Much of the action in professional wrestling involves the application of techniques that involve lifting the opponent up and throwing or slamming them down. These moves are generally illegal in traditional amateur wrestling. They are sometimes also called "power moves", as they are meant to emphasize a wrestler's strength.
There is a wide variety of slams and throws in pro wrestling. Many moves are known by several different names. Professional wrestlers frequently give their "finisher" (signature moves that usually result in a win) new names. Occasionally these names become popular and are used regardless of the wrestler performing the technique: one example is the tombstone piledriver, a term originally used for The Undertaker's finisher but now used to refer to any belly-to-belly piledriver.
Moves are listed under general categories whenever possible.
Armbar takedown
This is a technique in which the attacker grabs the opponent's arm and pulls him down to the ground by wrenching down the victim's arm.
Armbreaker
A armbreaker is any move in which the wrestler slams his opponent's arm against a part of the wrestler's body
Cross armbreaker
Arm drag
A move in which the wrestler uses his opponent's momentum against him by hooking his arm and flipping him over onto the mat. The move was popularized by Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat who had the best arm drags in professional wrestling.
Over-the-shoulder arm drag
Also called a shoulder throw or ipponzei. The wrestler grabs his opponent's arm, then turns to face the other direction and pulls the victim over his shoulder. It is essentially the same as the ippon seoi-nage found in Judo.
Atomic Drop
A move in which the wrestler goes behind an opponent puts his head under the victim's shoulder and lifts his opponent up and then drops him tailbone-first on the wrestler's knee.
Inverted Atomic Drop
A move in which the wrestler puts his head under the victim's shoulder and lifts his opponent up and then drops him "lower abdomen region" first on the wrestler's knee. Also known as a Manhattan Drop.
Backbreaker
A back breaker is any move in which the wrestler lifts his/her opponent up and jumps or drops his/her opponent so that the opponent's back impacts or is bent backwards against a part of the wrestler's body.
Backbreaker Drop
A move in which a wrestler lifts an opponent up on to his/her shoulder and drops down to his/her knee so that the opponent's back is bent backwards against his/her shoulder.
Falling Backbreaker
The attacker places the victim in an Argentine backbreaker position while standing up, and then drops to a sitting position.
This move was invented by Abyss who calls it the "Shock Treatment".
Pendulum Backbreaker
This basic back breaker involves a wrestler standing side-to-side and slightly behind, with the victim facing in the same direction, then reaching around the victim's torso with one arm across the victim's chest and under both arms and places the other arm under the victim's legs. The wrestler then lifts the victim up, bringing his/her legs off the ground, and dropping him/her back-first against the wrestler's knee.
Back Bodydrop
A back drop, or back body drop, is a move in which a wrestler bends forward or crouches in front of his opponent, grabs hold of his opponent, and stands up, lifting the victim up and over and dropping him behind the back. It is frequently applied against a charging opponent.
In Japan, a backdrop is the term for what is called a belly-to-back suplex in America.
Bodyslam
A bodyslam is any move in which a wrestler picks up his/her opponent and throws him/her down to the ground.
Alabama slam
Also known as a Water-Wheel Slam this move involves a wrestler placing his head between an opponent's knees, then standing up, holding onto his opponent's legs, so that the opponent is facing the wrestler's back. The wrestler then simply brings both hands down, throwing his opponent back-first to the mat. Hardcore Holly uses the Alabama Slam as his finisher.
Biel throw
The wrestler stands to the side of his opponent, grabs them, and throws them forward, causing them to flip over onto their back. It is considered a very basic technique, so basic that a forward rolling fall is commonly called a biel bump, and is mainly used by very large wrestlers to emphasize power and strength over finesse.
Chokeslam
A chokeslam is any bodyslam in which the wrestler grasps his opponent's neck, lifts him up, and slams him to the mat back-first. It is very common in televised wrestling because it is simple and relatively safe yet looks powerful on camera.
The most common variety of chokeslam is performed with a single-handed choke. The wrestler places his free hand behind the victim's back to help turn him horizontally for the throw. A two-handed choke variation is also popular. Commonly used by The Big Show, Kane, and The Undertaker.
Fallaway slam
also known as a Table Top Suplex. The wrestler, while standing infront of an opponent would reaches between his opponent's legs with one arm and reaches around their back from the same side with his other arm. The wrestler lifts his opponent up so they are horizontal across the wrestler's body then falls backward throwing the victim over his head down to the mat back-first. Scott Hall used this as one of his signature moves.
A slightly modified version of this move is used by Bradshaw, who referred to it before (while on APA) as the Last Call.
Full nelson slam
In this move the aggressor places his opponent in a Full Nelson hold and uses it to lift him off the ground. Once in the air, the aggressor removes one of his arms (so his oponent is now in a Half Nelson) and slams him down to the mat.
Gorilla press bomb
The wrestler lifts his/her opponent up over his/her head with arms fully extended (as in the military press used in weight lifting), then slams the victim down on their back as the attacker falls into a sitting position. This move is similar to the Michinoku Driver II used by Taka Michinoku.
Gorilla press drop
The wrestler lifts his/her opponent up over his/her head with arms fully extended then drops the victim down face first in front or back. It is a popular technique for very large wrestlers because it emphasizes their height and power.
As used to great effect by The Ultimate Warrior with his Gorilla Press / Big Splash combination
Half nelson slam
the attacker stands behind, slightly to one side of and facing the victim. The attacker reaches under one of the victim's arms with his corresponding arm and places the palm of their hand on the neck of the victim, thereby forcing the arm of the victim up into the air (the Half Nelson). The attacker then lifts the victim up turns and falls forward slamming the victim into the mat.
Michinoku Driver II
Also known as a sit-out scoop slam but is named after its inventor Taka Michinoku. while facing his/her opponent, the wrestler reaches between his opponent's legs with one arm and reaches around their back from the same side with his other arm. The wrestler lifts his opponent up and turns them upside down so that they are held up by the attacker's arm cradling their back. The attacker then throws the victim to the ground as he falls to a sitting position so that the victim lands on their upper back. This is often just called a Michinoku Driver because TAKA rarely uses the original Michinoku Driver, a double underhook implant DDT.
