Welcome to another edition of #FinisherFriday! This is Wreddit_Regal bringing you a short review of our favorite underground-turned-mainstream (get that pun?) wrestler.
Jeff Cobb is definitely more than just an athletic guy. From representing Guam at the 2004 Summer Olympics to straight-up devouring people's essences as Matanza in Lucha Underground, he is by all means and purposes a monster in the Internet wrestling community's eyes. His accolades are also nothing short of befitting a monster: he is a former PWG World and Tag Team Champion, ROH World Television Champion, and NEVER Openweight Champion.
Built like a tank, Jeff Cobb's main arsenal consists of the stuff a hoss type wrestler would normally deliver...
...but he also has the agility, flexibility, and spring of a wrestler two weight classes below him!
His finisher is a reverse scoop powerslam, named the Tour of the Islands (or Wrath of the Gods in his Lucha Underground stint):
Breaking down the move into chunks:
- Cobb begins to "scoop" an opponent, but stops as the opponent's body is perpendicular to his body
- Instead of slamming the opponent arse-first, Cobb instead spins the other way, and slams the opponent head or upper back-first onto the mat
Just take a look at how those heads bounce off once, and then suddenly go limp. *shudders*
Mechanics-wise, the inverted scoop powerslam is theoretically weaker than the standard version...
...simply because the momentum of your initial scooping motion is lost. As Cobb actually tries to stop the opponent's arse from going down, and reverses the spin, he has to make up for the lost kinetic energy by throwing his body as well. And that actually helps the move, since it deals damage no scoop slam can ever dish out: a concussion or whiplash.
Using my Regal Rating, I would give the move:
10/10 for aesthetics. Not many wrestlers can make a scoop powerslam look good, and Cobb is one of that select few. The way that he launches himself as well greatly enhances the monstrous psychology of "throwing all caution to the wind."
9/10 for damage. Despite a lack of initial momentum, Cobb makes up for it with efficient impact mechanics and sheer brute strength. A booboo in your back or sacral region doesn't even hold a candle to a potential lifetime of traumatic brain injury side effects.
And that's it chaps, my short review of Jeff Cobb's finisher! Do you miss Quatro being hurled into outer space, courtesy of the F-5000? Let us know in the comment section below!
Wreddit_Regal is the resident sports kinesiologist 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.
: Take A Tour Of The Islands){kind=link}