Eric Bischoff discussed the concept of false finishes in the most recent episode of Bischoff on Wrestling. You can check out the audio below. Bischoff talked about how the art of the false finish is a lost one and how it’s incorrectly used today.
“I think false finishes, more often than not, are so overused and abused that it detracts from their value,” Bischoff said. “In my opinion, a false finish should be exactly that. You should see that finish evolving. In my opinion, a good false finish comes in three acts. It’s a three part false finish if it’s done really, really well. By the time you get to act two of a finish you should be absolutely convinced that that third act, that is about to happen, is going to be the end of the match. Then miraculously it’s not and the match continues. In my opinion, from a story telling point of view, that is a perfect false finish.”
He continued, “By the way that is a Pat Patterson type of false finish. His false finishes and his finishes come in waves. Just when you think this is going to be the end… NO! Now you’re ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THIS IS THE END AND… boom. It’s not. It’s dramatic. You suspend your disbelief because it’s so dramatic. You’re so thoroughly convinced it’s the end and then at the absolute last moment it isn’t. It’s just the beginning. That to me is a classic false finish. What we see now are just spot false finishes. They happen so fast.”