Olympic slam
An attacking wrestler places his head under an opponent's arm, and lifts up an opponent so that he face-up across the attackers shoulders, then the wrestler falls backwards forcing the opponent to the mat back-first.
This move has also been discribed as a spinning back drop (belly-to-back suplex) and a signature move of Kurt Angle (Angle named the move the Olympic Slam but now refers to it as the Angle Slam)
Pumphandle slam
The wrestler stands behind his opponent and bends him forward. One of the victim's arms is pulled back between his legs and held, while the other arm is hooked. The attacker then lifts his opponent up over his shoulder and falls forward to slam the victim against the mat back-first.
Another version of the Pumphandle Slam sees the wrestler drop the victim to the Sidwalk Slam (Side Slam) position. This version is referred to as a Pumphandle Side Slam and is the signature move of Gene Snitsky.
Rolling Fallaway slam
The attacker stands facing the victim and reaches between the victim's legs with one arm and over their shoulder and down their back with the other. The attacker then lifts the victim, spinning them ninety degree so that they are horizontal across the attacker's body. The attacker then slams the victim to the ground and rolls over them with their weight.
Scoop slam
Facing his opponent, the wrestler reaches between his opponent's legs with one arm and reaches around their back from the same side with his other arm. The wrestler lifts his opponent up and turns them upside down so that they are held up by the attacker's arm cradling their back. The attacker then throws the victim to the ground so that they land on their back.
Spinebuster slam
Also known simply as a spinebuster. The wrestler starts facing his opponent. He grabs the opponent around the waist and lifts him up. He then turns 180°, at the same time turning the victim into a horizontal position across the chest, and tosses them forward onto their back. It is usually performed against a charging opponent, using the victim's own momentum to power the throw.
Another version of this sees the wrestler elevate the charging opponent up, and without spinning, slamming the victim down to the mat.
Most famously used by Arn Anderson, the move has since been used by both HHH and more recently by Batista in the WWE.
Death Valley Driver
This is a move in which a brainbuster type slam is proformed from a position in which the victim is held across both shoulders, there are two variations of this move:
The most well-known variation and the move in which death vally driver mainly referes to is one from a Fireman's Carry (facing down) position. The attacker falls to the side in which his opponent's head is pointing, driving the victim's head into the mat. Tommy Dreamer's Death Valley Driver (or D.V.D.) has already been credited as one of the best Death Valley Driver ever executed. Perry Saturn also has an effective Death Valley Driver. The F.U. finisher of WWE wrestler John Cena is a slight variation of this move, except that the victim's back is impacted first.
The second variation sometimes referred to as a Inverted D.V.D is from an Argentine backbreaker rack (face up, with the neck and one leg cradled) position. The attacker falls to the side in which his opponent's head is pointing, driving the victim's head into the mat or in a slight variation of this move when the victim's body is slamed into the mat face-first.
Bulldog
A bulldog, or bulldogging headlock, is any move in which the wrestler applies a head lock or face lock to his opponent and falls forward, so that the attacker lands on his back or in a sitting position, driving the victim's face into the mat.
Three-quarter Facelock Bulldog
A Three-quarter Facelock Bulldog is a move that mostly sees an attacker applying a Three-quarter Facelock then drop to the floor driving the opponent's face into the mat. This version has been previously used by Diamond Dallas Page, who called it the Diamond Cutter, and by Johnny Ace, who called it the Ace Crusher. Currently this move is being used by Randy Orton, who calls it the R.K.O.. Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy also have a version of a Three-quarter Facelock Bulldog and they call it the Twist of Fate, a slightly twisting variation of the Three-quarter facelock bulldog.
TKO
This is a Fireman's carry into a Three-quarter Facelock Bulldog.
Rolling Three-quarter Facelock Bulldog
This is when a Inverted facelock is rolled in to a three-quarter facelock bulldog.
This move has two major variants: one in which the attacker rolls under his/her opponent, and one in which he/she rolls over. The former has been widely referred to as the Last Rites in the indy promotions due to its use by Christopher Daniels; in the WWE, Test used this move and referred to it as a Test Drive. The latter is the most widely used and is generally known as the Roll of the Dice as named by Reno . The Roll of the Dice has been used by wrestlers such as Bill DeMott and Luther Reigns who have each referred to it with different names.
Catapult
A catapult is a throw that typically starts with the victim on his back, and the attacker standing and facing him. The attacker hooks each of the victim's legs in one of his arms then falls backwards to slingshot the opponent into a turnbuckles, ladders, ropes etc.
DDT
Similar to a bulldog, a DDT is any move in which the wrestler falls down or backwards to drive the victim's head into the mat. The classic DDT is performed by putting the victim in a front facelock and falling backwards so that the victim is forced to dive forward onto his head.
Invented by Jake "The Snake" Roberts after he tripped while performing a front facelock. When referring to the move Roberts gave it the name DDT for his snake Damien, standing for Damien's Dinner Time though the move is actually named after the chemical Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane.
Brainbuster DDT
The wrestler puts his opponent in a front facelock, hooks his tights, and lifts him up as if he was performing a vertical suplex. He then jumps up and onto his back so that the victim lands on his head while remaining vertical.
Diving reverse DDT
Standing back to back whit his opponent, the wrestler bends him back and applies a inverted facelock, then falls forwards dropping the victim's head into the mat.
Inverted DDT
Standing behind his opponent with the victim in front of him, the wrestler bends him back and applies a inverted facelock, then falls backwards to slam the victim's head into the mat. also known as a Reverse DDT., or a Scorpion Death Drop, used by Sting
Lifting DDT
A wrestler applies a front facelock to an opponent then lifts the victim off the ground just before falling backwards to drive the opponents face into the mat, it is also known as the Impaler DDT.
