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. 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.
Hayabusa performing the Phoenix Splash
Double Leg Takedowns
Any time you can learn a new way to hit a double leg, you should do it. Below are five different looks at a double leg brought to you by wrestling's best.
Zack Espo Knee Skip Double
If the traditional penetration step doesn't work for you, try this knee skip into a double like Zack Espo.
Dylan Ness’ Cartwheel Double
If you hit this in a match make sure to tag us on Instagram.
Read also: Everything About WrestleMania 41
BJ Futrell’s Shake And Bake Double
This sweep double is super effective. Especially from an underhook.
Dardanes Goes To The Far Leg
This is an interesting little wrinkle on the timeless version of the double leg.
Common Aerial Techniques
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.
Axe Handle
Also known as a Double Axe Handle, Double Axe Handle Smash or Double Sledge, this 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.
Crossbody
This move is used by many, usually light, wrestlers and is often known as a diving crossbody (but usually just referred to as crossbody or cross body block) which is the elevated version of the crossbody maneuver in which a wrestler jumps from an elevated position (usually the top turnbuckle) onto an opponent, landing horizontally across the opponent's torso, forcing them to the mat and usually resulting in a pinfall attempt. Though these can be accomplished from the top turnbuckle to an opponent inside the ring, other versions exist where the wrestler goes over the top rope to the outside.
Read also: Wrestling Titans Clash
Bulldog
This move involves the attacking wrestler standing on a platform (i.e. the second turnbuckle, or sitting on the top turnbuckle) and facing the back of a standing opponent while applying an inverted facelock. This is a bulldog performed by a wrestler from an elevated position. A standard diving bulldog sees a wrestler jump down on an opponent from an elevated platform and apply any version of a headlock to take down the opponent to the mat. This is a bulldog performed after springboarding (bouncing) off the ring ropes. In some cases a headlock is first applied before the wrestler bounces off the ropes. Another version is the springboard bulldog is seen where a wrestler will springboard off the ring ropes before applying the headlock.
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 or head. The wrestler sits on the top turnbuckle with a foot on each second rope, facing a supine opponent. The wrestler stands on the top turnbuckle with the opponent lying face up on the mat. The wrestler then leaps at the fallen opponent at the same time executing a 360 horizontal turn before driving the elbow into the opponent with increased force. A less common variation on a diving elbow drop; the wrestler stands on the top turnbuckle facing away from the opponent then leaps backwards, extending and cocking one elbow. This allows for greater range but less precision.
Fist Drop
A fist drop is a move in which a wrestler jumps down from the turnbuckle on an opponent driving his fist into the opponent's chest or head. When doing a diving fist drop, wrestlers have their front four knuckles out, and their thumb to the side.
Headbutt
A diving headbutt is a jumping or sometimes free fall headbutt delivered from the top turnbuckle to anywhere on the opponent's body. The move was innovated serendipitously by Harley Race, when he fell from the top turnbuckle onto his opponent. He adapted it as a signature move, and it was then adapted and further popularized by The Dynamite Kid. Race has stated that he regrets inventing the move because he feels that it has had a part in giving various wrestlers who utilize the move spine problems, most notably The Dynamite Kid. It was later revealed that this move may not only cause spinal problems, but may also cause brain damage. The brain damage found in the brain of Chris Benoit has been attributed to the move. Some versions include a "swan dive" style, where the performer spreads his arms out while falling. The "swan dive" is the most popular version today and its popularity was closely associated with Chris Benoit who used it as one of his finishing maneuvers, in a tribute to his idol, The Dynamite Kid. El Santo and El Hijo del Santo use a swan dive variation where they hit the opponent in the abdomen, called Tope de Cristo in Spanish. Jun Izumida uses a variation where he turns 45° to his side in mid-air, tucking his arm beneath him.
Huracanrana
Also known as Diving huracanrana. This move is executed by jumping forward off the top rope with legs apart, straddling a standing opponent's shoulders, while using the momentum to snap off a hurricanrana. In this variant of the diving huracanrana, the wrestler first performs a front flip from the top rope before executing a true hurricanrana in to a pin. The technique is named by and after the wrestler Dragon Kid, pupil of Último Dragón, who invented the maneuver. The variant sees a wrestler, on the ring apron, first use the top ring rope to springboard (bounce) towards an opponent in the ring, straddling the standing opponent's head so the wrestler is seated on the opponent's shoulders, while using the momentum to snap off a hurricanrana.
Read also: Wrestling Career of Daniel Bryan
Knee Drop
A move in which a wrestler jumps from a raised platform (the top turnbuckle, the apron, etc.) and lands his or her knee on a prone opponent. This diving knee drop bulldog sees the opponent standing near one of the ring corners facing towards the center of the ring, while the attacking wrestler is standing on the second turnbuckle. From there, the wrestler grabs the opponent and places one knee against the base of the opponent's neck, pushes away from the corner and drives the opponent down to the mat face first - landing on the opponent's upper body, and driving his or her knee to the neck of the opponent.
