In professional wrestling, a cutter is a 3⁄4 facelock neckbreaker maneuver. This versatile move has evolved over the years, with numerous variations and adaptations by different wrestlers.
The Origins
The cutter was innovated by Johnny Ace, who called it the Ace Crusher. It was later popularized by Diamond Dallas Page, who called it the Diamond Cutter, which is where the move got its name.
The RKO: A Cutter Masterpiece
The most famous of all the cutters is the RKO, the finishing move of Randy Orton.
365 of Randy Orton’s greatest RKOs
Variations of the Cutter
Over time, wrestlers have developed numerous variations of the cutter, each with its unique flair and execution. Here are some notable examples:
Argentine Backbreaker Cutter
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.
Read also: Mastering the Bulldog in Wrestling
Piggyback Cutter
Also known as a Piggyback cutter, in this elevated cutter variation, the opponent is first raised up in a piggy-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 a 3⁄4 facelock and drops down back first while still holding the opponent's head to force them to fall into the cutter.
Belly to Back Suplex Cutter
This variation sees the wrestler 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.
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.
Diving Cutter
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.
Elevated Cutter
With an opponent placed on an elevated surface, a wrestler applies a 3⁄4 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 the doomsday-style elevated cutter and the 3D.
Read also: Origins and variations of the DDT
TKO (Total Knock Out)
Also known as the TKO (short for Total Knock Out), and innovated by Marc Mero. It 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 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 it Rack Attack 2.0. Scorpio Sky and Sanada use this move, calling it TKO. WWE wrestler Austin Theory used to use this move, calling it Unproven Cutter. Karl Anderson also uses this move, naming it Swivel Gun Stun. This move was also used by former FCW/NXT/WWE superstar Alex Riley calling this move You're Dismissed.
Grave of the Fireflies
A standing variation of the Diamond Dust in which the attacking wrestler jumps forward into a somersault over a seated or kneeling opponent while applying an inverted facelock, landing back-first with the opponent's face driven into the mat. A stunner variation is also possible. This move was innovated by Jason Kincaid, calling it Grave of the Fireflies. Jillian Hall used this move at one point. WWE wrestler Charlotte Flair uses this move as her finisher, calling it Natural Selection.
Twist of Fate
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 a 3⁄4 facelock with their free arm before falling down into the cutter. This move is commonly known as the Twist of Fate and is associated with Matt and Jeff Hardy, as well as their former teammate, Lita.
Handspring Cutter
The wrestler performs a handspring and, as they jump backwards, they grab their opponent in a 3⁄4 facelock and fall backwards, dropping the opponent face-first into the mat.
Inverted Suplex Cutter
This variation sees the attacking wrestler execute an inverted suplex lift on the opponent before bringing them down face first with the cutter.
Read also: Stone Cold Steve Austin's Finisher
Jumping Cutter
This cutter variation sees the wrestler jumping towards the opponent and grabbing the opponent's head in a 3⁄4 facelock while parallel to the ground, and then slamming the opponent's face to the mat in a cutter.
Powerslam Cutter
Also known as a powerslam cutter, this variation sees the wrestler lifting the opponent onto their shoulders as in a front 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.
Yokosuka Cutter
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 a Canadian backbreaker rack, before flipping the opponent over into the cutter. It is common for the wrestler to not properly apply the 3⁄4 facelock and the move to end up more in a DDT position. The move was innovated by Susumu Yokosuka and has since been used by several other wrestlers like Bobby Lashley and Buddy Matthews.
Pop-Up Cutter
The wrestler first pops the opponent up and then applies the 3⁄4 facelock and drops them into the cutter.
Spinning 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 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 the Roll of the Dice and was popularized in North America by Reno and Christopher Daniels, the latter of whom uses the one-armed variant and calls it the Last Rites. Chris Hero popularized the variation pushing the opponent's back as his finisher, called the Hero's Welcome. Most famously, WWE wrestler Cody Rhodes uses the arm-trap variation as a finisher, calling it Cross Rhodes; during his time as Stardust, he referenced the move as the Queen's Crossbow. Damian Priest used this move as his finisher, calling it The 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. The second major variation, which is known as an outward rolling cutter and referred to as a Whirling 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 by Tama Tonga as the Tongan Twist. Another variation sees the wrestler roll forward before leaping to hit the opponent with a cutter. Fénix famously uses this variation.
