suplex.

#7- Natalya performs Bridging Sharpshooter on Melina for the submission victory
Monday Night Raw 1/24



Credit Melina's amazing flexibility for this one, but the bridging Sharpshooter performed this past Monday Night was still a sight to see. With Natalya on her back, Melina attempted a leg drop to the mid-section between the legs of the Divas Champion, which Natalya was able to thwart. After catching her leg, Natalya was able to lock in the patented finishing submission, but this time with an incredibly limber Melina in her grasp. Natalya was able to bridge her back all the way back to the mat; so much so that she had to lift her left shoulder up to prevent being counted down for the three herself. Melina tapped out quickly and the third-generation Diva was able to retain her Divas Championship.

#6- Randy Orton tosses Alex Riley over ropes and referee into the New Nexus
Royal Rumble 1/30

Who knew that the best over-the-top rope moment of the Royal Rumble would actually NOT be in the Royal Rumble match itself. During the WWE Championship match, The Miz's apprentice, Alex Riley, stuck his nose in the match. While the New Nexus made a shocking appearance during the match, Riley felt the distraction would create the perfect time to make his attack. As the New Nexus was held at bay at the end of the aisle by the referee, Riley attempted to blindside The Viper, but Orton was privy to the attack. With a running head start, Orton sent Riley soaring over the top rope onto the four members of the New Nexus, clearing the referee in the process. The amazing thing about this feat was the fact that the members of the New Nexus were not merely standing at ringside, but rather held up a good eight to ten feet before reaching the apron. Riley amazingly cleared the top rope, while avoiding the referee, and was sent crashing into Punk's followers.

#5- R-Truth hits Shotgun Stunner on Tyson Kidd
WWE Superstars 1/27



The good thing about WWE Superstars is that it usually has some lengthy matches where wrestling fans can enjoy the actual sport part of sports entertainment. This week featured a very competitive match between two great Superstars, one a former U.S. Champion, and one hoping to be a future U.S. Champion. Recently, Truth has been used to enhance Alberto Del Rio both on Raw and Smackdown, and a win here would make those wins seem a bit more relevant. During the match, R-Truth lifted Tyson Kidd up in a vertical suplex position, but instead of simply dropping him back with a suplex, he turned it into a devastating Shotgun Stunner. The move looked absolutely vicious, so much so that I feel it should definitely be his finishing maneuver, not just a hold in his moveset. I believe he even has a name for it, calling it Truth or Consequences. It baffles me that Truth would elect to end his match with what was referred to as the "What's Up," rather than using this violent looking Shotgun Stunner.

#4- Amazing Red hits Chris Sabin with a Front Flip Piledriver
TNA Impact 1/27

Since the Hogan/Bischoff era, the focus has been on hotshot angles and big swerves and has drifted away from the superior creativity and athleticism that the X Division brings. The upcoming Triple Threat X Division matches to crown a new #1 Contender for the X Division Title should help re-energize the division, as well as the wrestlers involved for the time being. This past Impact showcased the first match in the series of triple threats, pitting Max Buck vs. Chris Sabin vs. Amazing Red. With three of the best high-flyers in the business, we were sure to see a Top Move or two. Amazing Red's Front Flip Piledriver on Chris Sabin lands at #4. More famously used by Petey Williams and known as the Canadian Destroyer, this move is arguably one of the most devastating in all of wrestling.

#3- John Morrison hits C-4 on Daniel Bryan
Royal Rumble 1/30

We mentioned last week how John Morrison was going to be a fixture in Top Moves and here he is again landing at #3. With all those bodies in the ring at the same time, it's hard to stand out in the midst of all that action. Morrison found a way to do so with some help from Daniel Bryan. The C-4 is a Standing Moonsault Side Slam and can only be performed on smaller wrestlers. Daniel Bryan fit the bill, and Morrison was able to hit this jaw-dropping maneuver. But Morrison was not done yet on the night...

#2- Max Buck reverses Chris Sabin's Wheelbarrow Facebuster attempt into a Wheelout Facebuster of his own
TNA Impact 1/27

This Triple Threat match was filled with high-flying, intense, and back and forth action, and if you blinked you probably missed something. All three wrestlers thrive in this environment and this match was not short on its spectacular moments. The most breathtaking moment was when Max Buck was able to hit a flipping wheelbarrow facebuster on Chris Sabin that was simply amazing. Sabin had Max Buck up in the air in the wheelbarrow position, ready to drop Buck face first to the mat, but Buck was able to use his momentum and roll through between Sabin's legs in one motion delivering a brutal facebuster of his own. TNA has a huge advantage when it comes to the X Division as WWE doesn't have the athletes to put on the caliber matches these wrestlers have the capability to do when given the proper time. The inventiveness of these X Division wrestlers can help TNA get back on track and give the fans a highly entertaining alternative to what has been the norm over the last couple of years.

#1- William Regal tosses John Morrison into barricade; Morrison clings on to avoid elimination
Royal Rumble 1/30

If you've seen one battle royal, you've seen them all. A statement that on most occasions would apply, but not at the 2011 Royal Rumble. You could go back and watch every Battle Royal in the history of wrestling, and you will never find a more imaginative way to stave off elimination than this one. While John Morrison was standing on the apron, William Regal comes charging in with a shoulder block apparently eliminating the Guru of Greatness. As I was watching, I was astonished on how quickly Morrison was eliminated, and surprised that Regal was given the honors in doing so. But, I was wrong in assuming so, and became witness to one of the more refreshing and impressive feats of athletic ability I have ever seen.

The force of Regal's blow sent Morrison sailing into the ringside barricade but before Morrison's feet were able to touch the ground. Like a real-life Spiderman, he hung onto the barricade suspended in the air. He was able to climb onto the top of the barricade, tight rope walked back towards the ringsteps, and then leap from the barricade onto the steps to return back to the ring, but not before sending the just eliminated Regal back to the locker room with a stiff kick to the chest for his troubles. This mind-blowing performance by the Prince of Parkour was undoubtedly the #1 Top Move of the Week.

It was a jam packed, action-filled week in the world of wrestling loaded with dozens of moves but only ten of them can be considered Top Moves. Don't hesitate to e-mail me at mikedenucci85@gmail.com with your Top Move Nominees and check back next week to see if it made the list!

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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