Chief Ade (right) executes a leg drop.Hulk Hogan performing the Atomic Leg Drop (running leg drop) on Mr. McMahon
A leg drop or legdrop refers to an attack used in professional wrestling in which an attacking wrestler will jump and land his leg across a fallen opponent's chest, throat, face or head or in some cases, the groin/lower-abdominal area.
The move can also be dangerous when the wrestler excessively used it many times will damage their hip, lower back, and pelvis, as Hulk Hogan had multiple surgeries on his back and hip while Matt Hardy had his lower back and pelvis fused together.
Variations
Discus leg drop
The wrestler spins 180° while they jump and land their leg across an opponent's chest, throat, face, or head.
Rob Van Dam utilizes this maneuver, jumping from the ring apron, the ringside barricade, or the second or top rope onto an opponent, who is usually laid out on the ground, hanging over the ring apron/ringside barricade, laying supine on the announcers' table/regular table, or trapped in the ring ropes. He also uses a standing version, but only on occasion.
This variation of the leg drop sees the wrestler drop both legs onto the opponent, usually onto their midsection, instead of just one leg. It was used by Kofi Kingston, who calls it the Boom Drop.
Extreme leg drop
This leg drop variation sees the attacking wrestler hold the opponent's legs and then do a double leg drop (legs together) onto the opponent's groin/lower-abdominal area. If performed to hit the lower abdomen, the user slightly bends their legs to force their heels into the lower abdomen. If it is to hit the groin area, the attacking wrestler bends out (that is to say, juts out their rear end) and keeps their legs straight to force the heels or lower legs into the groin. It was popularized by Jeff Hardy.
Guillotine leg drop
This move is similar to the leg drop, although it is done with the opponent's body hanging over something, sometimes with the opponent's head hung over one of the ring ropes or the ring apron (so the head is suspended over the outside). The wrestler will then walk across the apron and execute a leg drop onto the opponent's sternum, causing both of them to fall and land on the outside of the ring. This also refers to the attacker's leg hitting the opponent's throat in a standard leg drop.
Jumping leg drop
This variation sees a wrestler execute a jump before performing a standing or a running leg drop to an opponent's head, chest or midsection
Running leg drop
A variation to the original, the attacking wrestler bounces off from one side of the ring, runs and performs the leg drop across the opponent's chest. The running leg drop is famously Hulk Hogan's finishing move, usually preceded by a big boot. [citation needed]
Sliding leg drop
This variation sees the attacker perform a running or baseball slide towards an opponent lying on the mat, before using their momentum to perform a leg drop on the opponent's head, midsection, or back.
Slingshot leg drop
The attacker, while outside of the ring, pulls back on the ropes and, assisted by the rebound of the ropes, propels themselves into the ring and onto their victim. Variations include using the ropes for a slingshot somersault leg drop and a slingshot springboard (where the attacker leaps onto top of the ropes) diving leg drop. Another variant is when the attacker slingshots onto the opponent's neck. WWE wrestler Victoria used this move in many of her matches.
Somersault leg drop
An attacking wrestler performs a jumping forward somersault to drop their leg across the throat or chest of an opponent. There is also a variation where the leg that will be dropped on the opponent is swung forward while in a standing position next to the opponent, then swiftly swung back so the momentum from the pendulum motion carries the attacker through a somersault and the leg is dropped on whichever body part is targeted. Alicia Fox uses this move as a signature.
Split-legged leg drop
This is very similar to the actual leg drop, but there are two variations to this move. The first is that the attacking wrestler jumps, splits their legs in the air, then hits one of their legs on the opponent's chest/neck area. Another variation is that a standing wrestler hooks one of their leg up to their head, then falls in a split position on the opponent's chest/neck area; sometimes the attacking wrestler pins the opponent with a split. This move is usually performed by women, such as Christy Hemme, Naomi, Cameron, and Lyra Valkyria, who does a diving version of the move.
Springboard leg drop
An attacking wrestler jumps off the ring ropes from either inside the ring or from the apron, spreads their legs in the air, and lands one of their legs across their opponent's face, chest, or neck.
Professional wrestling throws are the application of professional wrestling techniques that involve lifting the opponent up and throwing or slamming them down. They are sometimes also called "power" maneuvers, as they are meant to emphasize a wrestler's strength. Many of these moves are used as finishers by various wrestlers, who refer to them by several different names that reflect their gimmick. Moves are listed under general categories whenever possible.
Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by performers to immobilize their opponents or lead to a submission. This article covers the various pins, stretches and transition holds used in the ring. Some wrestlers use these holds as their finishing maneuvers, often nicknaming them to reflect their character or persona. Moves are listed under general categories whenever possible.
A suplex is an offensive move used in sport wrestling as well as amateur wrestling and professional wrestling. It is a throw that involves lifting the opponents and bridging or rolling to slam them on their backs.
Aerial techniques, also known as "high-flying moves" are maneuvers in professional wrestling using the ring's posts and ropes as aids, in many cases to demonstrate the speed and agility of smaller, nimble and acrobatically inclined wrestlers preferring this style instead of throwing or locking the opponent. Due to injuries caused by these high-risk moves, some promotions have banned the use of some of them. The next list of maneuvers was made under general categories whenever possible.
