When it comes to wrestling moves, one that has truly stood the test of time and remained relevant through every era is the piledriver. Named after a piece of machinery that pounds poles into the ground, the moniker is greatly fitting as many wrestlers have been dropped on their head whether accidentally or on purpose.
Over the past few decades, the number of variations of the piledriver has grown greatly, with each move seemingly going the extra mile to add as much flair and theatrics as possible. While some of these new moves are great, how do they stack up against the standards and classic versions of the piledriver?
9 Texas Piledriver
Back in the 1970s and 1980s, the piledriver was a move used a lot more than present day, but it was also portrayed as something that could easily end an opponent's career.
The Texas piledriver is a very basic version of the move, where the wrestler on offense slowly lifts their opponent and nearly as slowly drops them down on their head. Not the most impactful, but a classic version.
8 Package Piledriver
The package piledriver was made famous by Kevin Owens, during his run in ROH and other independent promotions. The move has never been used by Owens in the WWE, although it has been teased plenty of times.
This move looks a lot more dangerous than it really is due to the opponent's arms and legs being wrapped up (hence the name). It remains to be seen if Owens will ever get to hit it in WWE, but if he does, the reaction will be incredible.
7 Canadian Destroyer
When Petey Williams hit his first Canadian Destroyer in TNA almost 20 years ago, it's doubtful he knew what an influential and sometimes polarizing move it would become in the world of professional wrestling.
What was once considered one of the most devastating and impressive finishers ever has been often neglected to a transition move. However, it is still amazing how many people have used the Destroyer, ranging from Rey Mysterio to Dustin Rhodes to Bad Bunny.
6 Spike Piledriver
A staple in the 80s and 90s, the spike piledriver was considered the most devastating double-team move outside of The Road Warriors' Doomsday Device, and in some cases, would earn the offenders performing it an automatic DQ.
The move has made a bit of a comeback lately with FTR using it in AEW, but for the most part, it has been a rarity, especially in WWE, since the Attitude Era.
5 Sit-out Tombstone Piledriver
The sit-out tombstone piledriver was mostly associated with the horrible injury it caused to the neck of Stone Cold Steve Austin in 1997, almost ending the Rattlesnake's career before he ever the reached record-shattering popularity he would achieve.
The inherently dangerous part of the move is obvious in that being a sit-out version, it provides less protection to the head and neck of the wrestler taking it. It is almost definite it will never be seen in the WWE again.
4 Vertebreaker
The name of this move alone says it all. While very different from the traditional piledriver, this potentially dangerous move is considered a variation. Not surprisingly, it is another one that hasn't been used in the WWE very much since the early 2000s.
The move has its beginning in Japan as the Kudo driver but was popularized in the U.S. by The Hurricane in WWE and Homicide in Ring of Honor. Because it leaves the wrestler taking the move a much lower chance of protecting themselves, it is one that is maybe best left 'banned' as some claim.
3 Steiner Screwdriver
Scott Steiner is arguably one of the scariest personalities in wrestling, so it isn't surprising he would invent a move as brutal and terrifying as the Steiner Screwdriver. This move is truly a testament to how strong Big Poppa Pump was at his peak, as well as his athleticism.
Steiner would hold the opponent up in the air for a vertical suplex and then transition them (or toss them in the air) and then drive them down into sit-out tombstone piledriver.
2 Jumping Piledriver
If there is a true master of the piledriver, it has to be Jerry "The King" Lawler. During his time as the face of Memphis wrestling, he delivered the move to everyone from Randy Savage to Andy Kaufman. In that territory, it was treated as a way to end someone's career.
Lawler, as well as the late Paul Orndorff, put an extra level of impact into the move by jumping into the air and seemingly spiking their opponent's head into the ground.
1 Tombstone Piledriver
Although the move existed beforehand, no one could predict just how important this move would become when The Undertaker hit his first version on Koko B. Ware at the 1990 Survivor Series - which may have been the ugliest version of it as well.
Over the years, this version of the piledriver became arguably most the most famous finisher in WWE history, ending so many matches during The Undertaker's WrestleMania win streak (as well as gasps when people managed to kick out). Plenty of other men had their variations of the Tombstone, but it will always be synonymous with The Phenom.