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Inprofessional wrestling, acutter is a3⁄4 facelockneckbreaker[1] maneuver. This move sees an attacking wrestler first apply a3⁄4 facelock (reaching back and grabbing the head of an opponent, thus pulling the opponent's jaw above the wrestler's shoulder) before falling backwards (sometimes after running forwards first) to force the opponent face-first to the mat below.
The cutter was innovated byJohnny Ace, who called it theAce Crusher.[1] It was later popularized byDiamond Dallas Page, who called it theDiamond Cutter, which is where the move got its name. The most famous of all the cutters is theRKO, the finishing move ofRandy Orton. The cutter also formed the base for the later development of another professional wrestling move known as thestunner.
The attacking wrestler gets the opponent in the Argentine backbreaker position as to execute the Argentine Backbreaker drop. The attacking wrestler then pushes the opponent's legs so that they flip horizontally 180 degrees. As the opponent's weight is being shifted to one side, the attacking wrestler applies the3⁄4 facelock and drops the opponent.
Also known as a Piggyback cutter, in this elevated cutter variation, the opponent is first raised up in apiggy-back position. From here, the attacking wrestler pushes both the opponent's legs backwards with enough strength to force them into a near horizontal position. The wrestler applies a3⁄4 facelock and drops down back first while still holding the opponent's head to force them to fall into the cutter. Diamond Dallas Page used this version againstBilly Kidman during their match in an August 16th, 1999 episode ofNitro.
This variation sees the wrestler lift an opponent from behind as with abelly to back suplex. Then, instead of falling backwards, the wrestler pushes the opponent's legs so that the opponent turns over in mid-air, so that they are now face-down and parallel to the ground. As the opponent falls, the wrestler reaches back and seizes the opponent's head in order to perform the cutter.
In this version, the wrestler first lifts the opponent up in a crucifix hold before rotating them into the cutter. Another variation involves the opponent lifted in a reverse crucifix and dropped into the cutter. This particular version was innovated and popularized in America byTommy Dreamer, who called it theTommyHawk.
In this version, a wrestler dives from the top rope and nails a cutter to a standing opponent from the front. There is also a springboard version in which the wrestler dives from the ropes in a backflip position and delivers a cutter to the standing opponent.Chris Bey uses this move, calling itThe Art of Finesse.
With an opponent placed on an elevated surface, a wrestler applies a3⁄4 facelock and then draws the opponent away, leaving only the opponent's feet over the elevated surface. The wrestler then falls backwards so that the opponent is forced to dive forward onto the top of their head due to the angle at which they are dropped. The elevated cutter can also be performed as a double team maneuver, including several variations such as thedoomsday-style elevated cutter and the3D. It is used byDanny Burch andNigel McGuinness.
Also known as theTKO[citation needed] (short for Total Knock Out), and innovated byMarc Mero. It is anotherelevated cutter variation in which the opponent is first raised over the shoulders of a wrestler in thefireman's carry position. From here, the attacking wrestler twists the opposite way and quickly switches back, throwing the opponent's legs out backwards and drops down to the mat while taking hold of the opponent's head to force them to fall into a high impact cutter.Nikki Bella used this move, calling itRack Attack 2.0.Scorpio Sky andSanada use this move, calling itTKO.WWE wrestlerAustin Theory used to use this move, calling itUnproven Cutter.Karl Anderson also uses this move, naming itSwivel Gun Stun. This move was also used by former FCW/NXT/WWE superstarAlex Riley calling this moveYou're Dismissed.Samoa Joe used a jumping version of the move while pushing the opponent backwards.
A standing variation of theDiamond Dust in which the attacking wrestler jumps forward into a somersault over a seated or kneeling opponent while applying aninverted facelock, landing back-first with the opponent's face driven into the mat. Astunner variation is also possible. This move was innovated byJason Kincaid, calling itGrave of the Fireflies.Jillian Hall used this move at one point.WWE wrestlerCharlotte Flair uses this move as her finisher, calling itNatural Selection. During his tenure as Stardust,Cody Rhodes used this move as a signature move.
This cutter variation sees the wrestler first lock the opponent in a front facelock or an inverted front facelock. The wrestler then pivots 180° and catches the opponent in a3⁄4 facelock with their free arm before falling down into the cutter. This move is commonly known as theTwist of Fate and is associated withMattandJeff Hardy, as well as their former teammate,Lita.Ethan Page would later get permission from the Hardys to use this cutter as a finisher, calling it theTwisted Grin.
