The Over the Moonsault became central to WWE television when SKY cashed in her Money in the Bank briefcase at SummerSlam 2023 to win the WWE Women's Championship. That triumph cemented her as a cornerstone singles star, stepping out from the shadow of stablemate Bayley.
Her battles with fellow Japanese icon Asuka raised the move's status even further. Matches between the two showcased deep storytelling built around counters to the Over the Moonsault. Because Asuka understood SKY's timing from their shared background in Japan, television audiences watched Asuka raise her knees, roll clear, or counter mid-flight with flying armbars.
When SKY finally hit the maneuver cleanly on Asuka during premium live events, the victory felt definitive. Finishing moves lose psychological weight when opponents kick out of them regularly. WWE creative protected the Over the Moonsault; if SKY landed the impact flush, the match was over. It joined the ranks of the spear, the RKO, and the Eclipse as protected match-enders on modern television.
