Top 10 Wrestlers With The Most Dramatic Kickouts
Brock Lesnar
10. Seth Rollins
Seth Rollins built his reputation on relentless pace, elite conditioning, and an unmatched work rate, which naturally led to matches packed with big moves and dramatic finishes. His bouts frequently featured epic near falls that felt earned rather than excessive. Rollins was especially known for his nerve-wracking kickouts, often waiting until the absolute final moment to get his shoulder up—sometimes lifting it right off the mat as the referee’s hand was about to strike for three. Some of his most spectacular false finishes came when opponents used his own finisher, the Pedigree, against him, moments that consistently convinced audiences they were seconds away from witnessing an upset.
9. Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn brought variety and emotion to every kickout. At times, he would decisively power his shoulder off the canvas; at others, he barely mustered the energy to stay alive. What set Zayn apart was his ability to generate sympathy. His kickouts weren’t just physical acts—they were emotional beats within the story of the match. Zayn also had a rare connection with the crowd, feeding off fan energy to keep fighting even when he appeared completely finished, making every near fall feel deeply personal.
8. AJ Styles
AJ Styles excelled at drawing fans into the emotional rhythm of his matches, and his kickouts played a major role in that connection. His bouts were rarely straightforward, and his near falls reflected that unpredictability. Styles had an uncanny ability to lift his shoulder just half a second before the referee’s hand hit the mat, a skill that consistently left crowds stunned. Notably, he made history by becoming the first wrestler to kick out of the top-rope Attitude Adjustment—an incredible feat he accomplished twice.
7. Shawn Michaels
Widely regarded as one of the greatest in-ring performers of all time, Shawn Michaels brought excellence to every detail of his craft, including near falls. His kickouts were spine-tingling, often escalating in intensity as the match progressed. When Michaels turned it up late in a bout, his last-second kickouts forced fans to watch in silence, hanging on every count and breath, fully convinced that the match could end at any moment.
6. The Rock
The Rock was at the center of some of the most suspenseful near falls in wrestling history. The eruption of the crowd whenever the People’s Champ kicked out was enough to give fans goosebumps. His matches frequently included referee bumps, which slowed the count and stretched near falls to their breaking point, amplifying the drama. However, his ranking is slightly affected by a well-known habit—he occasionally glanced at the referee’s count while being pinned, subtly breaking the illusion.
5. Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns consistently delivered some of the most impactful near falls of the modern era. His matches were filled with dramatic moments where he delayed lifting his shoulder until the very last possible instant. A unique element of Reigns’ near falls was Paul Heyman’s priceless reactions at ringside, often selling total disbelief as if the match was about to end. Reigns also innovated the low blow kickout, a match-altering tactic that directly led to his victory in key moments. Like The Rock, however, he has occasionally been caught watching the referee’s count, which slightly detracts from the presentation.
4. John Cena
John Cena became synonymous with kicking out of finishers. His ability to absorb move after move and still survive at two perfectly embodied his “never give up” persona. Cena was presented as a superhero—no matter what the villain threw at him, it was never enough. Crucially, Cena kicked out with authority, making it unmistakably clear that he still had fight left. Even fans sitting in the cheapest seats could see his shoulder up, reinforcing his larger-than-life presence.
3. Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar’s near falls were terrifyingly believable. His offense was so explosive and convincing that every pin attempt against him felt like it could genuinely be the end. Paul Heyman’s reactions at ringside elevated these moments even further, flailing in panic before instantly shifting to relief when Lesnar kicked out—a transition described as pure gold. Lesnar’s timing was immaculate, often waiting until the referee’s hand was nearly halfway down for the third count, all without ever looking at the official.
2. Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle’s unmatched intensity and world-class wrestling made his matches some of the most dramatic in WWE history. His near falls were masterclasses in timing and suspense, frequently pulling viewers deeper into the match’s narrative. Angle routinely kicked out at what felt like 2.99, rarely needing to look at the referee because his timing was that precise. During the Ruthless Aggression era, he was reportedly asked to tone down his kickouts because they were getting too close to the three-count, sometimes forcing referees to subtly adjust. Credit is also due to those referees, whose dramatic counts added another layer to the tension.
1. The Undertaker
The Undertaker stands alone at the top. His near falls had everything—drama, suspense, excitement, and genuine belief that the match was about to end. WrestleMania became synonymous with his false finishes, where fans were repeatedly convinced that the streak was finally over. Despite winning 21 straight matches on the grandest stage, each kickout still drew audiences in completely. Those moments didn’t just extend matches; they created legends, cementing Undertaker’s near falls as some of the most iconic in wrestling history.
