Finisher Friday (7/22/22): SLK? More Like BLK To Me

 

Welcome to another edition of #FinisherFriday! This is Wreddit_Regal bringing you a short analysis of the utility finisher of our favorite Yami ni Odoru Sukai Taigā.

In the world of puroresu, one's general charisma or likeability doesn't change no matter what alignment they are in. This is largely due to the audience putting the wrestlers' in-ring skill above promo and presentation, unlike their Western counterparts. But there are rare times when just one heel turn propelled a wrestler to even greater heights—which is what happened to STARDOM's joshi luchadora, Starlight Kid.

Touted by many as the future of STARDOM, the once jolly and pure wrestler seemed to have it all in terms of look, presentation, and skills. But fans were in for a surprise, as the young complete package had a massive boost once she was poached by Oedo Tai, which is explained in the video below:

Since her move to the dark side, her fast and explosive moveset has been permanently tainted with that mean streak that didn't always make it to the surface when she was a goody-two-shoes, and we love it:

While embracing her evil side, she uses these moves as her finishers:

A scoop kneeling piledriver called Kokko Tenbatsu

A top-rope Spanish fly called Eternal Foe:

And this article's focus: a confusing cross-legged bridging fisherman suplex which she calls Ki-cherman:

Let's break the move down into chunks to further understand it:

1. SLK starts in the usual fisherman suplex position
2. She forces the opponent to cross their right leg, by putting her right arm in between the opponent's thighs (from the back), and grabbing the opponent's tights
3. She then proceeds to lift the opponent, completing the execution of the bridging fisherman suplex

 

Using my Regal Rating, I'd give this finisher a:

9/10 for aesthetics. Although it pales in comparison to her other finishers, Ki-cherman has a unique aesthetic that makes the opponent look like they are performing some sort of acrobatic kick mid-air.

8/10 for damage. The Ki-cherman isn't actually a damage-type finisher, but a move that focuses on disabling the opponent's limbs enough to garner a three-count once they both come down crashing onto the mat, much like Tam Nakano's Twilight Dream. By keeping the opponent's right leg trapped by SLK's right arm grabbing onto their tights, the opponent's entire lower body is put in a lateral position while the upper body is supine. This makes the act of kicking out either impossible or vain for the opponent, as they cannot propel their leg (and upper body) upward effectively.

And that's it chaps, my short analysis of Starlight Kid's Ki-cherman! Is it possible to put a ceiling on SLK's overall ability, with the amount of amazing performances she has been putting out lately? Let us know in the comment section below!

*****

Wreddit_Regal is the resident finisher fanatic of Reddit's wrestling forum, r/squaredcircle. From the most basic of punches to the most intricate double-team maneuvers, he can explain them within the realm of human anatomy and physics, because when doing absolutely nothing wrestling-related, he also happens to work as an operating room nurse.

July 22, 2022