Cutter (professional wrestling)
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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. 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. Due to the facelock, the opponent's face often never reaches the mat. Instead, it lands on the shoulder of the attacking wrestler, thus damaging the neck.
The cutter was originally used by Johnny Ace, who called it the Ace Crusher. However, it was most popularly used by Diamond Dallas Page, who called it the Diamond Cutter, from where the term "cutter" is now derived. The Diamond Cutter was also used by former basketball player Karl Malone during his time at WCW.
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. This move is most notably used by semi-retired wrestler: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Most, if not all, versions of the cutter can be modified for this jawbreaker move.
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[edit] Variations
[edit] Corner springboard cutter
In this cutter the opponent and the attacker are in the corner, the attacker Springboards (bounces) off the turnbuckles while keeping his opponent in a Three quarters facelock and then lands in a standard cutter position.
[edit] Jumping cutter
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. This move was popularized by the Randy Orton as his finisher, he uses this move on geavier opponents as well which instead of landing on their chest, the opponent drops to there knees. Randy Orton calls it the RKO, which are his initials (Randal Keith Orton) & a play on the term TKO.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Crucifix 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 popularized in America by Tommy Dreamer, who called it the TommyHawk.
[edit] 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.
A slight variation on this sees the wrestler run forward while still applying the three-quarter facelock, pulling the opponent off before dropping backwards down to the mat to force the opponent down for a cutter from a raised height.
The elevated cutter can also be performed as a double team move.
[edit] 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. This move was popularized by Masato Tanaka.
[edit] 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. The first, in which the attacking wrestler rolls under their opponent, is widely referred to as the Roll of the Dice. Christopher Daniels popularized the move as one of his signature moves known as the Last Rites. Chris Hero also popularized the move as his finisher, called the Hero's Welcome. A modified version which involves hoisting the opponent off their feet before beginning the spin has also been used by other wrestlers, mainly Chris Hero, who calls it the Super Hero's Welcome. The second major variation, which is technically known as an Outward rolling cutter and referred to as a Whirling Dervish in Japan, sees the wrestler spin in the opposite direction over the opponent.
[edit] TKO
Also known as the Fireman's carry cutter, as named by frequent user Marc Mero, this 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 quikly switches back throwing the legs of the opponent out backwards and drop down to the mat while taking hold of the opponent's head to force them to fall into a high impact cutter.
A variation of the TKO, called the Argentine cutter, is performed by Claudio Castagnoli, which he has named the UBS Neckbreaker. In this move, he lifts the opponent into an Argentine backbreaker rack (facing up with the neck cradled or facing the opposite direction of Castagnoli) and, while throwing the opponent's legs out backwards, rotates the opponent in mid-air into the cutter.
Andrew "Test" Martin uses a different variation of the TKO, in which he used more force to spin the opponent while in the fireman's carry position and then attempt the Cutter.
[edit] Twist of Fate
In this variation, the wrestler first applies a front facelock, the wrestler tucks their arm under the opponents chin after pivoting 180 degrees inward and bringing themselves into the cutter.There is also a stunner variation.
The Twist of Fate was innovated and popularized by Matt Hardy and was most famously used by all the members of Team Xtreme: Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, and Lita. Matt Hardy also utilizes a version of the move that sees him standing on the lower, middle, or top rope on an opponent sitting on the top turnbuckle which is called the Super Twist of Fate.
Jeff Hardy often uses a reverse variation of the move, which puts the opponent in an inverted facelock before dropping down into a neckbreaker slam, best referred to as an Extreme Twist of Fate, a name popularized by the Smackdown video game series.
[edit] Yokosuka cutter
In this variation, which was named and innovated by Susumu Yokosuka, 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. This move is also referred to as a Powerbomb Cutter. Chuck Palumbo popularized this move in America and currently uses this move as one variation of his finisher called the Full Throttle.