The wrestler performs ahandspring and, as they jump backwards, they grab their opponent in a3⁄4 facelock and fall backwards, dropping the opponent face-first into the mat. It is used byPenelope Ford,Fénix andJay Lethal, the latter of whom calls itLethal Injection.
This variation sees the attacking wrestler execute aninverted suplex lift on the opponent before bringing them down face first with the cutter. Also known as theOsaka Street Cutter.
This cutter variation sees the wrestler jumping towards the opponent and grabbing the opponent's head in a3⁄4 facelock while parallel to the ground, and then slamming the opponent's face to the mat in a cutter. This move was innovated byJohnny Ace as theAce Crusher, popularized byDiamond Dallas Page as theDiamond Cutter and made even more popular byRandy Orton as his finishing move theRKO.Karl Anderson andTama Tonga also use this variation, calling it theGun Stun andMatt Riddle has used theRKO since he startedteaming with Randy Orton.
Also known as a powerslam cutter, this variation sees the wrestler lifting the opponent onto their shoulders as in afront powerslam. Then, as the opponent is on the shoulder, the wrestler holds the head of the opponent and jumps and slams the opponent face-first to the mat in a cutter. Thefacebuster variation also exists.
Also known as an Yokosuka Cutter. In this variation, the wrestler first lifts the opponent so that they are lying face up across one of the wrestler's shoulders, as in aCanadian backbreaker rack, before flipping the opponent over into the cutter. It is common for the wrestler to not properly apply the3⁄4 facelock and the move to end up more in aDDT position. The move was innovated bySusumu Yokosuka and has since been used by several other wrestlers likeBobby Lashley andBuddy Matthews. This was also the finisher of former WCW and WWE WrestlerChuck Palumbo asFull Throttle.
The wrestler first pops the opponent up and then applies the3⁄4 facelock and drops them into the cutter. It is used bySanada which is also calledTKO.
This version of a cutter sees the wrestler place an opponent in aninverted facelock, then spinning under the opponent while holding the facelock, twisting them into the cutter position. This move has two major variants. The first is an inward rolling cutter, in which the attacking wrestler rolls under the opponent while using their free arm to grab the opponent's nearest free arm, strikes their back in an upward motion to power the move, or a one-armed variant using the swinging motion to execute the move and is widely referred to as theRoll of the Dice and was popularized in North America byReno andChristopher Daniels, the latter of whom uses the one-armed variant and calls it theLast Rites.Chris Hero popularized the variation pushing the opponent's back as his finisher, called theHero's Welcome. Most famously,WWE wrestlerCody Rhodes uses the arm-trap variation as a finisher, calling itCross Rhodes; during his time as Stardust, he referenced the move as theQueen's Crossbow.Damian Priest used this move as his finisher, calling itThe Reckoning, prior to Rhodes returning to WWE in 2022. A modified version which involves hoisting the opponent off their feet before beginning the spin has also been used by other wrestlers. Hero also uses this lifting version called theSuper Hero's Welcome.
The second major variation, which is known as an outward rolling cutter and referred to as aWhirling Dervish in Japan, sees the wrestler spin in the opposite direction while holding onto the opponent's free arm while twisting for leverage. This is used byTama Tonga as theTongan Twist.WWE wrestlerBo Dallas used this move, calling itRollin' the Dice.
Another variation sees the wrestler roll forward before leaping to hit the opponent with a cutter.Fénix famously uses this variation.Mike Santana uses a variation where he rolls backwards before hitting a cutter, calling it theRolling Buck 50.
This variation occurs when the wrestler runs up to the distracted/stunned opponent, applies a3⁄4 facelock while parallel to the ground, and then slams the opponent's face to the mat in a cutter.
This variation of the cutter occurs when the wrestler puts the opponent in the3⁄4 facelock, then usually runs towards the ropes, then jumps onto the second or third rope to bounce off it, turning in the air to land the cutter. This move was popularized bySpike Dudley, originally calling it theAcid Drop, and laterDudley Dog inWWE.David Finlay uses this move as theAcid Drop.Je'Von Evans also uses this move known as theOG Cutter.
There is a variation where both wrestlers faces the ropes or turnbuckle. The attacking wrestler runs and jumps on the ropes and bounces back. As they fall, they catch the opponent into a3⁄4 facelock and drop them in the cutter. This variation is popularized byCody Rhodes and is called theCody Cutter, as well asWill Ospreay, who calls it theOsCutter.Sol Ruca uses a variation which sees her do a 360 flip off the ropes, known as theSol Snatcher, as well asDante Leon who calls it theEndseeker.
