
The Muscle Buster is a wrestling move used by Samoa Joe, a WWE wrestler. It involves a wrestler nailing their opponent from behind and putting them on the top rope. The move has sparked controversy and safety concerns, especially after Tyson Kidd's career-ending injury in 2015, which was caused by the Muscle Buster. While some sources speculate that the WWE may have temporarily banned the move, others suggest that it is still used in big matches or with select opponents. The WWE has stated that Kidd's injury was a fluke and not the result of a poorly executed move. The debate surrounding the Muscle Buster centres around the potential risks involved and the impact on wrestlers' performances and careers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Rumors | February 2017 |
| Wrestler | Samoa Joe |
| Move | Muscle Buster |
| Possible Reason | The move ended the career of Tyson Kidd |
| Status | Not banned |
| Temporary Outlaw | Possible |
| Vince McMahon's Role | Might have banned the move |
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What You'll Learn

Samoa Joe's use of the Muscle Buster
Samoa Joe, the ring name of Nuufolau Joel "Joe" Seanoa, is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is known for his "technician" and "powerhouse" wrestling style, with "blistering, MMA-inspired offence". Joe's signature moves include the Coquina Clutch, the Coquina Plex, the facewash, the Island Driver, the Olé Kick, the STF, the STJoe, the uranage, and the muscle buster.
The muscle buster is a particularly dangerous move, and its use by Joe has been a source of controversy and speculation. In 2015, during a WWE Superstars dark match, Joe's opponent, Tyson Kidd, suffered a legitimate career-ending spinal cord injury when Joe executed the muscle buster. This incident sparked discussions about whether the move should be banned in the WWE. While some sources suggest that the muscle buster was temporarily outlawed by the WWE, others attribute the move's absence to practicality and Joe's transition to a shoot fighter persona.
In 2017, Joe addressed the muscle buster incident, expressing regret and calling Kidd's injury the "biggest regret of his career." Despite this, Joe continued to use the muscle buster, albeit less frequently. Some speculate that the WWE may have restricted the move to protect its stars during the WrestleMania season, while others suggest that Joe's move to the main roster influenced the decision.
The muscle buster is a significant part of Joe's repertoire, and its potential banning has been a topic of discussion among fans and wrestlers alike. While some wrestlers have expressed concern about the move's safety, others believe it adds a unique element to Joe's performances. As of 2025, Joe remains an active wrestler, and while the muscle buster is no longer a prominent part of his routine, it remains a memorable aspect of his early career.
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The Muscle Buster's impact on Tyson Kidd's career
On June 1, 2015, Tyson Kidd, a Canadian retired professional wrestler signed to WWE, suffered a spinal cord injury from Samoa Joe's "Muscle Buster" finishing move during a dark match on Raw. The injury forced Kidd into retirement from in-ring competition, and he now works as a backstage producer for WWE.
Kidd's injury and subsequent retirement highlight the dangers of even practiced wrestling moves and have led to discussions about the safety of the Muscle Buster move specifically. There have been rumours that WWE may have temporarily outlawed the move, especially as they approach WrestleMania season and aim to protect their stars. However, there has been no official confirmation of a ban.
Samoa Joe, who performed the Muscle Buster on Kidd, has expressed deep regret about the incident, stating that it remains his "largest regret" in his career. He praised Kidd as an "amazing human being" and recognised his passion and understanding of professional wrestling. Joe also mentioned that he avoided using the move after the incident, especially when Kidd was present, out of respect for his former colleague.
The impact of the Muscle Buster on Kidd's career has also been acknowledged by other wrestlers, such as Cesaro, who expressed concerns about wrestling Samoa Joe again after the incident. Kidd himself has spoken about the severity of his injury, tweeting that only 5% of people survive the type of spinal cord injury he sustained. He also shared the extent of the medical intervention he required, including 16 staples, four screws, and a rod inserted in his neck.
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The Muscle Buster's risk factor
The Muscle Buster is a wrestling move that has gained notoriety due to its high risk of injury. The move involves placing an opponent's neck on the wrestler's shoulder, grabbing their thighs, and then jumping up with the opponent trapped upside down. The wrestler then lands in a seated position, causing potential damage to the neck, spine, and groin of the opponent. This move has been popularized by American wrestler Samoa Joe, who used it as his finishing move.
