Frog splash wrestling is a dynamic and visually stunning move often seen in professional wrestling. It involves a wrestler leaping from an elevated position, such as the top rope, and landing on an opponent lying on the mat. 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. Frog splash wrestling adds excitement and spectacle to the world of wrestling, showcasing the athleticism and showmanship of the competitors.
Eddie Guerrero performing a Frog Splash
Aerial Techniques in Wrestling
Aerial techniques can be challenging for wrestlers to learn since they learn to trust the other performer, the nominal opponent, to either target the jump correctly or to safely catch their fall. Due to the risk of injury caused by these high-risk moves, some promotions have banned the use of some of them.
Aerial techniques are spectacular maneuvers, using the ring and its posts and ropes as aids, used in wrestling to show off the speed and agility of a wrestler. These moves are mainly done by smaller quicker wrestlers who 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.
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Professional wrestlers frequently give their "finishers" (signature moves that usually result in a win) new names.
Variations and Related Moves
Beyond the standard frog splash, many other high-flying and impactful moves exist in professional wrestling. Here's a look at some related techniques:
- Diving Axe Handle: Also known as diving double axe handle smash, or diving double sledge, this is accomplished by jumping from the top turnbuckle to the mat or floor and striking the opponent with two fists held together in the fashion of holding an axe. This is usually done on a standing or rising opponent.
- Diving Leg Drop: Also called guillotine leg drop, this move sees a wrestler jumping from a raised platform landing the bottom side of one leg across the opponent's throat or chest.
- Moonsault Leg Drop: This variation sees the wrestler performing a moonsault but instead of landing on the opponent in a splash position, the wrestler continues the rotation to drive a leg across the downed opponent.
- Diving Elbow Drop: The wrestler dives forward from an elevated position performing a 450 somersault landing on the supine opponent with the elbow drop.
- Diving Headbutt: Also known as a Diving headbutt drop or a Flying headbutt, it is delivered from the turnbuckle with the wrestler leaping forward into the air head-first to fall and strike anywhere on the opponent's prone or supine body.
- Diving Knee Drop: A move in which a wrestler jumps from the top turnbuckle, top rope, or the apron, landing one knee across a supine opponent.
- Coffin Drop: The attacker on the top turnbuckle jumps and flips mid-air into a double front somersault to land sitting on the opponent below.
- Swanton Bomb: A variant which sees a wrestler leaping off the top turnbuckle keeping the body straight and arms out-stretched, resembling a swan dive and then waiting until the last moment to execute the flip, so is just barely complete when the attacker impacts the opponent with upper back/shoulders.
- Superfly Splash: This basic maneuver involves a wrestler jumping forward from a raised platform, landing stomach first horizontally across an opponent lying on the ground below.
- Phoenix Splash: The move was innovated and popularized by Hayabusa, who named it the Phoenix splash. The wrestler facing away from the ring on the top turnbuckle performs a 180° turn in mid-air while performing a 450° splash onto a lying opponent.
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Notable Wrestlers and Their Frog Splash Variations
Several wrestlers have popularized the frog splash, each adding their unique flair to the move:
- Eddie Guerrero: Made the frog splash famous in the mid-1990s and early 2000s. After Barr's death in 1994, Guerrero used the move in tribute to his fallen tag team partner. After Guerrero's death in 2005, Christian Cage began using the move as a tribute to Guerrero.
- Rob Van Dam: Made famous the Five-Star Frog Splash where the opponent is not placed perpendicular to the corner. Instead, the attacker turns mid-air to land on the opponent in the splash position, regardless of which direction the opponent is lying in.
- Jimmy Snuka: Popularized the Superfly Splash, for his “Superfly” gimmick.
- The Usos: Use the Superfly Splash as their finishers called the Uso Splash.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi: Of New Japan Pro-Wrestling uses this move as the High Fly Flow.
- T.J. Perkins: Uses this move since 2020 and calls it the Mamba Splash in honor of the late basketball player Kobe Bryant, of whom Perkins is a fan.
Rob Van Dam performing a Five-Star Frog Splash
Additional Wrestling Techniques
While falls serve as the ultimate victory in wrestling, understanding the various techniques and strategies associated with the sport is vital. From the immobilizing crucifix holds to the dominance demonstrated through technical falls, snapdowns, and gut wrench wrestling, wrestlers employ a diverse range of skills to achieve success in their pursuit of falls.
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| Technique | Description |
|---|---|
| Falls | A decisive victory achieved through pinning an opponent's shoulders to the mat or accumulating a substantial point lead. |
| Crucifix Holds | Powerful techniques used to immobilize an opponent by trapping both of their arms. |
| Technical Falls | Occur when a wrestler establishes a significant point lead over their opponent, resulting in an automatic victory. |
| Snapdowns | Explosive moves employed to bring an opponent to the mat by forcefully pulling down on their head or neck. |
| Gut Wrench Wrestling | Involves applying pressure to an opponent's midsection to control their position and potentially expose their back for a pinfall. |
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