Strikes can be offensive moves in professional wrestling, that can sometimes be used to set up an opponent for a hold or for a throw. There are a wide variety of strikes in pro wrestling, and many are known by several different names. Professional wrestlers frequently give their finishers new names. Occasionally, these names become popular and are used regardless of the wrestler performing the technique.
In professional wrestling, a pin is a move where a wrestler holds an opponent's shoulders to the mat. A pinfall is a common victory condition, where the attacker pins an opponent and the referee makes a three count before the opponent gets released from the pin.
In professional wrestling double-team maneuvers are executed by multiple wrestlers instead of one and typically are used by tag teams in tag team matches. Many of these maneuvers are combination of two throws, or submission holds. Most moves are known by the names that professional wrestlers give their "finishing move" names. Occasionally, these names become popular and are used regardless of the wrestler performing the technique. Moves are listed under general categories whenever possible.
A dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as they jump so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than the other and the wrestler falls back to the mat on their side, or front. This is commonly employed by light and nimble wrestlers who can take advantage of their agility, and is often executed on a charging opponent, while charging at an opponent, or a combination of the two.
A piledriver is a professional wrestling driver move in which the wrestler grabs their opponent, turns them upside-down, and drops into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the opponent head-first into the mat. The technique is said to have been innovated by Wild Bill Longson.
A powerbomb is a professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted and then slammed back-first down to the mat. The standard powerbomb sees an opponent first placed in a standing headscissors position. The opponent is then lifted on the wrestler's shoulders and slammed down back-first to the mat. A prawn hold is commonly used for a pinning powerbomb.
In professional wrestling a DDT is any move in which the wrestler has the opponent in a front facelock/inverted headlock and falls down / backwards to drive the opponent's head into the mat. The classic DDT is performed by putting the opponent in a front facelock and falling backwards so that the opponent is forced to dive forward onto their head. Although widely credited as an invention of Jake Roberts, who gave the DDT its famous name, the earliest known practitioner of the move was Mexican wrestler Black Gordman, who frequently performed it during the 1970s before Roberts popularized it nationwide.
Backbreaker refers to a kind of professional wrestling move which sees a wrestler dropping an opponent so that the opponent's back impacts or is bent backwards against a part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee. The standard version of the move sees the wrestler scoop their opponent horizontally before dropping to one knee, slamming the opponent's back on their other knee.
In professional wrestling, a neckbreaker is any throw or slam that focuses its attack on the opponent's neck. One type of neckbreaker involves the wrestler slamming an opponent's neck against a part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee, head or shoulder. The other type of neckbreaker is a slam technique in which the wrestler throws an opponent to the ground by twisting the opponent's neck. This also refers to a "back head slam" where a wrestler drops to the mat while holding an opponent by their neck.
A moonsault, moonsault press, or back flip splash is a professional wrestling aerial technique. It was innovated by Mando Guerrero. Much of its popularity in both Japanese and American wrestling is attributed to The Great Muta, despite it being used in North America by "Leaping" Lanny Poffo years before Muta came from Japan. In a standard moonsault, which is generally attempted from the top rope, a wrestler faces away from the supine opponent and executes a backflip landing on the opponent in a splash/press position but facing towards the elevated position. Though this move is generally attempted from the top rope to an opponent lying face up in the mat, myriad variations exist, including moonsaults that see the wrestler land on a standing opponent and forcing them down to the mat. The move is considered a higher-impact version of a splash, since the wrestler utilizes rotational speed.
A brainbuster is a professional wrestling throw in which a wrestler puts the opponent in a front facelock, hooks their pants or thigh, and lifts them up as if they were executing a vertical suplex. The wrestler then falls onto their back so that the opponent lands on their head while remaining vertical. This move is a version of the DDT. It was innovated by Killer Karl Kox. In Japanese puroresu, the term "brainbuster" refers to a regular vertical suplex, while the move elsewhere known as a brainbuster is referred to as a "vertical drop brainbuster".
A facebuster, also known as a faceplant, is generally a takedown move in professional wrestling in which an attacking wrestler forces their opponent down to the mat face-first without involving a headlock or facelock. A standard facebuster, also known as a jumping facebuster, involves the wrestler grabbing hold of the opponent's head/hair and dropping down to their knees, forcing the opponent's face into the mat.
A Powerslam or simply Slam is a professional wrestling body slam move in which the wrestler performing the slam falls face-down on top of the opponent. The use of the term "powerslam" usually refers to the front powerslam or the scoop powerslam.
A spinebuster is a professional wrestling move in which an opponent is grabbed by the waist and then slammed down back-first. The standard variation starts with the wrestler facing their opponent and then grabs them around their waist, lifts them up, and then either slams the opponent down while landing on top of them, or tosses them forward on to their back.
In professional wrestling, a cutter is a 3⁄4 facelockbulldog maneuver. This move sees an attacking wrestler first apply a 3⁄4 facelock before falling backwards to force the opponent face-first to the mat below.
A stunner is a common term in professional wrestling referring to the ¾ facelock jawbreaker maneuver. The innovator of the move has been disputed, as both Mikey Whipwreck and Michael P.S. Hayes have both claimed to be behind the origin of the move. The move was named for Stone Cold Steve Austin's Stone Cold Stunner finisher, a finisher suggested to him by Hayes. It involves an attacking wrestler applying a three-quarter facelock before falling to a seated position and forcing the opponent's jaw to drop down on the shoulder of the attacking wrestler. The free hand is sometimes used to hold the top of the head.
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