Due to the risky nature of the move, there have been concerns and discussions within the WWE about potentially banning it. One incident that sparked concern was when wrestler Tyson Kidd was injured during a match with Samoa Joe. While the WWE did not attribute the injury to Joe's move, there was still worry about the potential dangers of the Muscle Buster. Some wrestlers, like Cesaro, have expressed their reluctance to face Joe again, citing the riskiness of the move.
The Muscle Buster's high-impact nature can result in serious injuries for the wrestlers involved. In the lead-up to WrestleMania 33, the WWE was already dealing with several injured stars, including Seth Rollins. This context may have influenced the organization's decision to potentially outlaw the move, at least temporarily. Vince McMahon, who heavily oversees Raw, may have played a role in this decision as well.
While the Muscle Buster has not been officially banned by the WWE, there is a clear understanding of the risks associated with the move. Wrestlers and the organization must navigate the balance between exciting and unique movesets and ensuring the safety of the performers. As a result, the Muscle Buster may be used less frequently or modified to reduce the potential for injury.
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The WWE's stance on banning the Muscle Buster
The Muscle Buster is a wrestling move used by Samoa Joe as his finishing move for over a decade. In 2015, Tyson Kidd suffered a spinal injury after Joe executed the Muscle Buster on him, ending his career. Since then, there have been speculations about whether the WWE has banned the move.
The WWE has not released an official statement regarding the Muscle Buster. However, there is a concern within the WWE about the move, and it has not been used by Joe in any matches on the main roster. Joe has instead used the Coquina Clutch, his signature submission hold, as his finishing move.
Some sources speculate that the move may be banned by Vince McMahon, the Chairman of the WWE. However, others suggest that only a handful of wrestlers would be willing to receive the move. It is possible that the WWE is allowing Joe to continue using the move in NXT, where he has more leeway, but not on the main roster.
The WWE has a history of banning dangerous moves to prioritize the health and safety of their Superstars. While the Muscle Buster has not been officially banned, it is possible that the WWE is discouraging its use or that Joe has chosen to stop using it out of concern for his opponents' safety.
In conclusion, while the WWE has not explicitly banned the Muscle Buster, their stance on the move is unclear. It appears that the move is not used on the main roster, and there is a possibility that it may be banned by Vince McMahon or discouraged due to safety concerns.
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The Muscle Buster's future
The future of the Muscle Buster, a finishing move used by Samoa Joe, is uncertain. While it has not been officially banned by the WWE, there are rumours and speculation that it might be. The move has not been performed since Joe's debut on the main roster and in subsequent matches, Joe has used alternative moves such as the suplex variation and the Coquina Clutch, his signature submission hold.
The Muscle Buster has been a signature move for Joe throughout his career, including during his time in NXT. However, there is concern within the WWE about the safety of the move. In 2015, Tyson Kidd's career was ended after Joe performed the Muscle Buster on him, resulting in a serious injury. While the WWE concluded that the injury was a fluke and not the result of a poorly executed move, there is still hesitation to use the move again, especially on bigger wrestlers like Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt.
Some wrestlers, like Cesaro, have expressed their willingness to wrestle Joe again, but without the Muscle Buster. There is a possibility that the WWE is temporarily outlawing the move, especially during major events like WrestleMania, to protect their wrestlers from potential injuries. Others speculate that the move is being saved for specific opponents or big matches.
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Frequently asked questions
There are rumours that the WWE has banned the Muscle Buster, but there is no confirmation.
The Muscle Buster is a dangerous move that has resulted in serious injuries for wrestlers like Tyson Kidd and Nikki Bella.
Tyson Kidd was a WWE wrestler whose career ended after he was paralysed by the Muscle Buster move.
The Muscle Buster is a finishing move commonly associated with wrestler Samoa Joe.
The Muscle Buster is a wrestling move that involves putting an opponent in a pile driver position and then dropping to one's knees, with the opponent's neck taking the impact.


















