Professional wrestling aerial techniques
Aerial techniques are used in professional wrestling to show of the speed and agility of a wrestler. These moves are mainly done by smaller quicker wrestlers that are unable to do most of the power moves.
There is a wide variety of aerial techniques in pro wrestling. Many moves are known by several different names. Professional wrestlers frequently give their "finishers" (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.
Moves are listed under general categories whenever possible.
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Axe handle
A top-rope axe handle is accomplished by jumping from the top turnbuckle to the mat or floor and striking your opponent with two fists held together in the fashion of holding an axe. This is usually done on a standing or rising opponent, not a prone one. Many wrestlers include this move in their repertoire, though one particularly famous version is done by Randy Savage.
Banzai drop
A Banzai drop is a move in which a wrestler jumps down from a raised platform and drops his buttocks on the opponent's body. This move was originated by Yokozuna. Rikishi also used this move, dubbing it the Rump Shaker.
Crossbody
A crossbody (or "cross body block") is a maneuver in which a wrestler jumps onto his opponent and lands horizontally across the opponent's torso, forcing them to the mat and usually resulting in a pinfall attempt. This can be accomplished from the top rope or by going over the top rope to the outside. In lucha libre, this is called a "pescado" when the top rope is used as a slingshot, though the term "plancha" has been popularly accepted in American wrestling for the same maneuver. In Mexico, a plancha is any move which uses the chest or abdomen.
This is another move used by many wrestlers, usually of lighter weights. Ricky Steamboat was well-known for his excellent crossbody.
Diving bulldog
This is a Bulldog (head-lock takedown) proformed by an attacker from an evelated position. a bulldog is a 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.
A standard diving bulldog sees an attacker jump down on an opponent from an elevated platform and apply any version of a headlock to take down the victim to the mat.
Versions of a headlock takedown are often used by Maven as a finisher.
Diamond dust
This can refer to a Somersault Three-quarter Facelock Bulldog or Somersault Three-quarter Facelock Jawbreaker but they are best known by the name given to it by Masato Tanaka. This move involves an attacker standing on the top rope facing the back of a standing victim. The attacker then leaps forward, somersaulting, and catches the victim in a three-quarter facelock (the victim's head on their shoulder with the attacker's arm pinning the victim's head in place) as they fall. The attacker pulls the victim down with them, driving the victim's jaw into the shoulder of the attacker, or forcing their face into the mat.
This move is used by Shark Boy as a finisher, he refers to is as the Dead Sea Drop (DSD).
Springboard Bulldog
This is a Bulldog performed after springboarding (bouncing) off the ring ropes. Trish Stratus uses this move and calls it "Stratusfaction".
Another version is the springboard bulldog is the Three-quarter Facelock Bulldog variation which sees the attcker run up to ropes while applying Three-quarter Facelock then droping the victim to the mat face first. This version is used by Spike Dudley.
Diving elbow drop
A diving elbow drop is executed by diving onto a prone opponent with one's elbow cocked, driving the elbow into the opponent's shoulder or chest. Variations of this move have been used as signature maneuvers by Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Randy Savage, Test, Garrison Cade, Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels.
Shane McMahon used this as a deadly maneuver. First, he place his opponent on an announcer's table. He then climbs onto the top-rope before leaping off and driving his elbow into the opponent's chest, as the announcer's table breaks in two. He calls this finisher "The Leap of Faith".
Diving stomp
When a wrestler jumps down from a raised platform on an opponent drpping his foot onto any part of an opponent's body.
Diving double foot stomp
When a wrestler jumps down from a raised platform on an opponent driving both his feet into anywhere on the opponent's body. This is a signature move of Spike Dudley.
Mushroom stomp
Diving fist drop
A fist drop is a move in which a wrestler jumps down from a raised platform on an opponent driving his fist into anywhere on the opponent's body. This move was used by RAW color commentator Jerry "The King" Lawler as a finishing maneuver.
Diving headbutt
A diving headbutt is exactly what it sounds like: a "swan dive" style headbutt delivered from the top rope to anywhere on the opponent's body. the move was originally used by "The Dynamite Kid" Tommy Billington. The most popular version today is used by Chris Benoit as one of his trademark spots.
Diving hurricanrana
This move is executed by jumping forward with legs apart, landing on a standing opponent straddling his shoulders, and using the momentum to execute a hurricanrana. WWE diva Lita employs it as a finisher, dubbing it the "Litacanrana."
Dragonrana
In this variant of the diving hurricanrana, the attacker performs a front flip from the top rope before executing the technique. The technique is named by and after the wrestler "Dragon Kid", pupil of Ultimo Dragon, who invented the maneuver.
