![]() Diamond Dallas Page, who had previously been struggling to climb out of the bottom of the heap in WCW, found himself a main event star once the DIamond Cutter became the hottest wrestling move of the mid 90s. Just as the DDT elevated Jake Roberts to the next level, others have followed suit, using a “hot” move to get over with the crowd. The DDT was cemented as the most dangerous move in wrestling, one that could incapacitate even the World Champion if applied.Ī great finishing maneuver can be the difference in a career. It was a very unusual start to a match, but an effective one. The beginning of the match made the message crystal clear: if Jake Roberts delivered the DDT to Ric Flair a second time, Jake would win the NWA World Championship. The rest of the match, Jake tried to hit th DDT a second time while Flair did everything he could to avoid the move. Finally, after several minutes, Flair re-entered the ring and the bell rang. Flair stalled as long as he could on the outside while Jake led the crowd in a chant of “DDT!” on the inside. While Jake argued with the referee, Ric Flair rolled out of the ring, desperately trying to recover from the brutal move. The mocking became more heated, pushes were exchanged and Jake put the DDT on Ric Flair, knocking the champ out cold before the match even began! Flair lay on the mat, unmoving, as Jake demanded the referee ring the bell. Ric Flair, known for his stylish taste, began mocking Roberts for his tattered clothes. A perfect example of this took place Novemwhen Jake Roberts challenged the NWA World heavyweight Champion, “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.īefore the match started, the two men met in the center of the ring. No matter who you were, if Jake Roberts hit you with a DDT, you were out for the count. It is a move that is well respected and always sold as a devastating maneuver. This is perhaps the strongest aspect of the DDT. In a deeper, more subtle sense, it is also a move that can be countered in several different ways, so it can be teased and built towards, adding to ring psychology and building a story of a match, as the user of the move tries again and again to deliver it, while the opponent desperately tries to avoided it, knowing that if it is hit, the match is most likely over. It can be gradually built towards, or it can be a surprise maneuver, used as a shock to the opponent or a counter when on the defensive. As a result, it is a move that can be hit out of almost any situation. All it takes is a front face lock and the DDT can be delivered. It is also a move that requires no elaborate set-up to pull off. No matter how large or small the opponent is, the DDT can be used against them. ![]() For starters, since it doesn’t involve needing the strength to lift an opponent, it can be applied to anybody. ![]() There is literally no weakness to the move. ![]() The DDT is one of the few perfect finishing moves in all of wrestling. Since they were all anxious to see the DDT, they were also anxious to see it’s inventor. Fans everywhere loved the DDT, chanting the letters and wanting to see it every time Jake entered the ring. The DDT maneuver catapulted Jake Roberts up the ranks in professional wrestling. From that point on, Roberts would purposely utilize the move, adding a snapping motion with his leg to increase the momentum with which he spiked his opponent’s head to the mat. The crowd had a strong reaction to the move and The grappler had the good sense to sell being knocked out by the impact. Since he didn’t release the front face lock when he fell, Roberts accidentally drive The grappler’s head to the mat. There was a miscommunication between the two and Roberts stepped on The Grappler’s foot, tripping and falling backwards. As Jake usually tells the story, he was wrestling The Grappler in the early 80s and applied a front face lock. The creation of the DDT is usually credited to Jake “The Snake” Roberts. Perhaps no finisher in all of wrestling has ever been better than The DDT. A great finisher can make up for a lot of weaknesses in other areas. One of the most important things a wrestler needs to decide on his his finishing maneuver. Even his name is a vital part of his success or failure. He has to pick out a wardrobe that fits his persona. A wrestler needs to decide if he wants to be cheered or boos and how he will go about getting that reaction. From hairstyle and ring attire, to physique and interview style, every aspect of a wrestler is calculated and planned out. A lot of different factors goes into the creation of a professional wrestlers career.
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