Currently used by Edge who refers to the move as Edgecution
T-Bone DDT
This is where the attacker reaches across the victim's torso with one hand and graps then thighs with the other, the attacker lifts the victim up horizontal to the mat and falls back like a Lifting DDT. It may be Called, The Exploder DDT, T-Bone Lifting DDT, DDplex, T-Bone Driller or Diver
Reverse Tornado DDT
The wrestler applies a inverted facelock from an elevated position (for example, sitting on the top turnbuckle against an opponent standing on the mat, or from the apron against an opponent standing on the ground). He then jumps off so that he swings around the opponent. Using the momentum from the jump, he falls forwards and slams the back of the victim's head into the mat.
Tornado DDT
The wrestler applies a front facelock from an elevated position (for example, sitting on the top turnbuckle against an opponent standing on the mat, or from the apron against an opponent standing on the ground). He then jumps off so that he swings around the opponent. Using the momentum from the jump, he falls backwards and slams the victim's head into the mat. This move is currently being used by Funaki as his finishing move.
This is also called a swinging DDT.
Jump Swinging DDT
This is an alternate version of a Tornado DDT in which a wrestler runs at a standing opponent, jumps and applies a front facelock then swings his/her legs foward to swing the opponent around using the momentum from the jump, falls backwards and slams the victim's head into the mat.
Spinning DDT
The attacker runs at an opponent who is bent over facing them. The attacker applies a front facelock and then uses their momentum to spin themselves and their attacker in a circle. The attacker then falls to their stomach, driving the face of the attacker into the ground.
Underhook DDT
Instead of applying a head or face lock, the wrestler bends his opponent forward and hooks each arm behind the victim's back, then falls back to pull the victim forward onto his head.
This is also called a double arm DDT and was used by Mick Foley during the Cactus Jack and Mankind Gimmicks
Hangman's DDT
Extremely dangerous move, popular in Japan as a finisher, and rarely used in the U.S. The wrestler picks up his opponent similarly to a powerbomb, and, as the opponent hangs in midair, the wrestler holds onto his opponent's waist. He then gives up some slack so that the opponent is now being held by his knees while the rest of his body dangles upside-down. The wrestler drops to his knees, essentially slamming his opponent straight down, head-first onto the mat.
Electric chair drop
The attacker lifts the victim on his shoulders in a sitting position, with both facing the same way. Then the attacker falls backwards driving the victim back-first into the mat.
A variation of Electric Chair Drop known as the "Electric Chair Bomb" ends in the attacker sitting down and slamming the victim face-first to the mat.
Facebreaker
A facebreaker is any move in which the wrestler slams his opponent's face against a part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee.
Knee Smash
The knee smash is a standard Facbreaker which involves the attacker grabbing hold of the opponent by their head or hair and pulling the opponent's face down, dropping it on to the attacker's knee. Often used by an attacker to stun an opponent and set him up for another move.
Facebuster
A facebuster is any move in which the wrestler forces his opponent's face down to the mat which does not involve a headlock or Facelock. if these are used then the move is either a DDT or bulldog variation.
also Inverted Mat Slams are commonly referred to as facbusters.
A standard Facbuster involves the attacker grabbing hold of the opponent by their head or hair and pulling them down, the opponent's face into the mat.
Belly-to-back inverted mat slam
From a position in which the victim is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, the wrestler grabs around his opponent's midsection and lifts so that the victim is held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then hook both the arms of the victim using his legs, and then falls foward planting the opponent's body into the mat face-first.
Best known as Styles Clash as named by AJ Styles, also known as a Crash Landing as named by the late Mike Lockwood who started using the move during his last stint in the WWE.
Gory Bomb
A back-to-back release facebuster a move which is a variation of the Gory Special.
F-5
A move named and made popular by Brock Lesnar, in which he would put his victim in a fireman's carry position, then throws the opponent's legs out in front of him to spin him out while Lesnar fell to back to drive the victim's head in to the mat.
The move's name was most likely taken from the Fujita scale, which ranks the intensity of a tornado, with F5 being the strongest.
Inverted Russian Legsweep
A move in which a wrestler stands side-to-side and slightly behind the victim, facing in the same direction, and reaches behind the victim's back to hook the opponent's head with their other hand extending the victim's near arm, then while hooking the opponent's leg with their own leg the wrestler falls forward, pushing the victim forward to the mat face-first.
best known as "The Stroke" the finisher of Jeff Jarrett.
Jumping facebuster
A move in which the attacker grabs hold of the opponent by their head or hair and then jumps down, forcing the opponent's face into the mat.
Sitout facebuster
Also known as a sit-down facebuster. A move in which the attacker grabs hold of the opponent by their head or hair then jumps down into a sitting position, forcing the opponents face into the mat. It was used as a finisher by X Pac, who called it the X Factor.
Double underhook facebuster
Instead of holding the opponents head like most facebusters, a wrestler bends his opponent forward, placing the victim's head between the attacker's legs (a standing head scissors), and hooks each of the opponents arms behind their back. He then drops to his knees, forcing the opponent's face into the mat. Triple H uses it as his finisher, and calls it the Pedigree.
Lifting double underhook facebuster
This inverted mat slam is performed when a wrestler bends his opponent forward, placing the victim's head between the attacker's legs (a standing head scissors), and hooks each of the opponents arms behind their back. He then pulls back on the opponent's arms lifting him up so that the victim is held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then falls forward (or sometimes down to a sitting position) planting the opponent's body into the mat face-first.
This was a popular move of Rob Van Dam, when he wrestled for the ECW promotion.
Sitout double underhook facebuster
Also known as a sit-down double underhook facebuster. A move in which instead of holding the opponents head like most facebusters, a wrestler bends his opponent forward, placing the victim's head between the attacker's legs (a standing head scissors), and hooks each of the opponents arms behind their back, he then proceeds to lift the opponent up and jumps down into a sitting position, forcing the opponents face into the mat. It is used as a finisher by Christopher Daniels, who calls it the Angel's Wings.