Springboard hurricanrana
A move in which the wrestler jumps up and springboards off the top rope from the outside of the ring, performs a hurricanrana in to a pin. Rey Mysterio uses this as a finisher when combined with the 619 and calls it a West Coast Pop.
Diving knee drop
A move in which a wrestler will jump from a raised platform (the top rope, the apron, etc) and land his knee on a prone opponent.
Diving leg drop
A move in which a wrestler will jump from a raised platform (the top rope, the apron, etc) and land his leg across an opponent's throat or face. Also called a guillotine legdrop, and is used by many wrestlers aswell as popular luchadore Psicosis as a finisher.
Diving Fameasser
This is a version of a diving leg drop, it involves the attacker coming off one of the rope and droping his leg across the back of the head of an opponent whos is leaning forward. Named by "Mr. Ass" Billy Gunn.
Somersault Legdrop
The wrestler spins in a circle while descending.
Springboard Legdrop
A move in which a wrestler bounces off the ropes and lands his leg across an opponent's throat or face. Currently used by wrestler Rey Mysterio who referres to it as Dropping the Dime, as a finisher when combined with the 619.
Diving shoulder block
Diving Spear
This is a Diving Shoulder Block Takedown a move in which a wrestler will jump from a raised platform i.e. top-rope and drive their shoulder into the victims stomach and force them down to the mat.
Flying clothesline
A move in which a wrestler will jump from a raised platform (i.e. the top rope or turnbuckle) and perform a clothesline to a standing opponent. The Undertaker's version of the move, called "Old School," has Undertaker twist the opponent's arm, then use it to balance himself as he walks across the top rope before performing the move. It is referred to as "Old School" now because Taker has used this move for over ten years.
Shelton Benjamin and Hardcore Holly has recently been using a version of this move, called a Flying Lariat which is similar but involves the wrestler wraping his arm around the opponents head.
Flying neckbreaker
also known as a Flipping Neckbreaker are neckbreaker techniques involving the attacker jumping from a raised platform (usually the middle/second rope at the turnbuckle) and throwing the opponent to the ground by twisting the victim's neck. Made famous by Marcus "Buff" Bagwell, dubbing it the Blockbuster.
Sunset flip
This is a pinning move where a wrestler and his opponent face each other, with the attacker on higher ground (such as the top turnbuckle). The attacker dives over the victim, catches him in a waistlock from behind, and rolls into a sitting position as he hits the mat. As the attacker rolls over, he pulls the victim over backwards so that he lands on his back.
Frankensteiner
This is a headscissors takedown executed on a victim sitting on the tope rope. With the attacker's legs scissored around the opponent's head while they face each other, the attacker performs a backflip to swing through the opponent's open legs, dragging the victim into a forced somersault that distances the attacker from the victim and lands the opponent on his back. The name "Frankensteiner" comes from Scott Steiner, who popularized the move in the United States after learning the technique on a tour of Japan.
Moonsault
A move in which a wrestler executes a backflip and lands on an opponent. A basic moonsault is generally attempted from the top rope, though myriad variations exist. Much of its popularity in America can be attributed to the Great Muta, also known as Keiji Mutoh.
Springboard moonsault
Origionally called La Quebrada this is a move in which a wrestler springboards (bounces off ropes) then executes a backflip and lands on an opponent. It was invented by the Luchador Fantasma de la Quebrada and is also known as a Lionsault, particularly when executed Chris Jericho.
When a springboard moonsault is performed onto an opponent on the floor outside the ring, rather than one in the ring, it is called an Asai moonsault, named after the man who popularised its use in modern wrestling Yoshihiro Asai, better known in the United States by his stage name Ultimo Dragon.
Corkscrew moonsault
A twisting moonsault in which the attacker stands on an elevated platform, such as the top rope, and performs a moonsault with a 180° rotation, landing as if performing a senton. This manuever was innovated by female japanese wrestler Chaparrita Asari, it is also used as a signature manuever by Jack Evans and Hector Garza. Kid Kash uses a varation of this move dubbed the Money Roll, which is best described as an Asai Twisting Moonsault.
Split-legged moonsault
A moonsault variation in which the performer jumps to the top rope, but before moonsaulting drops down so that his legs split and flips back using his thighs. Rob Van Dam uses this as a trademark maneuver. Also used by CM Punk who has dubbed it the "Crooked Moonsault". Also slingshot or springboarding variations have been used by Rey Mysterio and Jeff Hardy.
Standing moonsault
A move in which a wrestler, who is standing next to an opponent laying on the ground executes a backflip and lands on him. Used often by Victoria, who does a dance before she executes the move.
Missile dropkick
A dropkick from a elevated surface such as a turnbuckle, a table or a ladder to a standing opponent. Booker T used this move as a finisher in WCW.
