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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.
Also known as the S.O.S. or table-top suplex. The wrestler lifts the opponent up so the opponent is horizontal across the wrestler's body then falls backwards, throwing their opponent over their head down to the mat back-first. This slam can be either bridged into a pin, or the wrestler can float over into another fallaway slam. This move can be sometimes used as a continuation move from catching an opponent's high-cross body, to emphasize the wrestler's strength. Randy Orton, Titus O'Neil, Madcap Moss, John "Bradshaw/JBL" Layfield and Razor Ramon are its notable examples of users.
This move shows the wrestler grab an opponent like a fallaway slam but instead of just throwing them backwards the wrestler, while hanging onto the opponent, does a backflip slamming the opponent back-first into the mat while landing on top of them chest-first. The attacker may also choose to maintain their hold on the opponent after landing in an attempt to score a pinfall. This move was innovated by Scott Steiner and is currently used by Cameron Grimes primarily as a signature counter for a charging opponent performing a running crossbody. Grimes calls it Collision Course. This move requires a great deal of lower body strength and agility to perform as it can be dangerous to the wrestler performing the backflip as he/she/they can land head-first and risk serious injury from failing to rotate properly. "Hangman" Adam Page and Mandy Rose also uses this move.
This move is also known as a falling slam or a reverse fallaway slam. Facing the opponent, the wrestler reaches between the opponent's legs with one arm and reaches around their back from the same side with the other arm. The wrestler lifts the opponent up so they are horizontal across the wrestler's body, then falls forward to slam the opponent against the mat back-first. Although not usually used as a finishing maneuver by most other competitors, Mark Henry uses the falling powerslam as his ending maneuver and refers to it as the World's Strongest Slam, playing off his claim to be the world's strongest man. An elevated version of this move is also possible. An inverted version exists, where the opponent is lifted from behind and slammed in a manner similar to a falling slam, only on their face/abdomen. The Boogeyman uses the inverted version as a finisher.
The wrestler lifts the opponent across their shoulders in a fireman's carry, grabs their right leg and pushes it up, and positions their torso across the wrestler's abdomen. The wrestler then falls forward, slamming the opponent down on their back in a front powerslam. It is used by Keith Lee as the Big Bang Catastrophe.
The most common powerslam variation, it is also often referred to simply as a "powerslam". The attacking wrestler reaches between an opponent's legs with their stronger arm and reaches around their back from the same side with their weaker arm before then lifting the opponent up over their shoulder. From this position, the wrestler falls forward to slam the opponent against the mat back-first. An inverted variation of this maneuver also exists. Wrestlers often run forward as they slam, a move popularized by The British Bulldog who used it as his finishing move. Braun Strowman and Davey Boy Smith Jr. are modern examples of wrestlers using the running powerslam as a finisher.
The move, also known as a military press powerslam or falling press slam, is similar to a gorilla press slam. The wrestler lifts the opponent up over their head with arms fully extended (as in the military press used in weight lifting), drops the opponent into an over-the shoulder-position, then runs and falls forward to slam the opponent against the mat back-first. Currently being used by NXT rookie Bron Breakker.
The attacking wrestler grabs the opponent's waist, as in a gutwrench, then hoist the opponent up onto one of their shoulders in an overhead gutwrench backbreaker rack. From this position, the attacking wrestler then sits down and simultaneously flips the opponent forwards and downwards, slamming them down to the ground face-first to one side. It was popularized by Yujiro Takahashi as Tokyo Pimps.
It is simply known as The Oklahoma slam in which the wrestler reaches between the opponent's legs with their stronger arm and around the opponent's back from the same side with their weaker arm. The wrestler then lifts the opponent up over their shoulder, and runs towards the ring corner, slamming the opponent back-first on the turnbuckles. The wrestler keeps the hold and slams the opponent to the opposite corner as well. The wrestler then runs to the middle of the ring and falls down forward, driving the opponent back-first into the mat. This move was invented and named by Bill Watts. It was popularized by "Dr. Death" Steve Williams.
This move is the second most common version of a powerslam and is often referred to as simply a "powerslam". The attacking wrestler places their stronger arm between an opponent's legs, and reach over the opponent's shoulder with their weaker arm. Then, the opponent is spun over onto their back while keeping the opponent horizontal across the wrestler's body at all times. As the opponent falls to the mat, the attacking wrestler will continue to fall face-down on top of them in a lateral press pinning position. This powerslam is usually performed on a charging opponent, using the opponent's own momentum to power the throw. Notable users of this move are Buzz Sawyer, Road Warrior Animal, Randy Orton, Samoa Joe, Dustin Rhodes and Braun Strowman. This move is called "Snap scoop powerslam" when performed very fast. It also has a spinning variation, where the user scoops his/her opponent, spins him/her and falls forward, slamming the opponent on the mat. Brock Lesnar used this move during his first run with WWE. An inverted version exists, where the opponent is lifted from behind, and slammed in a manner similar to a scoop powerslam, only onto their face/abdomen. Jeff Cobb uses a variation, where he spins him and his opponents a 360°, before executing the powerslam, dubbed as the Tour of the Islands. Former NXT rookie and Nexus member Michael Tarver also used a reverse spin scoop powerslam, similar to the "Tour of the Islands", but he calls it "Tarver's Lightning".