Complete Shot
A move in which a wrestler stands side-to-side and slightly behind with the victim, facing in the opposite direction, and reaches around the victim's torso with one arm across the victim's chest with their hand holding on to their other hand which is behind the opponents head. the wrestler then falls backward, diving the victim into the mat face-first.
WWE wrestler Edge used to use this move, calling it the Downward Spiral.
A variation is to hook the leg similar to a Russian legsweep, which was popularized as the Flatliner, by Chris Kanyon
It is also currently used by WWE superstar Muhammad Hassan as his finisher.
Flapjack
A flapjack is any move that throws the victim so that he/she is pushed upward and therefore having he/she fall on his/her front. The basic flapjack is similar to a back drop, but the wrestler pushes upwards so that the victim falls onto his/her face instead of falling back-first.
Alley Oop
This is a flapjack where the victim is lifted on to the attacker's shoulders similar to powerbomb and then pushed off so that they fly over the attcker's head and land front-first on the mat.
It was made famous by Tori and then The Big Show.
Gutbuster
A Gutbuster is any move in which the wrestler lifts his opponent up and jumps or drops him so that the victim's stomach impacts against part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee.
Gutbuster Drop
A move in which a wrestler lifts an opponent up on to his shoulder and drops down to his knee droping the opponent's stomach on the wrestler's shoulder.
Rib breaker
Also called a stomach breaker it is essentially the same as a back breaker but with the victim facing the opposite direction, it involves lifting the opponent up and dropping him stomach-first against the wrestler's knee.
Headscissors takedown
With the attacker's legs scissored around the opponent's head, the attacker performs a backflip, dragging the victim into a forced somersault that distances the attacker from the victim and lands the opponent on his back.
Is also performed when a wrestler runs to the side of an opponent spin up on to his shoulders while scissoring his legs around his/her head as he/she continues to spin throwing the opponent to the mat.
Hurricanrana
The correct name for this maneuver is the Huracanrana/Huracarrana but it is commonly misspelled in English as Hurricanrana, this is a headscissors takedown that ends in a rana pinning hold. The Rana is any double-leg cradle (or the ending of a Sunset Flip) The Huracanrana is typically done with more velocity than the headscissors takedown, as the victim needs to land directly underneath the attacker, instead of being tossed away. Luchador Huracán Ramírez invented the maneuver.
Hip Toss
The attacker stands next to the victim with both facing the same direction, and the attacker places his/her forearm behind the victim's closest shoulder, with the attacker's biceps underneath the victim's armpit, so that the attacker's hand is rested on top of the victim's shoulder and it is and facing the same direction of the attacker.
The attacker then quickly lifts the victim up with that arm and throws the victim forward, while the victim swings his/her elbow upward in a semi-circular motion, which would lead the attacker to flip the victim onto his/her back to end the move.
Irish Whip
Also called a hammer throw. A move in which the wrestler grabs one of his/her opponent's arms and spins, swinging the victim into an obstacle such as the ring ropes, a turnbuckle, or the stairs leading into the ring. One popular use of the irish whip is to try to "hit for the cycle" by whipping one's opponent into each corner in turn. An Irish whip into the ring ropes is usually used to set the victim up for another technique as they bounce off, such as a suplex or clothesline.
Jawbreaker
A jawbreaker is any move in which the wrestler slams his/her opponent's jaw against a part of the wrestler's body, usually his/her knee, head or shoulder.
A standard jawbreaker is seen when an attacker (either stands facing or not facing victim) places his/her head under the jaw of the victim and holds the victim in place before falling into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the jaw of the victim into the to of their head.
Three-quarter Facelock Jawbreaker
This is a move that mostly sees an attacker applying a Three-quarter Facelock then sees the wrestler fall to a sitting position dropping the opponents jaw across his shoulder this was made famous by Stone Cold Steve Austin who referred to it as a Stone Cold Stunner. The name Stunner is widely used when referring to this move.
Rolling Three-quarter Facelock Jawbreaker
This is when a Inverted facelock is rolled in to a Three-quarter Facelock that ends in the seated (Stone Cold) stunner position, the most famous version of a three-quarter facelock jawbreaker is know as the Whipper-snapper and is proformed by Mikey Whipwreck of ECW fame.
Shoulder Jawbreaker
The attacker stands facing the victim, places his shoulder under the jaw of the victim and holds the victim in place before falling into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the jaw of the victim into their shoulder. This move was used by Shane Douglas in WCW, and was named the Franchiser.
Mat slam
A matslam is any move in which the wrestler forces the back of the opponent's head into the mat which does not involve a headlock or Facelock. if these are used then the move is normally a DDT variation.
A standard Mat Slam involves the attacker grabbing hold of the opponent by their head or hair and pulling back, forcing the back of the opponent's head into the mat.
Inverted mat slam
Inverted Mat Slams are commonly referred to as facebusters.
Sleeper slam
The attacker applies a sleeper hold to the victim, then falls face first to the ground, pulling the victim down with them and driving the back and head of the victim into the ground. Billy Gunn used a modified version of this move where he lifted the victim before falling, which he called The One and Only.
Neckbreaker
There are two general categories of neckbreaker, which are related only in that they attack the victim's neck. There is no generally accepted terminology for this division, but in this document they are called "neckbreaker drops" and "neckbreaker slams".
Neckbreaker Drop
A neckbreaker drop is any technique in which the back of the victim's neck is thrown against or stretched against part of the attacker's body such as the knee or shoulder. They are similar to other "breaker" techniques such as backbreakers and facebreakers.
Shoulder Neckbreaker
From a back-to-back position, the wrestler reaches back and pulls his opponent's head over his shoulder, then drops, causing the back of the victim's neck to hit the shoulder. Another version of this, known as a Hangman's Neckbreaker, involves the wrestler placing the victim's head not on the shoulder but above their own head for the drop.
Elevated Cradle Neckbreaker
Also called a muscle buster. The wrestler holds his opponent upside-down with the back of the victim's neck against his shoulder and with one or both legs hooked, and drops to a kneeling or sitting position so that the victim's neck hits against the shoulder. It is usually performed against a victim who is sitting on the top turnbuckle and facing away from the attacker.
indy star Samoa Joe, uses this maneuver.
