Powerbomb

A powerbomb is a professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted up (usually so that they are sitting on the wrestler's shoulders) and then slammed back-first down to the mat. The standard powerbomb sees an opponent first placed in a standing headscissors position (bent forward with their head placed between the attacking wrestler's thighs). He is then lifted up on the wrestler's shoulders and slammed down back-first to the mat. A prawn hold is commonly used for a pinning powerbomb.

Powerbombs are sometimes used in mixed martial arts competitions, when a fighter attempts to slam another fighter who has him trapped in a triangle choke.

Variations

Argentine powerbomb

The wrestler places their opponent face-up across their shoulders, as in an Argentine backbreaker rack, hooks the head with one hand and a leg with the other, and the wrestler will then spin the opponent's head away from the wrestler, dropping the opponent down to the mat. Often the wrestler drops to a seated position while spinning the opponent.

Chokebomb

Also known as a sitout two handed chokeslam and a choke driver. The most common move referred to as a chokebomb sees an attacking wrestler grasps an opponent's neck with both hands and then lift them up into the air. From here the attacking wrestler would throw the opponent back down to the mat while falling to a seated position. This would see the opponent land in a position where their legs are wrapped around the wrestler with their back and shoulders on the mat. This allows the attacking wrestler to lean forward and place both his/her arms on the opponent for a pinfall attempt. A falling version exists, and usually ends with the attacking wrestler pinning the opponent immediately while still holding the throat after the move has already been executed.

Crucifix powerbomb

Pendleton performing a "Crucifix Powerbomb".

The wrestler places his opponent in between his legs then the wrestler lifts his opponent over his shoulder and holds both his arms in a cross position. The wrestler finally runs or falls to his/her knees and throws his opponent onto the mat back/neck first.

Sitout crucifix powerbomb

Also known as a Splash Mountain, this powerbomb is similar to the Crucifix Powerbomb, but instead of the wrestler falling forward to drop the opponent, the attacking wrestler falls to a seated position for a pinfall attempt instead of releasing the opponent.

Dangan Bomb

This move is performed when the wrestler will put the opponent in to the position for a back body drop, lift them up and then catch them in mid air as if going for a spinebuster but instead put the opponents legs on their shoulders then drive's the opponent to the mat like a falling powerbomb.

Double powerbomb

Due to convenience of wording this name can refer to a maneuver either performed by two persons on one, or one person on two; generally both opponents will be far smaller than the wrestler attempting the move. One opponent is placed on the attackers shoulders as per a standard powerbomb, then the other will be placed on the first opponents shoulders, facing in the same direction. This is normally performed by putting the first opponent's head between the seconds legs whilst they are sitting on the second or top turnbuckle. Finally, both opponents will be slammed to the mat. This move is infrequently used as it can cause spinal injury to the attacker or a cracked pubis to the opponent.

Double underhook powerbomb

The wrestler faces a bent over opponent, and underhooks the opponent's arms with both arms. The wrestler then lifts the opponent in the air and flips them over, throwing them back down and driving the back and shoulders of the opponent to the ground. The wrestler may also fall to their knees as they slam the opponent down. A sitout double underhook powerbomb is known as a Tiger Driver. Scott Steiner used a modified version in which after lifting the opponent up, he would drop them into a sideways position instead of the usual forward position.

Elevated Powerbomb

This move is similar to a normal powerbomb. Instead of slamming the opponent directly on the mat from the shoulders, the attacking wrestler would first lift the opponent even higher by holding on to the opponent and extending their arms up, lifting the opponent up off the shoulders of the attacking wrestler just moments before slamming them down to the mat. This move requires a huge amount of strength to keep them up. It is done to heavier and larger opponents from the top rope as a counter to a top rope punching but cannot get elevated.

Falling powerbomb

This move starts by lifting up an opponent like a normal powerbomb, but when the opponent is on the wrestler's shoulders the wrestler falls forward, slamming the opponent onto the ground.

Fireman's carry powerbomb

The wrestler lifts the opponent on to his shoulders, into the fireman's carry position. The wrestler grabs hold of the opponent's near leg with one hand, and his head with the other. He then pushes the opponent's upper body up and simultaneously spins them, causing them to end up in front of the wrestler face up. The wrestler then either sits down or stays standing. He may also wrap his hands around the opponent's upper legs.

Ganso bomb

Translated literally from Japanese as Originator Bomb but in English more commonly referred to as the original powerbomb, and also known as a Hangman's DDT, this move sees the attacking wrestler bend an opponent over and grab them in a belly to back waistlock before then lifting the opponent until they are vertical. The attacking wrestler then drives the opponent down on their neck and shoulder while either remaining in a standing position, sitting position or dropping down to their knees. The move is considered one of the most dangerous moves in professional wrestling as the person taking the move is in freefall, dropped onto their own head or neck without protection.

Gutwrench powerbomb

This move involves a wrestler standing over an opponent locking their arms around the opponent's waist and lifting them up, flipping them over, and slamming them down to the mat back first. Usually the wrestler sits down while slamming the opponent, but a falling version also exists.

Inverted powerbomb

Better known as an Inverted front powerslam or the Dominator, this move sees the attacking wrestler faces a bent-over opponent and apply a gutwrench waistlock before lifting the opponent up so they are lying across the wrestler's shoulder, facing upward, with the wrestler maintaining the waistlock to hold them in position, known as a overhead gutwrench backbreaker rack. The wrestler then falls forward or into a sitout position while flipping the opponent forward, driving the opponent horizontally belly-down into the ground. This move was the signature move of WWE wrestler Faarooq (Ron Simmons).