Rope-Assisted Cutter
This variation of the cutter occurs when the wrestler puts the opponent in the 3⁄4 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 by Spike Dudley, originally calling it the Acid Drop, and later Dudley Dog in WWE. David Finlay uses this move as the Acid Drop. 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 a 3⁄4 facelock and drop them in the cutter. This variation is popularized by Cody Rhodes and is called the Cody Cutter, as well as Will Ospreay, who calls it the OsCutter.
Rated-RKO: Edge and Randy Orton's Tag Team
Rated-RKO was a villainous professional wrestling tag team in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) consisting of Edge and Randy Orton, with Lita as their manager for a short while. Edge and Orton formed an alliance in October 2006 to challenge the team of Triple H and Shawn Michaels, collectively known as D-Generation X (DX), whom Rated-RKO felt were preventing them from becoming world champions.
Edge and Orton, calling themselves "Rated-RKO," immediately became very outspoken against DX and began mocking them at every opportunity, including a sketch reminiscent of the ones DX did about their opponents on a usual basis. This led to a tag team match on November 5, 2006, at Cyber Sunday with the fans choosing the special guest referee. At Cyber Sunday, the duo defeated DX, handing them their first team loss since they reunited when Eric Bischoff (the fan selected referee) allowed the use of a steel chair without calling for a disqualification.
The following night on Raw, Edge and Orton faced Ric Flair and Roddy Piper for the World Tag Team Championship with Eric Bischoff as the guest referee. The following week on Raw however, they won the World Tag Team Championship from Flair and Piper in a rematch when they attacked Piper upon making his entrance, with Edge delivering a one man con-chair-to to Piper. At Survivor Series, Lita legitimately retired after losing the Women's Championship to Mickie James and left the group in the process. Later that night, Team Rated-RKO, consisting of Rated-RKO along with Johnny Nitro, Mike Knox, and Gregory Helms, were swept by Team DX (DX, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, and CM Punk) with Orton being the last member eliminated in a ten-man elimination match.
On the December 4 episode of Raw, Rated-RKO and MNM defeated DX and The Hardys. After the match, Edge and Orton attacked DX giving Michaels a double RKO on a steel chair and two con-chair-tos to Triple H on the announce table. With Triple H out of action, Rated-RKO continued their on-screen rivalry with remaining DX member Shawn Michaels. They were able to schedule a two-on-one handicap match against Michaels, during which he was able to beat the odds and defeat both men, leaving Orton lying in the ring after a one-man con-chair-to as Edge stood and watched at ringside.
On the January 22 episode of Raw, Edge defeated Michaels in a street fight with help from Orton. At the Royal Rumble, both members of Rated-RKO made it to the final four in the Royal Rumble match (they both were eliminated by Michaels) where The Undertaker won the match. The next night on Raw, the duo lost the World Tag Team Championship to the impromptu team of John Cena and Shawn Michaels.
On the April 16, 2007 episode of Raw, they reunited to take on John Cena in a handicap match but lost the match due to interference from Michaels. At Backlash, the two were involved in a Fatal Four-Way match for the WWE Championship along with Michaels and Cena. Cena ended up retaining the title after pinning Orton. On the April 30 episode of Raw, Edge and Orton met in a one-on-one match. Edge won the match by pinning Orton following a spear. With this move, Rated-RKO was officially disbanded.
On January 26, 2020, at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, Edge returned from injury, wrestling for the first time since 2011, then reuniting with Randy Orton to eliminate The O.C. (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson). The following night on Raw, Orton would interrupt Edge, attacking him with the RKO and then deliver a Con-Chair-To, a move Rated-RKO used in their run as a tag team, thus turning Orton heel in the process. They would face each other in a Last Man Standing match at WrestleMania 36, which was won by Edge and a singles match at Backlash, which was won by Orton.
| Championship | Reign |
|---|---|
| World Tag Team Championship | 1 |