Neckbreaker Slam
A neckbreaker slam is any technique in which the attacker throws his opponent to the ground by twisting the victim's neck.
The classic neckbreaker slam, the wrestler grabs his arm and twists it round in order to break his wrist.
Inverted Neckbreaker
see Three-quarter Facelock Bulldog
Overdrive
With the opponent hunched over, the attacker hooks their inside leg over the opponent's head, grabbing the arm closest to them. The attacker leans back before throwing themselves forward, landing on their hands and knees as the opponent is spun around, their neck landing on the inside of the opponent's knee.
This was previously used Randy Orton as a finisher, as well as Primetime Elix Skipper who referred to the move as the Play of the Day. Carlito Caribbean Cool also uses this move as a finisher.
Swinging Neckbreaker
The attacker applies a front face lock and grabs hold of the victim's right hand with their left hand. The attacker then swings himself to the ground, in a semi-circular motion, so that both the attacker and the victim fall to the ground back first.
Piledriver
A piledriver is any move in which the wrestler grabs his opponent, turns him upside-down, and drops into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the victim's head into the mat.
Cradle Piledriver
Similar to a Texas Piledriver but with an added leg lock. From a position in which the victim is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, the wrestler grabs around his opponent's midsection and lifts so that the victim is held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then hooks his arms around one leg of the victim, and drops to a sitting or kneeling position with the victim's head falling between the wrestler's thighs down to the mat. Veteran wrestler Jerry Lynn uses this as a finisher.
Double Underhook Piledriver
In this move a wrestler will bend his opponent forward, placing the victim's head between the attacker's legs (a standing head scissors), and hooks each of the opponents arms behind their back. He then pulls back on the opponent's arms lifting him up so that the victim is held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then drops to a sitting or kneeling position dropping the victim's head into the mat.
The version of falling to a sitting position is a popular move of Juventud Guerrera who refers to the move as the Juvi Driver.
The version that involves the wrestler falling to a knelling position is similar to the Double Underhook Piledriver, but instead of sitting down while doing the move, the opponent's head is pushed out of the legs and the attacker kneels down, thus driving the opponent's head and neck into the mat.
This version of the move is being being used by Mitsuharu Misawa who referes to it as a Tiger Driver '91. Kid Kash also uses this as his finishing move, which he calls the Money Maker.
Flip Piledriver
Similar to a Texas Piledriver, except in this case the wrestler begins by latching onto the opponent's back, with their head to one side of their opponent's hips, and their legs around their opponent's head. The wrestler then flips over into a sit-down piledriver. Petey Williams of TNA fame uses this as his finisher, calling it the Canadian Destroyer.
Kryptonite Krunch
Also called a Over the Shoulder Belly to Back Piledriver. The attacker shoulders the victim by clutching them around the knees and lifting them onto their shoulder so that the victim's head is dangling by the waist of the attacker. The attacker then holds the attackers in place by holding their leg with one arm and applies a headlock to the victim with their other arm. The victim is now bent into a circle. The attacker then drops to a seated position, driving the head of the victim into the ground. The move was named by Nova.
Scoop Slam Piledriver
Best known as the Emerald Fusion popularized by Mitsuharu Misawa, the attacker scoops the opponent up by their leg and trunk so that they're suspended to an angle. The attacker then drops to his side quickly, with the opponent's head striking the mat. Also used by Al Snow who refers to it as the Snow Plow.
Spike Piledriver
A standard piledriver where the attacker jumps in the air and drops to a sitting or kneeling position.
Texas Piledriver
Also called a belly-to-back piledriver, this is the classic piledriver technique. From a position in which the victim is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, the wrestler grabs around his opponent's midsection and lifts so that the victim is held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then drops to a sitting or kneeling position with the victim's head falling between the wrestler's thighs down to the mat.
Tombstone Piledriver
The wrestler flips his opponent upside-down so that they are facing each other, and drops to a sitting or kneeling position so that the victim falls to the mat headfirst. It was popularized by The Undertaker, who used it as his finisher and first called it the "Tombstone Piledriver". It is also called a belly-to-belly piledriver or reverse piledriver.
Vertebreaker
Originally invented by Japanese female wrestler Megumi Kudo . She called the move The Kudome Valentine. The move is also referred as the Kudo Driver. The name Vertebreaker was invented by Gregory Helms who has used it as a finisher.
Also called a reverse gory special piledriver. From a position in which the victim is standing behind the wrestler, the attacker places the victim's head between his legs and hooks both of the victim's arms, then turns around so the victim is in front and facing the same direction. The wrestler tucks his head between the victim's legs and stands up, lifting up his opponent into an upside-down position and suspending them by keeping the arms trapped. The attacker holds the victim's arms and drops down, dropping the victim onto his head, neck, and shoulders.
Vertical Suplex Piledriver
Better known as the Steiner Screw Driver or PilePlex, the wrestler applies a front face lock to the opponent and hooks the recipient's nearest arm over the attacker's shoulder and lifts them into a Vertical Suplex position. He then lets go and forces them into the normal Piledriver position, dropping them on their head, while the attacker drops to a sitting position. Scott Steiner popularized this move, primarily while wrestling in Japan.
Powerbomb
A powerbomb is a move in which a victim is lifted up (usally so that he is sitting on the attacker's shoulders) then slammed down back-first to the mat.
The standard Powerbomb sees a wrestler placed in a standing headscissors position (bent forward with his head placed between the attacker's thighs) then lifted up on the attacker's shoulders, then slammed down back-first to the mat.
Belly to Back Powerbomb
The attacker puts the victim in a standing headscissors (Bent over in between the attackers legs) lifts the victim upside down (Piledriver Postion), From the he swings the victim up horizontally to the mat, and slams the victim down to the mat with extra force. This is sometimes called "The Power Outage"
Chokebomb
Similar to a chokeslam, except that the wrestler drops to a sitting position and slams the victim to the mat between his legs. It was made popular by The A-Train who called it the Derailer, A-Bomb, or Baldo Bomb, and is currently being used by Viscera. It is also used by TNA's Abyss who calls it the "Miracle Ecstacy Bomb".