This move is commonly referred to as an ura-nage slam, or simply ura-nage. This name is an incorrect Americanization of the name for ura-nage, which, translated directly from Japanese, means "throw to behind". It has erroneously been translated as "reverse side throw". [1] To perform it, the wrestler begins standing face to face with the opponent slightly to their side. Then, the wrestler tucks their own head under the opponent's near arm, reaches across the opponent's chest and around their neck with their near arm, and places the other arm against their back. The wrestler then falls forward, either flat on their chest or into a kneeling position, and forces the opponent back-first onto the mat. In another variation, the wrestler can also stay standing and body slam the opponent onto the mat, this is typically called a standing side slam. This standing version is used by Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, and also by Samoa Joe. The original version was innovated and popularized by Hiroshi Hase. The fall-forward variation was popularized by The Rock, who called it the Rock Bottom. The kneeling variation was performed by Booker T who calls it the Book End. Matt Hardy performs a sitout variation of it, called the Side Effect. The sitout side slam was also performed by former WWE star Mason Ryan. Becky Lynch uses this move with a pumphandle calling it the Manhandle Slam. Bryan Beal of Berkeley Heights Township Wrestling performs a version called The Beal Bomb.
This move sees the wrestler stand behind the opponent, put their head under one of the opponent's arms, and lift the opponent into a belly-to-back suplex. The wrestler then pushes the opponent upwards before turning and transitioning into a side slam, so the opponent is dropped from an elevated position. The move is used as a finishing manoeuvre by Clark Connors, which he names the Trophy Kill. This move was also the finisher of former WCW/, WWF/E, and CMLL wrestler Mark Jindrak, which he dubbed Mark of Excellence.
This move is also referred to as a scrapbuster. To perform it, the wrestler stands in front of the opponent with the opponent facing the same direction. The wrestler lift the opponent in front of them in a side powerslam position. The wrestler swings the opponent's legs to the opposite side before sitting down and slamming the opponent's back to the mat. Used by Abyss as the Black Hole Slam. Jon Moxley and Wade Barrett use this as their signature maneuver calling it the Moxicity (Moxley) and the Winds of Change (Barrett). This version was also used by the late Brodie Lee as "Truckstop". A kneeling version was also used by the Big Boss Man.
This move is often erroneously described as a moonsault ura-nage slam. To perform it, an attacking wrestler stands slightly behind and facing the side of a standing opponent. The wrestler then reaches under the near arm of the opponent, across the chest of the opponent and under their far arm, while placing their other hand on the back of the opponent to hold them in place. The wrestler then performs a backwards somersault (moonsault) while holding the victim, driving the opponent into the mat back-first. This move can also be performed off the top rope and is known as a moonsault side slam or solo Spanish fly in reference to the Spanish fly double team move. The move was used by Paul Burchill and John Morrison, both of whom called the move C-4. A famous user of the Move is Will Ospreay, calling it the Rainham Maker. Current WWE wrestler Charlotte Flair also uses this move.
This move is also known as a wind-up slam. To perform it, the wrestler faces the opponent and reaches between the opponent's legs with one arm and around the back from the same side with the other arm. The wrestler then lifts the opponent up so they are horizontal across the wrestler's body. Next, the wrestler spins in a circle while swinging the lower half of the opponent's body out and around until one arm is across the opponent's chest and under one or both arms. The wrestler then falls forward, slamming the opponent into the mat back-first. In some variations of the move, the wrestler can hold the opponent up over their shoulder and throw the opponent round from that position, or hang the opponent across both their shoulders and throw out their legs behind them so the opponent swings back round to drop in a position. A sitout variant is used by CaZXL as the East River Crossing.
This move is also known as a sambo suplex or side suplex. To perform it, the wrestler stands face-to-face with the opponent, slightly to their side. The wrestler tucks their head under the opponent's near arm, and reaches across the opponent's chest and around their neck with their near arm. The wrestler then simultaneously lifts the opponent up, turns 180° and falls forward, slamming the opponent back-first on the mat. As mentioned below, the move was popularized by Hiroshi Hase. The Spinning Variation also known as Spinning Solo used by Solo Sikoa.
The name uranage (or ura-nage) comes from a Judo throw which, translated directly from Japanese, means "throw to behind/back" and is commonly (albeit incorrectly) used to refer to a regular side slam in pro wrestling. The Judo uranage throw more closely resembles a saito suplex in execution.