A variation exists called a double underhook inverted powerbomb in which the attacker and opponent face each other, the opponent bent forward. The attacker hooks the opponent's arms back in a reverse nelson. The attacker then lifts the opponent into an upside-down vertical position lying across the wrestler's shoulder, facing upward, with the wrestler maintaining the reverse nelson to hold the opponent in position. The attacker then falls forward while flipping the opponent forward horizontally belly-down into the ground.

Jackknife powerbomb

The term Jackknife powerbomb can refer to a normal powerbomb which sees the wrestler keep his/her head between the opponent's legs and keep a hold on the legs with his/her arms before then flipping forward planting his/her feet and bridging back, completing a Jackknife pinning hold. The name of this move is often confused with release powerbomb.

Multiple powerbombs

A variation of the powerbomb where the wrestler does not release the opponent upon impact, but instead locks his hands and performs a dead lift, raising the opponent back up for another powerbomb, and may repeat more than once.

Release powerbomb

A variation of the powerbomb where the opponent is lifted into the air, and then dropped without any extra force exerted for a pinfall attempt. Sometimes the wrestler steps back while releasing the opponent, which is known as a sheer drop powerbomb due to the high elevation, or the opponent would be thrown horizontally away from the wrestler rather than merely dropped.

Rope aided powerbomb

The wrestler takes hold of an opponent, who is lying on the mat, by their legs. The opponent then grabs hold of one of the ropes with both hands as the wrestler pulls them backwards, lifting them off the mat. At this point the opponent releases their grip on the rope and is brought down to the mat.

Corner sitout powerbomb

The opponent begins sitting in the corner of the ring and facing outwards, while holding on to the ring ropes. The wrestler takes hold of the opponent by the legs and pulls them upwards and backwards with a twist, falling into a sitting position as they do so. The move ends with the opponent's back on the ground and their legs over the shoulders of the wrestler, placing the opponent in a pinning predicament.

Scoop lift powerbomb

In this variation of a powerbomb an opponent is first scooped so they are horizontal across an attacking wrestler's chest. The wrestler then pushes the opponent up and turns them, so that they are sitting on the shoulders of the wrestler, before then slamming them down in a powerbomb motion. A seated version is also possible.

Sitout powerbomb

Batista delivering his finishing move, the Batista Bomb (sitout powerbomb), to Finlay.

Also called a sitdown powerbomb, this is any powerbomb in which the wrestler drops into a sitting position as they slam their opponent down to the mat. This maneuver can be done with many variations of the powerbomb. The most common sitout variation is that of a standard powerbomb, in which the opponent is placed in a standing neck scissors, and then lifted up on the wrestler's shoulders. At this point, the wrestler slams the opponent down, and at the same time falls to a sitting position.

Slingshot powerbomb

From a position in which the opponent is sitting across the wrestlers shoulder, the attacker bounces the opponent's back across the top rope. The attacker then spins around, using the momentum to powerbomb the opponent.

Spinning powerbomb

The wrestler lifts the opponent up onto his shoulders and spins around several rotations before sitting down and slamming the opponent down to the mat, as in a sitout powerbomb. A release variation sees the wrestler remain standing or kneeling and just throwing the opponent away from them onto their back to the mat.

Spin-out powerbomb

Also known as a Blue Thunder Driver, Blue Thunder Powerbomb, or Blue Thunder Bomb, this is a belly to back powerbomb, usually beginning in the back suplex position where the wrestler stands behind their opponent and puts their head under the arm of the opponent. They then lift the opponent up using one arm around the waist of the opponent and another under their legs. The wrestler then spins the opponent around 180°, dropping them to the mat back first as they drop to a sitting position. A fall-forward variation is also possible.

Sunset flip powerbomb

A move in which a wrestler will roll/flip over an elevated opponent facing them in a reverse body scissors and use the momentum to pull the opponent down to the mat back first.

Superbomb

The attacking wrestler forces the opponent to ascend to the top rope, standing usually on the top ropes with their legs spread. The wrestler then bends the opponent, placing their head between the wrestler's thighs. The wrestler then wraps their hands around the opponent's waist. The wrestler then lifts the opponent up, flipping them over, while jumping forward. The opponent falls down to the mat back first, and the wrestler usually falls to their knees or to a sitting position.

Another variation sees the opponent sitting on the top rope. The wrestler climbs up to the top rope and stands facing the opponent. They then bend the opponent over and take hold of them around the waist. The wrestler then flips the opponent up and over so they are sitting on the shoulders of the wrestler. At the same time, the wrestler spins around 180° and leaps forward, falling to the ground in a standing or sitting position and driving the opponent's back and shoulders to the mat, Another variation done by Susumu Yokosuka, where the user will complete a somersault before hitting the Superbomb.

Thunder fire powerbomb

The wrestler faces a bent opponent and places him in the standing headscissors position (bent forward with their head placed between the wrestler's thighs). The wrestler then grabs hold around the opponent's upper torso or waist, and lifts him on top one of the wrestler's shoulders on his back. The wrestler then bends forward and slams the opponent down to the mat on his back or shoulders. Innovated by Atsushi Onita.

Turnbuckle powerbomb

The wrestler faces a standing opponent, bends them forwards, takes a hold around their waist and then flips the opponent up and over so the opponent is sitting on the wrestler's shoulders. The wrestler then faces a corner of the ring and throws the opponent into the corner, driving the back and neck of the opponent to the turnbuckle.

Vertical suplex powerbomb

The wrestler lifts the opponent upside down as in a vertical suplex and then pushes their upper body forward while sitting down, ending the move in the same position as the sitout powerbomb. Innovated and made popular by Kenta Kobashi.

References

• Mick Foley (2000). Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks. HarperCollins. ISBN 0061031011.