Cutter (professional wrestling)

Randy Orton performing the RKO (jumping cutter) on Kane

Matt Hardy performing a Twist of Fate on Sheamus.

In professional wrestling, a cutter is a common term which refers to the three-quarter facelock bulldog maneuver. The move is also described as an inverted neckbreaker, though it is not one, it only bears an inverted style to it. This move sees an attacking wrestler first apply a three-quarter 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 also formed the base for the later development of another professional wrestling move known as the stunner. This variant sees an attacking wrestler apply the facelock but, instead of falling to their back, this wrestler drops to a seated position, dropping an opponent's jaw across the shoulder of the wrestler.

Variations

Back suplex cutter

This elevated cutter variation has the wrestler first lift an opponent from behind as with a belly 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 opponent's head in a three-quarter facelock, driving the face of the opponent into the mat.

Elevated cutter

With an opponent placed on an elevated surface, a wrestler applies a three-quarter 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 of which they are dropped. The elevated cutter can also be performed as a double team maneuver including several variations including the doomsday-style elevated cutter or the 3D.

Forward somersault cutter

A standing variation of the Diamond Dust in which the attacking wrestler first holds an opponent in an inverted facelock before then jumping forwards to somersault over the opponent, landing back-first with the opponent's head driven into the wrestler's shoulder.

Jumping cutter

Also known as an RKO, this is a variation of a standard cutter, but instead of running forward, the wrestler jumps level to their opponent's head while parallel to the ground, applying a three-quarter facelock and then slams the opponent's head to the mat or to the shoulder of the attacker.

Rolling cutter

This version of a cutter sees the wrestler place an opponent in an inverted facelock then spinning under the opponent while holding the facelock, twisting him or her into the cutter position. This move has two major variants. In the first, the attacking wrestler rolls under their opponent. A modified version which involves hoisting the opponent off their feet before beginning the spin. The second major variation sees the wrestler spin and twist the opponent in the opposite direction into the cutter.

Springboard cutter

This variation of the cutter occurs when the wrestler puts his opponent in the three-quarter 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 three-quarter facelock bulldog.

Another variation of this cutter exists, called the springboard backflip three-quarter facelock diving bulldog. In this cutter the opponent and the attacker are in the corner, the attacker puts the opponent in the three-quarter facelock then runs up the turnbuckle, becoming vertical, then turns in mid-air to land the cutter. The move is similar to the Shiranui.

TKO

The TKO, short for Total Knock Out and technically known as a fireman's carry cutter, was innovated by Marc Mero and is another elevated cutter variation in which the opponent is first raised over the shoulders of a wrestler in the fireman's carry position. From here, the attacking wrestler twists the opposite way and quickly switches back throwing the legs of the opponent out backwards and drops down to the mat while taking hold of the opponent's head to force him to fall into a high impact cutter.

Argentine cutter

This TKO variation sees the wrestler lift his opponent into an Argentine backbreaker rack and, while throwing the opponent's legs out backwards, rotates the opponent in mid-air into the cutter.

Twist of Fate

A cutter variation created by Matt Hardy where the wrestler starts in the front facelock grappling position. The wrestler then spins around, putting the opponent quickly in a three-quarter facelock and drops down for crucifix hold before rotating them into the cutter. Another variation involves the opponent lifted in a reverse crucifix and dropped into the cutter

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 a Canadian backbreaker rack, before flipping the opponent over into the cutter. It is common for the wrestler to not properly apply the three-quarter facelock and the move to end up more in a facebuster position.

See also

• Professional wrestling throws