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There is no objective all-time winner, but 2 Cold Scorpio has the strongest historical case in the available record: a WWE writer recalls seeing him use the move in 1992 and names Scorpio’s version as a personal favorite. For a ranking, the fairest criteria are historical influence, distinctive execution, sustained use as a signature, and notable match impact—not a single move-count statistic.
What is a 450 Splash?
A 450 Splash is a top-rope aerial attack in which the wrestler makes a 450-degree rotation before landing across an opponent. The name describes the rotation, not a wrestler’s weight or a guarantee of how often the move is used.
Best 450 Splash users: an evidence-based ranking
This is an editorial ranking, not a formal poll or objective record. The available sources document Scorpio’s historical association and WWE’s signature-move labels for Rich Swann and Tony Nese. They do not provide enough comparable match-by-match evidence to score everyone’s execution or impact consistently, so the order reflects the strength and nature of the documented case.
1. 2 Cold Scorpio — the historical standard
WWE’s retrospective “The 50 coolest maneuvers of all time” offers the clearest historical anchor. Its writer recalls first seeing the 450 Splash when Scorpio appeared as Ron Simmons’ mystery partner against Tony Atlas, The Barbarian, and Cactus Jack at WCW Clash of Champions XXI in 1992. The account also recalls Scorpio’s later ECW matches with Sabu, Rob Van Dam, and Eddie Guerrero, and calls Scorpio’s version the writer’s favorite. Read WWE’s retrospective.
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That is a strong reason to put Scorpio first in a history-minded list, but it is an attributed recollection and preference—not proof that he invented the move or an official all-time award.
2. Rich Swann — the clearest modern signature association
WWE identifies Swann’s Standing 450 Splash as a signature move and describes it as a trademark. Its Cruiserweight Classic profile also lists the move and characterizes his style as high-flying. Those labels make Swann one of the most clearly documented modern users here; they establish a signature association, not a comparative verdict over every wrestler who has performed the move. WWE’s Rich Swann profile and his Cruiserweight Classic profile provide the source details.
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3. Tony Nese — a documented signature move
WWE lists the 450 Splash among Nese’s signature moves. That supports including him among notable users, though a profile entry alone cannot establish how his version compares in execution, longevity, or match significance with Scorpio’s or Swann’s. See WWE’s Tony Nese profile.
4. Taiji Ishimori — the leader in a bounded finish tally
A Japanese statistics page covering NJPW and Stardom records 25 total 450-degree splash finishes from May 2007 through July 13, 2026. Within that dataset, Ishimori leads with 11; Matt Vandagriff and Yuuhi are listed with three each. This makes Ishimori the leader in that particular count, not necessarily the best performer: it records finishes in two promotions over a stated period, not every use across wrestling history, and it measures frequency rather than visual quality or influence. See the 450-degree splash tally.
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How to judge the move beyond a tally
A useful comparison separates four questions that are often collapsed into “best”:
- Historical influence: Is there a credible account placing the wrestler in the move’s history, and is that account a recollection, a documented record, or an opinion?
- Distinctive execution: Does the wrestler’s version stand out in identifiable footage? The available sources do not provide a consistent set of match footage for a fair technical comparison.
- Signature status: Is the move repeatedly associated with that performer, rather than simply appearing in a list of possible offense?
- Match impact: Is there evidence of important outcomes or memorable uses? A tally of finishes can help with frequency, but it does not by itself show how consequential or memorable those finishes were.
On the evidence available, Scorpio has the strongest historical narrative, Swann has a particularly explicit modern trademark association, Nese has an official signature-move listing, and Ishimori leads a limited recent finish count. Those are different kinds of evidence, not interchangeable scores.
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What the available rankings and records can—and cannot—show
Kevin Berge’s 2011 Bleacher Report article is explicitly an opinion ranking of WWE and TNA users. It can be read as one writer’s historical comparison, not a governing record or consensus list. Read the 2011 ranking.
Likewise, WWE’s profiles establish how WWE labels Swann’s and Nese’s moves; they are not independent all-time rankings. The Japanese tally has a defined NJPW and Stardom scope and end date. None of these sources establishes a universal winner, a complete count across promotions, or a safety statistic.
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A note on the “450” name
The number refers to the move’s rotation. It should not be confused with Akeem’s billed weight: WWE identifies his signature move as the 747 Splash, while his profile separately gives a 450-pound billing. WWE’s Akeem profile makes the distinction clear.
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