Crucifix powerbomb
Also known as the "Razor's Edge"; it is a powerbomb in which the opponent is lifted on to the back of the attacker with his arms spread out. This variation was made popular by Scott Hall and is used now by Mordecai. A variation is Mike Awesome's Running Awesome Bomb and is also known as the Hammer Bomb.
Elevated powerbomb
Similar to a normal Powerbomb but instead of slamming the opponent directly on the mat from the shoulders, the attacker lifts the opponent even higher by extending his arms up then drives the opponent down to the canvas.
This version of a powerbomb is used by The Undertaker as one of his finishers and refers to it as The Last Ride.
Extended Powerbomb
This is a variation of a Elevated Powerbomb, except instead of being lifted on the attacker's shoulders, he/she is lifted horizontally on the mat and the attacker extends his arms out, instead of upward, and slams the opponent to the mat. This is also can be called The Last Ride
Gutwrench powerbomb
A gutwrench powerbomb involves a wrestler standing over a opponent locking his arms around the victim's waist and lifting him up over the wrestler's head/on the wrestler's shoulders and slamming him down back-first to the mat. Also known as a Doctor Bomb as used by "Dr. Death" Steve Williams.
Jackknife powerbomb
Commonly used by Kevin Nash, it is similar to a normal powerbomb. But, when the opponent is lifted into the air, he is simply dropped without any extra force exerted. Sometimes, the the opponent would be thrown away from the attacker rather than just a normal drop.
Reverse Powerbomb
Also called a Wheelbarrow Powerbomb. The attacker grabs a standing victim around the waist from behind and lifts them in the air. The attacker then falls to a sitting position, swinging the victim down so that their face is driven into the mat.
Sitout powerbomb
Also called a sit-down powerbomb, this is any powerbomb in which the attacker drops into a sitting position as he slams his opponent down to the mat. This maneuver can be done with any variation of a powerbomb i.e Sitout Gutwrench Powerbomb, Sitout Tiger Bomb etc.
The most common Sitout variation is that of a standard powerbomb, in which the victim is placed in a standing headscissors then lifted up on the attacker's shoulders, at this point the attacker slams the victim and at the same time falls to a sitting position, Batista, uses this version and calls it the Batista Bomb.
Spin-out powerbomb
This is a belly-to-back powerbomb usally ending in a sit-out pinning position.
Also known as a Blue-Thunder Powerbomb or Blue-Thunder Driver.
Another variation of this move ends in side slam positions, like "The Mark of Excellence" used by Mark Jindrak, and John Cena's Protobomb/Freestyle.
Sunset flip powerbomb
A move in which a wrestler will roll/flip over an elevated opponent facing him/she and use the momentum to pull the victim down to the mat back-first.
Tiger driver
The attacker grabs the victim's arms and hooks them before the victim is lifted up so that he/she is sitting on the attacker's shoulders then slammed down back first to the mat. Also called a double underhook powerbomb.
Tiger bomb is another name associated with this move, a mistake which usually is referring to a sitout tiger driver.
Powerslam
A powerslam is any slam in which the wrestler performing the technique falls face-down on top of their opponent.
There are two kinds of basic powerslam:
- The first kind of Powerslam is performed by reaching between one's opponent's legs with one arm and reaching around their back from the same side with the other arm. The wrestler lifts his opponent up over his shoulder and falls forward to slam the victim against the mat back-first. Wrestlers sometimes run forward as they slam—this is called a Running Powerslam, and was made famous by The British Bulldog.
- The second Powerslam also known as a Powerslam Pin involves the wrestler placing one arm between his opponent's legs and reaching over the opponent's shoulder with his other arm. The wrestler then spins his opponent over him keeping the opponent horizontal across the wrestlers body as he falls face-down on top of the victim in a pinning predicament and is usally performed on a charging opponent, using the victim's own momentum to power the throw.
Falling slam
Facing his opponent, the wrestler reaches between his opponent's legs with one arm and reaches around their back from the same side with his other arm. The wrestler lifts his opponent up so they are horizontal across the wrestlers body then falls forward to slam the victim against the mat back-first.
Gorilla press powerslam
Similar to a gorilla press slam. The wrestler lifts his opponent up over his head with arms fully extended (as in the military press used in weight lifting), then drops his opponent up over his shoulder and falls forward to slam the victim against the mat back-first.
Suplex Powerslam
The wreslter applys a Front face lock, throws there near arm over thier shoulder, and then grabs thier tights to lift them up straight in the air (as in most standard suplexs). When then wrestler begins to drop the victim to the mat the wrestler will fall face-down on top of thier opponent (in a powerslam position).
This move was popularized by Bill Goldberg who calls it "The Jackhammer"
Another version of this move sees a wrestler use the standard vertical suplex to lift the opponent into the air and place him over the attacker's shoulder before proforming a running powerslam.
Side slam
The wrestler stands side-to-side and slightly behind with the victim, facing in the opposite direction, and reaches around the victim's torso with one arm across the victim's chest and under both arms. The wrestler lifts him up with one arm and falls forward, slamming the victim into the mat back-first. The side slam is frequently referred to by its Japanese name of Ura-nage and is frequently performed against a charging opponent, similar to a low clothesline.
It has been used as a finisher by many wrestlers, including The Big Boss Man, who called it the Bossman Slam, The Rock, who calls it the Rock Bottom, and Booker T, who calls it the Book End.
Many variations of this move exsist including a version used by Mark Jindrak in which an opponent is lifted in a belly-to-back suplex position before it is turned into a side slam so the opponent is drop from an elevated position, Matt Hardy also uses a lariat (wrapping clothesline) version that ends like a inverted bulldog like position and calls it The Side Effect.