In this elevated side slam variation, the wrestler grabs a front facelock on the opponent and wraps their arm over the opponent's neck. The wrestler then lifts the opponent upside down, as in a vertical suplex. The wrestler moves their arm from around the opponent's neck, and as the opponent falls back down, they are placed into a side slam position and dropped on the mat. This was formerly used by Hirooki Goto as Shouten, before using a sitout version called the Shouten Kai. He also invented the inverted variation called the Ura-Shouten. Former professional wrestler Matt Morgan used this move as a finisher during his tenure in TNA, calling it the Hellevator.
In this variation, an opponent lifts up an opponent by the waist and then slams them down back onto the mat like a powerslam. Lars Sullivan used this as a finisher during his time in the WWE, calling it the "Freak Accident". Erick Rowan also used this move as a finisher for short while in the WWE as well.
Also known as side suplex. To perform this move, the wrestler stands side-to-side and slightly behind, with the opponent facing in the same direction. The wrestler then reaches around the opponent's torso with their near arm across the opponent's chest and under both arms and the other arm under the opponent's legs. The wrestler then lifts the opponent, bringing their legs off the ground, and falls down to the mat in a sitting position, slamming the opponent into the mat back-first. A one-armed variation is also possible, usually performed on smaller wrestlers.
The users lifts their opponent up on their right shoulder, as in a front powerslam. Then, the left arm is wrapped around the opponent's neck and the right arm is wrapped around the opponent's torso. The user then sits down while dropping the opponent vertically to the right side, driving the opponent neck-and-shoulder first into the mat. This move was invented by Mitsuharu Misawa, calling it Emerald Flowsion. Another variation is the elevated position: the user puts the opponent into a front powerslam, then jumps off either the second or third turnbuckle, driving the opponent into a typical sitout side powerslam position. Samoa Joe used this move calling it Island Driver. Tetsuya Naito innovated a variation of the move, where the sitout side powerslam is preceded by a lifting hammerlock cradle hold, dubbed as Gloriá. Naomichi Marufuji invented a butterfly variation, called Tiger Flowsion. Gunther uses a variation of the move that slams the opponent flat on their back as his finisher called The Last Symphony.
The wrestler applies a front facelock, throws the opponent's near arm over the wrestler's shoulder, and then grabs the opponent's tights to lift them up straight in the air (as in a standard vertical suplex). When the wrestler begins to drop the opponent to the mat, the wrestler will twist to fall face-down on top of the opponent, hooking the leg for a pin. Another variation of the maneuver involves the wrestler applying the front facelock, and throwing the opponent's near arm over the wrestler's shoulder, and then lifting the opponent into a suplex position, before placing the opponent on one shoulder in a front powerslam position, then falling forward to slam the opponent against the mat back-first. The move was innovated by Jaguar Yokota in the 1980s, but was popularized by Bill Goldberg in WCW, who called it the Jackhammer. Nia Jax also uses this move. former WWE/NXT superstar Mason Ryan also used this move as a finisher right before he was released from the WWE in 2014.
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, and brazilian jiu jitsu (bjj) 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 performance techniques used in professional wrestling for simulated assault on opponents. The techniques involve jumping from the ring's posts and ropes, demonstrating the speed and agility of smaller, nimble and acrobatically inclined wrestlers, with many preferring this style instead of throwing or locking the opponent.
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 martial arts and combat sports, a takedown is a technique that involves off-balancing an opponent and bringing them to the ground with the attacker landing on top. The process of quickly advancing on an opponent and attempting a takedown is known as shooting for a takedown, or simply shooting. Takedowns are usually distinguished from throws by amplitude and impact, where the purpose of a throw is to outright eliminate the opponent while purpose of a takedown is to bring the opponent down on the ground, assume a dominant position and then proceed to finish them with jointlocks, chokeholds, or ground and pound.
In professional wrestling, a pin is a move where a wrestler holds an opponent's shoulders to the mat in an attempt to score a fall. 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 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 chokeslam is a type of body slam in professional wrestling, in which a wrestler grasps an opponent's neck, lifts them up, and slams them to the mat. It is common in televised wrestling because it is simple and relatively safe, yet looks powerful on camera. The chokeslam is typically used as a finisher by large wrestlers, further enhancing its perception as a powerful maneuver. This maneuver can be more damaging if the victim is slammed into an object, such as a table, steel chair, or garbage can.
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 "sheer drop brainbuster" or a "vertical (drop) brainbuster".
In martial arts, a throw is a grappling technique that involves off-balancing or lifting an opponent, and throwing them to the ground, in Japanese martial arts referred to as nage-waza, 投げ技, "throwing technique". Throws are a subset of takedown (grappling). Certain throwing techniques called sacrifice throws involve putting oneself in a potentially disadvantageous position, such as on the ground, in order to execute a throw.
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 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 facelockneckbreaker 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 professional wrestling move, also 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.