Springboard dropkick
A move in which a wrestler bounces off the ropes and performs a dropkick, either to the outside or into the ring.
Plancha
An accepted term in American wrestling for a slingshot crossbody from the inside to the outside of the ring. In Mexico, a plancha is any move which uses the chest or abdomen.
Senton
A senton is similar to a splash, except that instead of impacting stomach first, the attacker lands back first across the opponent.
Molly-go-round
This variant on the seated senton is performed by flipping forward off a raised platform on to the shoulders of a standing opponent forcing them to the ground, generally named after WWE diva Molly Holly its technical name is a flipping seated senton.
Seated senton
This variant on the senton is performed by jumping forward off a raised platform or springboarding on to the shoulders of a standing opponent forcing them to the ground. A variation of this move, springboarding from the top rope, is used regularly by Rey Mysterio.
Senton bomb
This variant on the senton is performed by leaping from the top turnbuckle (or other raised surface), flipping forward 270°, and landing on the opponent back-first in the standard senton position. Jeff Hardy employs a variant of this as his finisher, dubbed the "Swanton Bomb", in which he waits until the last second to execute the flip, so that he just barely completes the flip when impacting with his opponent.
Imploding Senton Bomb
The Attacker is on the top turnbuckle facing backwards from the ring. He Jump backwards executing a Senton Bomb.
This is a Variant of a Reverse Shooting Star Press.
Splash
A basic splash involves a wrestler jumbing forward from a raised platform and landing stomach first across an opponent lying on the ground below.
WWE superstar Val Venis uses the move, which he calls The Money Shot, which is a little variation of a Splash. The most well known variation of the splash, is known as The Superfly, it was used by legendary hall of famer Jimmy 'The Superfly' Snuka, Snuka was one of the first 'high-fliers' to wrestle in North America and The Superfly was on of the first and most popular highflying moves to be seen in mainstream wrestling.
This move can also be performed without the attacker being on a raised platform this is referred too as a Big Splash and is mainly used by heavier wrestlers like Big Daddy.
450 splash
Flipping forward 450° from a raised platform, landing on the opponent in the splash position. Wrestlers like Too Cold Scorpio and Juventud Guerrera popularized the move in the United States. Paul London has also used this move.
Corkscrew 450 splash
a Corkscrew 450° splash is performed when a wrestler (facing backwards to the ring from the top turnbuckle) jumps, turns 180° and performs a 450° splash. This move was popularized by the Japanese wrestler Hayabusa, who called it a "Phoenix Splash". Low Ki uses it by that name.
Frog splash
This move is performed by leaping from the top rope, stretching out to a horizontal position, and bringing your feet and hands inward and outward before landing. This is Eddie Guerrero's finishing move, as well as Rob Van Dam's, though he calls it the "Five Star Frog Splash."
Split Legged Splash
Simular to the Split Legged Moonsault, only instead of moonsaulting, the attacker turns arounds and hit a splash
Shooting star press
The attacker jumps forward, executing a backflip in mid-air, landing on the opponent in the splash position. The move was invented by Jushin Liger but is performed by many other wrestlers. Billy Kidman uses it as his finisher. Paul London, Teddy Hart and AJ Styles can often be seen performing it as well. Brock Lesnar badly missed a shooting star press in his match with Kurt Angle at WrestleMania XIX. He was performing it for the first time in WWE, and nearly broke his neck when he did not achieve adequate rotation and landed on his head; this botched version of the move has been jokingly nicknamed the "Shooting Star Headbutt" by fans. Lesnar has, however, successfully landed this move in the past.
Imploding star press
A reverse shooting star press. The attacker gets on a higher ground, and executes a 450 Splash inwards. Sonjay Dutt has used this move at Independent shows.
Standing shooting star press
A move in which a wrestler, who is standing next to an opponent laying on the ground jumps forward, executing a backflip in mid-air, lands on the opponent in the splash position. This has been used by Amazing Red, Paul London and Johnny Nitro as finishers.
Corkscrew shooting star press
A move which a wrestler on a raised platform, jumps like a shooting star press, but then turns 180° in the air, and lands in a splash position facing the raised platform. Also known as a Corkcrew Shooting Star Splash used by Paul London.
Transition move
Some moves are meant neither to pin an opponent, nor weaken them or force them to submit, but are intended to set up the victim for another attack.
Springboard
Springboarding invovles a wrestler using any of the ropes to bounce off of, most high-flying techniques can be performed after a spring board, i.e. Springboard leg-drop, Springboard dropkick.
Slingshot
A slingshot involves a wrestler pulling on the rope and using the spring of the ropes to hurl themselfs over itmost high-flying techniques can be performed after a sling shot.