WWE bans vertebreaker

[Guest oldschoolwrestling]

Rob McCaulley sent along word that Hurricane Helms was a guest on "The End" 107.7 in Seattle this morning, and when asked about the Vertebreaker, Hurricane said that the move, which he uses this Sunday on Heat in a match with Steven Richards, will no longer be used in WWE.

 

The move, which involves holding an opponent upside down back-to-back by the arms, then driving them to the mat by dropping to a seated position (so the opponent lands on their shoulders, neck and the back of their head), was popularized by Megumi Kudo in Japan, and Hurricane began using the move as Shane Helms in WCW. When he came to WWE, he did not use the move, but occasionally over the last few months he has used the finisher in some matches. Homicide (who calls it the Cop Killer) is the only wrestler I know of in North America that currently uses the move on a regular basis.

 

It can probably be assumed that with both Edge and Kurt Angle being sidelined with neck injuries, WWE is being a lot more cautious regarding moves that can cause damage to the neck.

 

Here is Rob's report on Hurricane's appearance:

 

Thought I'd let you know that The Hurricane called in to The End in Seattle this morning. I tried calling in because I'd almost consider myself a Shane Helms mark, but I couldn't get through, since I'm not close enough to Seattle.

 

Anyway in the interview, which was mostly done by callers, he was asked what his real name was, he answered Gregory Shane Helms. He was asked how he was doing several times, which he answered great.

 

The most intelligent question he was asked came from a girl which asked about Molly Holly, which he replied "Molly was a cool person but she was a little too laid back to be a super hero, you've got to have an extreme personality to play The Hurricane."

 

He said that The Vertebreaker he uses against Steven Richards this Sunday Night on Heat will be the last Vertebreaker in the WWE. That came after a guy asked about The Vertebreaker. So Heat actually has a historic factor to it this week, if you're down with that.

 

Shane didn't at all seem amped but that could be attributed to several things. But after the on air segment ended the hosts of the show went on to rag on him.

 

1wrestling

[Mecha Mummy 0]

That definitely wasn't one of the best WWE interviews on The End, but then again, NOTHING is going to beat Edge vs. The Callers in a trashtalking contest.

[Guest Youth N Asia]

I'm a mark for the move...but it's probably for the best that it's not used anymore.

[Guest phoenixrising]

Can't blame WWE...if I was WWE and I just lost two of my best young stars for the year to neck injuries I would ban every move that affected the neck and head area.

 

What was this "Edge vs. The Callers" trash talking contest?

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

I find it bit ironic that the last 2 Vertebreakers were taken by Stevie, a guy known for having neck problems. And he's walked away from both OK.

 

To my knowledge, nobody has ever been hurt by the move when Helms does it, but I understand the caution by the WWE, losing 2 of its bigger stars to neck problems recently.

[Guest Choken One]

Have to Say WWE did something right here...Even though No Vetrebreaker has directly caused injury...It still poses potential risks.

[Guest Youth N Asia]

Have to Say WWE did something right here...Even though No Vetrebreaker has directly caused injury...It still poses potential risks.

And he's using it on Heat...so it's not like anyone's actually seeing it anymore

[Guest nikowwf]

I think the Shining Wizard is a cool finisher. I'd like him to use that more.

 

You know, the Hurricane is one ten minute "get in a couple of offensive moves and a near fall" against the Rock from really being a nice mid-card player and away from HEAT jobber hell.

 

niko

[Guest AndrewTS]

I think the Shining Wizard is a cool finisher. I'd like him to use that more.

 

You know, the Hurricane is one ten minute "get in a couple of offensive moves and a near fall" against the Rock from really being a nice mid-card player and away from HEAT jobber hell.

 

niko

If if was a REAL Shining Wizard, it would be okay.

 

And I don't think anyone of any size is ever putting over Hurricane in WWE. He wrestles as a heavy, is a funny character but not a star, and he's a fucking brine shrimp. He won't get anywhere above tag champ level in WWE.

[Guest Samurai_Goat]

Man, I don't even know what a vertebreaker is....Can someone throw me a bone? Or describe the move?

[Guest KingOfOldSchool]

 

From this position, Shane sits down, and the opponent's body is compacted as the opponent lands on his upper back/shoulder area.

 

I can see their reasons for banning the move, but at the same time, I think it's really the non-variety in movesets causing the injuries, at least in Angle and Edge's cases, likely from all the Suplexes thrown over the past year or so. Add in the fact that the wrestlers are going out being told what they can and can't do, and hesitation comes into play then.

[Guest Dace59]

http://www.chriskanyon.com/shane/vbkidman.avi

 

http://www.chriskanyon.com/shane/vbkaz.avi

 

http://home.att.net/~badstreetboys/media/1stvb.avi

 

3 videos of it, for those that don't know it.

[Guest Youth N Asia]

I think the Shining Wizard is a cool finisher. I'd like him to use that more.

Yeah, and if he learned how to throw one it'd be even better.

[Guest Trivia247]

The WWE Baning a Move.....

 

Im just Shocked and appald its nevah happen before evah! lol

[Guest ViciousFish]

I could deal with the no piledrivers thing because they still get used once in a while, I mean anyone can do a piledriver but the Vertebreaker was my favorite move. I've been marking for it since the days of 3 Count. Of course I marked for 3 Count but maybe I'm just strange.

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

There's plenty of people here that marked for 3-Count