Professional wrestling strikes

Attacking moves in professional wrestling are mainly used to wear down an opponent for a submission hold, or set up for a throw.

There is a wide variety of attacking moves 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.

Professional wrestling contains a variety of punches and kicks found in martial arts and other fighting sports, listed below are moves more specific to wrestling itself.

Many of the moves below can also be performed from a raised platform (the top rope, the apron, etc) these are called high-flying variations.

Moves are listed under general categories whenever possible.

Big Boot

This is usually done with the opponent charging towards the wrestler, using the opponent's momentum to deliver the wrestler's boot to the upper-body or head.

Big splash

A big splash involves a wrestler jumbing forward and landing stomach first across an opponent lying on the ground below. this move is mainly used by heavier wrestlers like Big Daddy.

Chops

Backhand chop

The act of a wrestler to 'slap' the chest of his opponent, using the back of his hand.

Forehand chop

The act of slapping the chest of the opponent using the forehand of your hand. This is common by The Big Show.

Clothesline

A move in which one wrestler runs towards another and extends their arm out from the side of the body and parallel to the ground, knocking over the other as they run by.

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.

Drops

Drops are moves in which wrestlers uses one part and jumps down at an opponent on the floor forcing that part into anywhere on the opponent's body.

Bonsai drop

A Bonsai drop is a move in which a wrestler jumps down and drops his buttocks on the opponent's body. Named after the art of growing trees and plants, kept small by skilled pruning and formed to create an aesthetic shape and the illusion of age. See Bonsai

Elbow drop

A elbow drop is a move in which a wrestler jumps down on an opponent driving his elbow into anywhere on the opponent's body.

Fist drop

A fist drop is a move in which a wrestler jumps down on an opponent driving his fist into anywhere on the opponent's body.

Headbutt drop

A headbutt drop is a move in which a wrestler jumps down on an opponent driving his head into anywhere on the opponent's body.

Knee drop

A knee drop is a move in which a wrestler jumps down on an opponent driving his knee into anywhere on the opponent's body.

Leg drop

A move in which a wrestler will jump and land his leg across an opponent's chest, throat or face. Used by the The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan, who uses this as his finisher when wrestling in North America.

Enzuigiri

The move, usually performed with the wrestler running towards the opponent, jumping on their chest using one leg and kicking the head, or back of the head, of the wrestler with the other leg.

Fameasser

This is a version of a leg drop, it involves the attacker droping his leg across the back of the head of an opponent whos is leaning forward. Named by "Mr Ass" Billy Gunn.

Scissors kick

A move where the opponent is standing, bent over, usually in the middle of the ring. The wrester bounces off the ropes, jumps -- driving his leg(s) into the back or neck of the opponent, forcing them face first into the floor.

Senton

A senton is similar to a big splash, except that instead of impacting stomach first, the attacker lands back first across the opponent.

Shinning Wizard

a jumping knee to the face after stepping off the opponent's knee. invented by Keiji Mutoh an can be performed from various positions.

Shoulder block

Spear

This is also known as the Shoulder Block Takedown. A move in which a wrestler runs towards his opponent, drives their shoulder into the victim's stomach and forces him down to the mat.

Commonly used by wrestlers such as Goldberg, Edge and Rhyno, who calls it The Gore.

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.

Shooting Star Press

See Professional Wrestling High Flying Moves.