More variation follow below:
Swinging side slam
Facing his opponent, the wrestler reaches between his opponent's legs with one arm and reaches around their back from the same side with his other arm. The wrestler lifts his opponent up so they are horizontal across the wrestlers body then the attacker swing the lower half of the victims body out and round until one arm is across the victim's chest and under both arms. The wrestler falls forward, slamming the victim into the mat back-first. Chris Harris Also uses this move in which he calls the Catatonic. Billy Gunn uses this move and he calls is the Gunn Slinger.
Spinning side slam
The wrestler stands side-to-side and slightly behind with the victim, facing in the opposite direction, and reaches around the victim's torso with one arm across the victim's chest and under both arms. The wrestler then lifts him up with one arm as he swings the victim 180° to the opposite side, while the wrestler faces the same direction, then falls onto the opponent slamming the victim onto the mat back-first.
In another version of this move, which is performed against a charging opponent, the wrestler uses the victim's own momentum to power the throw and can can see the wrestler with the victim in the air spinning back round nearly 360° before droping him to the mat. This version is currently being used by Abyss who calls it the Black Hole Slam it has also been used recently by Heidenreich.
Sidewalk slam
The wrestler stands side-to-side and slightly behind with the victim, facing in the same direction, and reaches around the victim's torso with one arm across the victim's chest and under both arms and places the other arm under the victim's legs. The wrestler then lifts him up, bringing his legs off the ground, and falls down to the mat in a sitting position, slamming the victim into the mat back-first. It was formerly used by late Big Boss Man.
Samoan Drop
A wrestler drapes an opponent over his shoulders in a firemans carry position then the wrestler falls backwards droping the victim to the mat and is mainly performed on charging opponents. It has been a staple move for Samoan wrestlers throughout the years, including The Rock and Rikishi.
Shoulderbreaker
A Shoulderbreaker is any move in which the wrestler slams his opponent's shoulder against any part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee.
Snake Eyes
This requires the attacker to place his/her opponent on top of the attacker's shoulder, facing down, and throwing the opponent, face first, onto a turnbuckle.
This move is used commonly by The Undertaker and Kevin Nash.
Suplex
A suplex is any move in which a wrestler picks up his opponent and falls backwards to slam his opponent down. The term suplex (without qualifiers) can also refer specifically to the vertical suplex.
Belly to Back Suplex
The attacker stands behind his opponent and puts his head under the arm of the victim. He then lifts the opponent up using one arm around the waist of the opponent and another under his legs. The attacker finally falls backwards to slam the opponent flat on his back. Often more simply referred to as a back suplex.
Belly to Belly Suplex
The attacker wraps his arms around his opponent in a waistlock or a bodylock and flips him over by violently bridging his own body so the opponent lands on his back. This can be done either overhead or to the side. Magnum T.A. was the first notable wrestler to win matches with it.
Brainbuster
A brainbuster also known as a Avalanche Suplex is a vertical suplex in which the wrestler slams his opponent down to the mat headfirst, this move can also use the fisherman's variation. Theres is a controversy in which this move should be clasified as a Suplex or a high lifting DDT
Fisherman Brainbuster
A Fisherman Brainbuster a variation of the brainbuster in which the wrestler will also hook the victim's near leg with his free arm to aid in lifting him off the ground, the wrestler then slams his opponent down to the mat headfirst, this move can also see the wrestler drop to a sit-out position landing the victim between their legs.
Most notably the sit-out version is used by Low Ki as a finisher; and also by Shane Douglas and called it the Pittsburgh Plunge.
Double Underhook Suplex
The wrestler and opponent face each other, the opponent bent forward. The wrestler hooks the opponent's arms back, placing his arms under the backs of the opponent's elbows, with his hands on top of the opponent's back in an axe-handle. The wrestler then lifts the opponent into an upside-down vertical position, and releases the armlocks as he falls back, shifting the opponent to one side as the opponent flips over.
Other names include:
- double axe-handle suplex / double axe suplex
- double chicken-wing suplex
- butterfly suplex
Fisherman Suplex
Also known as a cradle suplex, or a "Perfect-plex" (named by Mr. Perfect as his finisher). With their opponent in a front face lock with the near arm draped over their shoulder, the wrestler hooks the victim's near leg with their free arm and falls backwards to flip the victim over onto their back. The attacker usually keeps the leg locked and bridges to get a pin, or applies a leglock submission hold.
A swinging variation of this move sees a wrestler, with their opponent in a front face lock with the near arm draped over their shoulder, hook the victim's near leg with their free arm and rolls over to one side, fliping the victim over onto their back.
Full Nelson Suplex
This move is also known as the Dragon Suplex, a variation of the German Suplex where the attacker does a full nelson, then lifts the victim up and slams him backwards on the upper back and head. Can be bridged for a pinfall attempt.
Gutwrench Suplex
A gutwrench suplex involves a wrestler standing over a opponent locking his arms around the victim's waist and lifting him up and slamming him over back-first down to the mat.
German Suplex
A belly-to-back waistlock/gutwrench suplex. The attacker stands behind the victim, grabs him around the waist, lifts up, and falls backward to slam the victim back-first. Frequently the attacker finishes in a bridging position with the waistlock still applied to try for a pin. A popular variant is to follow up a German suplex by rolling sideways while still holding the waistlock and perform another German suplex. This maneuver, popularized recently by Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit, is called rolling Germans.
Half Nelson Suplex
This is a version of a german suplex where the attacker stands behind, slightly to one side of and facing the victim. The attacker reaches under one of the victim's arms with his corresponding arm and places the palm of their hand on the neck of the victim, thereby forcing the arm of the victimup into the air (the Half Nelson). The attacker then lifts the victim up and falls backwards slamming the victim backwards on to the upper back and head of his head. Or can be thrown backwards face-first as popularized by Mitsuharu Misawa.
Inverted Suplex
The attacker applies an inverted facelock to the victim with one arm and uses the their other arm to elevate the victim, so the victim ends up in a sitting position with their back parallel to the ground. The attacker then falls backwards, driving the upper back and shoulders of the victim into the ground.
