Yess thanks for compiling this! One of my favourite things about Zack is the unhinged names he has for his finishers.
I thought I'd make a list explaining each name! As you can see, they're mostly named after British pop culture deep cuts, experimental indie music, or mundane aspects of life in the UK.
Article 50 – the legal mechanism by which the UK left the EU (aka Brexit). There was a period of time where British news would not shut up about it.
Barry from EastEnders – a famous character from one of the most popular soap operas in the UK
Cremation Lily – an experimental electronic music artist
Clarky Cat/Bad Balloon – names of fake drugs from the late 90s UK satirical news show Brass Eye
Jim Breaks Armbar/Jim Breaks Special – tribute to an infamous British wrestler from the 70s
You Can't Play Conkers in England – a widely mocked clip from a documentary about the band Bros, referencing the myth that the traditional British playground game of conkers has been banned by the government for safety reasons (commonly used as a right wing talking point for some reason)
Hurrah! Another Year, Surely This One Will Be Better Than The Last; The Inexorable March of Progress Will Lead Us All To Happiness – album by the post-rock band Youthmovies/Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies
Hypernormalisation – a 2016 documentary by Adam Curtis about the narratives of neoliberalism and how they've become decreasingly detached from reality (based on what I read anyway! I've not seen it)
Orienteering with Napalm Death – a joke by the British comedian Stewart Lee (Stewart Lee has since been made aware that Zack named a move after one of his routines and seems equal parts amused, confused and flattered by it)
Rear Naked Choke – not sure about this one. Must be some really obscure reference (jk)
Selected Technical Works vol.2 – a play on 'Selected Ambient Works Volume II', an album by Aphex Twin
South Mimms Services – motorway service station on the M25/A1(M) just north of London (I've never been but I hear it's a decent one – it's no Gloucester Services though)
Sunday Rail Engineering Works Replacement Bus Service – planned rail engineering works often happen on a Sunday in the UK and replacement bus services are usually provided for affected routes. They're notorious for being slow and unreliable and are the bane of anyone trying to get home at the weekend
Tesco Meal Deal – an iconic UK lunchtime institution for office workers and students alike: a sandwich/salad, a snack, and a drink for a fixed price (constantly increasing). There's a strong culture of judging other people's meal deal picks.
Yes! I Am a Long Way from Home – song by post-rock band Mogwai
Young Boy Killer – male trainees in Japan are known as "young boys". This hold presumably kills them
My leading theory for why his moves have such eccentric names, other than that it's very funny, is that NJPW's website always records what move a match was won with. And apart from the Zack Driver and his European Clutch, ZSJ doesn't have a distinct finisher: he's like an improv jazz artist, mixing up submission holds in free-flowing tangles of limbs until his opponent submits. So I imagine he's often in the situation where he's asked for the name of a complex hold that he either figured out the day before the match or just came up with on the fly. At which point I'm guessing he just says the first thing that comes into his head. Some of these holds were only used once as far as I know and probably will never be used again! Such is the joy of his style.
I have no idea if I'm right, but if I ever get the chance to interview him, it'll be the first question I ask.
jacobvanloon
blakekathryn
theartofmadeline
