Since his debut on the main roster, WWE superstar Damian Priest has rapidly ascended the ranks and established himself as a strong presence. Priest progressed from a vital member of Edge’s original Judgment Day team to becoming the leader and capturing the World Heavyweight Championship, illustrating an impressive rise to fame.
Nevertheless, similar to all elite athletes in a sport that is always changing, Priest has made necessary adaptations to stay at the top of his game. One of those significant changes involved his finisher move, The Reckoning, and the reasons behind this decision have captured fans’ attention worldwide.
The Reckoning battles Cross Rhodes in a showdown of finisher moves
The Reckoning, Priest’s final move, was well-known for showcasing his skill in the wrestling ring. But everything changed when Cody Rhodes came back to WWE. Rhodes’ signature move, Cross Rhodes, looks very similar to The Reckoning, causing possible confusion for fans and viewers.
In a conversation with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, Priest revealed how this situation played out. Despite what some people may believe, WWE never specifically requested him to alter his finishing move. Instead, there was a subtle suggestion that Priest might want to reconsider using the move now that Rhodes was back. Priest elaborated, “Actually, they didn’t say you can’t do it anymore. I do it differently, but it’s one of those things. They’re like, ‘You might wanna…’ but they never said, ‘Change it.’”
Despite the green light from WWE and even Cody Rhodes himself, who had no qualms about Priest continuing to use the move, the Puerto Rican powerhouse felt it was best to step away from The Reckoning. His reasoning was simple: two superstars using nearly identical finishing moves could potentially create confusion among the audience.
“If [Rhodes comes] back, and I’m doing this move, every time I hit it, people are gonna think of [him],” Priest explained. Both moves are variations of the Rolling Cutter but with each wrestler’s unique twist on execution. Rhodes, for example, hooks the arms and adds a distinctive twist, while Priest used to perform his version by spinning underneath his opponent. Yet, at the end of the day, the similarities were clear enough for Priest to consider the bigger picture.
Priest’s collection of finishing moves: prepared for advancement
Stepping away from The Reckoning has not left Priest without weapons in his in-ring arsenal. On the contrary, the WWE star emphasized his readiness to use other devastating finishers, such as the South of Heaven chokeslam, The Razor’s Edge, or the Flatliner. These moves are all part of his toolkit, ready to be unleashed when the moment calls for them.
But what if Priest and Cody Rhodes face off in the future? Priest didn’t shy away from hinting that The Reckoning might make a surprise return. “Basically, anytime I face Cody, I’m gonna hit him with it,” Priest teased, fueling speculation of a future showdown between the two.
Beyond finishers, Priest is not done evolving. He hinted at deeper layers to his moveset, including submissions that have yet to be fully explored in his WWE career. “I [haven’t] even started doing submissions yet, [of] which I got a few,” he said during the interview. Among these submissions is a unique version of the Gogoplata, a move famously used by WWE legend The Undertaker, one of Priest’s wrestling idols.
Deciding to change is not simply about relocating, it goes beyond that
For Priest, the decision to move away from The Reckoning wasn’t just about differentiating himself from Rhodes. It was about the bigger picture of evolution and carving out his own identity in WWE. While paying homage to wrestling greats and their signature moves is common in the industry, Priest recognizes the importance of establishing his legacy.
“It’s one thing paying homage to somebody,” he stated. “It’s one thing doing a similar move to somebody who works somewhere else. But when they’re working in the same company, on the same show, there’s gotta be a difference.”
This statement reflects Priest’s understanding of the WWE landscape. With multiple top-tier superstars sharing the same ring, standing out is paramount. By making the tough decision to retire The Reckoning as his finisher, Priest has not only set himself apart but also demonstrated his willingness to adapt and evolve.
A wrestler who is always growing and changing
Damian Priest’s development in WWE showcases his capacity to adapt and improve his abilities as an entertainer. From his beginnings in NXT to his current position as a leading figure in WWE, he has consistently demonstrated a readiness to adapt to progress in his career. The Priest is always changing, whether it’s by adjusting his final move or adding new elements to his wrestling style.
Priest will also adapt to the changing WWE environment. Fans can anticipate witnessing additional creativity from him in the upcoming months, such as the possible integration of submissions into his matches. Even though The Reckoning is history, Priest’s future looks promising and his drive to succeed is as strong as ever.