Northern Lights Suplex
The attacker puts his head under the arm of the victim and clutches the victim in a belly to belly suplex and flips them over. This move was invented and first performed by Japanese wrestler Hiroshi Hase . This suplex can be either bridged into a pin, or the attacker can floatover into another Northern Lights Suplex.
Pumphandle Suplex
The wrestler stands behind his opponent and bends him forward. One of the victim's arms is pulled back between his legs and held, while the other arm is hooked. The attacker then lifts his opponent up over his head and falls backwards to slam the victim against the mat back-first.
Salto Suplex
The attacker stands behind and to one side of the victim. The attacker wraps one arm around the waist of the victim and grabs the back of the victim's near leg with their other arm. The attacker then lifts the victim on to their shoulder and then falls backwards, driving the victim into the ground at a high angle. This move was formerly used by Shawn Michaels, who called it the Teardrop Suplex.
Side Suplex
Another name for the Russian Legsweep
Snap Suplex
A front facelock suplex. The attacker applies a front face lock to his opponent and drapes the victim's near arm over his shoulder, then quickly falls backwards and flips the victim over to land on his back. The attacker may grab the victim's shorts for extra leverage before falling.
Super-plex
Any suplex performed by an attacker standing on the second rope against an opponent sitting on the top rope or top turnbuckle. Frequently done to prevent the victim from performing a high-flying technique. This move was made famous by Cowboy Bob Orton.
Suplex slam
This move is simillar to most suplexes and starts with the attacker applying a front face lock to his opponent and draping the victim's near arm over his shoulder, then lifting him up and holding the opponent in the vertical postion. This is where the move differs from most of its counter parts with the attacker not falling with the victim but just throwing him to the mat, sometimes this involves the wrestler turning the victim in mid air and slamming the opponent down to the mat infront of him. The normal form of the move slams the opponent onto his back; if the opponent is slammed onto his front, it is an inverted suplex slam. In performing either the normal or inverted moves, the wrestler can also fall into a sit-out position, resulting in a sitout suplex slam.
The normal sitout suplex slam is also called the Falcon's arrow, and is a popular move of Harcore Holly who at one point referred to the move as The Hollycaust. The inverted suplex slam is also known as the Gordbuster, and the inverted sitout suplex slam as the sitout Gordbuster.
T-Bone Suplex
This is a variant of a belly-to-belly suplex. Rather then crossing the opponents arms around his own, the wrestler performing the T-Bone Suplex wraps one of the opponent's arms behind their back and throws them overhead in the same motion as a belly-to-belly. Another way of finishing this grapple is during the belly-to-belly like motion of throwing the opponent is for the wrestler to catch them and fall backward like a fall-away slam.
Jun Akiyama used a version of this in which he calls it the Exploder '98. The only difference is that he takes the opponent's free hand and clutches it in a Pumphandle.
A modified version that ends in a Powerslam Pin referring it today as the Exploder Suplex is currently used as a finisher by WWE Superstar, Shelton Benjamin.
The term T-Bone suplex came from Tazz. He delivered the best Exploder suplexes in wrestling. He sometimes calls it the "T-Bone Tazzplex".
Tiger Suplex
Another varition of the German Suplex except the attacker grabs the victim's arms, hooks them behind the victim and lifts them up while bridgeing into a pin.
Vertical Suplex
Set up similar to a snap suplex, except that when the victim is in position he is lifted up and held upside-down before the attacker falls backwards. Eddie Guerrero introduced a signature maneuver in which, after falling to the ground with his opponent, he flips himself over while maintaining his hold, pulls the victim back into the original position, and performs another vertical suplex. He ends once he has performed three suplexes. WWE announcers have dubbed the sequence Three Amigos; some fans have taken to calling this rolling verticals (an analogy from rolling Germans). Simon Diamond also does the three suplex series. He calls them " The Simon Series".
Wheelbarrow Suplex
This move is achieved when a wrestler wraps a foward facing opponent's legs around the his waist (either by stands behind an opponent who is laying face-first on the mat or by catching a charging opponent), then the wrestler would apply a gutwrentch hold and lift the opponent up off the ground into the air, then the attacker will continue lifting and fall backwards to hit this variation of a German Suplex
Trips/Sweeps
Drop Toe-hold
The attacker falls to the ground, placing one foot at the front of the opponent's ankle and the other in the back of the shin. This causes the victim to fall face first into the ground. It is sometimes used illegaly to force an opponent into a chair or other elevated weapon.
It is used by Rey Mysterio into the second rope as a set-up to his 619 finisher.
Half Nelson Legsweep
The attacker stands behind, slightly to one side of and facing the victim. The attacker reaches under one of the victim's arms with his corresponding arm and places the palm of their hand on the neck of the victim, thereby forcing the arm of the victim up into the air (the Half Nelson). The attacker then uses their other arm to pull the victim's other arm behind the victim's head, so both victim's arms are pinned. The attacker then hooks the victim's near leg and throws themselves backwards, driving the victim back-first to the ground.
Russian legsweep
Also known as a Side Suplex or a Side Russian Legsweep
a move in which a wrestler stands side-to-side and slightly behind with the victim, facing in the same direction, and reaches behind the victim's back to hook the opponents head with the other hand extending the victims nearest arm, then while hooking the opponents leg the wrestler falls backward, pulling the victim to the mat back-first.
There is also a facebuster variation of this move.
Schoolboy
The attacker drops down to his knees behind the opponent and forces his bodyweight forward to force the opponent to fall flat on his face. This technique gives its name to the schoolboy bump.
STO
The attacker wraps one arm across the chest of his opponent and sweeps the opponent's legs with his own leg to slam the other wrestler back-first. Can also be a lariat-legsweep combination to slam down opponent.
Claw-hold STO
also known as an STK, this move is a STO where the attacker would first apply a head claw with one hand before sweeping his opponent's legs to slam down the victim's head on the mat. this move is used by Kenzo Suzuki as his finisher.
Set up move
These are transition moves that set up for various throws and slams.
See Transition holds