Leg Drop
Also called a Guillotine Leg Drop, this diving attack sees a wrestler jump forward from a raised platform (i.e. top turnbuckle, the ring apron, etc.) landing the bottom side of his/her leg across an opponent (usually on the throat or face). Kenny Dykstra used a high elevation version of this move, for which he jumps off the turnbuckle and tucks his legs behind him, and extending them at the last second for the legdrop. The wrestler performs a shooting star legdrop, but during the backflip executes a 180° body rotation. The wrestler, standing on an elevated position, jumps, flips forward and lands his leg on the opponent lying beneath him. The wrestler is standing on an elevated position. He then jumps forward, flipping and rotating 360° simultaneously, and lands his leg on the chest of the opponent lying beneath him. This move sees an attacking wrestler jump forward from an elevated position, executing a backflip in mid-air and keeps revolving backwards so that they perform a legdrop so that they land the bottom side of their leg across the opponent's throat, chest or face. This version was popularized by Jason Cross and calls it the Crossfire. A move in which a wrestler who is standing on the ring apron springboards (bounces) off the top ring rope in towards a fallen opponent in the ring, landing the bottom side of their leg across the opponent's throat, or face. There is also a variation known as the Triple Jump Legdrop where, from a running start, the wrestler jumps to a chair, to the top ring rope and then performs a springboard leg drop to an opponent on the outside of the ring.
Shoulder Block
This is a diving shoulder block takedown, also known as a spear. A move in which a wrestler will jump from a raised platform such the top turnbuckle, and drive their shoulder into the opponent's torso, forcing them down to the mat. This move was popularized by Low Ki as his finisher, which he calls the Ghetto Stomp or the Warrior's Way.
Frankensteiner
This is a headscissors takedown executed on an opponent sitting on the top turnbuckle. The name Frankensteiner comes from Scott Steiner, who popularized the move. Steiner also used a variation where the opponent wasn't seated on the top turnbuckle, which is also called frankensteiner. Elix Skipper uses a variation of this in which he walks on the top ring rope before he gives an opponent, who is seated on the top rope, a huracanrana. A handstand variation can also be used. With the opponent seated on the top turnbuckle facing the ring, the wrestler performs a handstand on the bottom turnbuckle, wrapping his or her shins or feet around the neck of the opponent. The wrestler then bends his or her legs forward towards the ring, pulling the opponent over and flipping him or her down to the mat onto his or her back. Also known as an Inverted Frankensteiner or Poison Rana. This is a headscissors takedown executed on an opponent sitting on the top turnbuckle. However, unlike a standard frankensteiner, the opponent is facing away from the ring on the top turnbuckle thus the opponent backflips over and lands on his or her chest rather than his or her back. This move can also be performed to the outside of the ring if the opponent is facing the inside of the ring or sitting on one edge of the corner turnbuckle facing the audience with both legs on the outside of the ring on the same side. These are all very dangerous variations which as, like an inverted death valley driver, the opponent can not roll naturally with the momentum of the move to cushion the fall, leading to a possibility they will land on their head or neck. In addition to this possible harm, it's also a danger to the attacking wrestler as the wrestler needs to be almost vertical to lift up the opponent off the turnbuckle, as the opponent can not somersault themselves off the turnbuckle.
Frankensteiner
Plancha
In lucha libre, this is called a Pescado when the top ring rope is used for a slingshot, though the term plancha has been popularly accepted in American wrestling for the same maneuver. Plancha is also used in America to refer to any attack from the ring to the outside in which the wrestler impacts their chest against the opponents chest.
Senton
A senton splash (also known as Back Splash) is similar to a normal splash. The wrestler performs a senton, flipping 630 degrees forward before landing, i.e. one full rotation (360 degrees) following by a somersault senton (270 degrees). The wrestler, facing away from the ring and situated on the top turnbuckle, performs a 180° turn in mid-air and then performs a 630° senton onto a lying opponent. This senton is performed by executing a backflip from the top turnbuckle, then spinning 180°, landing on a fallen opponent back-first. The corkscrew senton can also see the wrestler hit the move on a standing opponent. This is often referred to as the Halo, a name closely associated with Shannon Moore. Known in lucha libre as a "La Silla", this variant on the senton which sees the wrestler use his/her tailbone and lower body in a seated position to force the opponent to the mat rather than using their whole back. This seated 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 known as a Banzai Drop, sees a wrestler who is standing above a fallen opponent, go up onto the second turnbuckle (facing away from the ring) and jump down dropping his/her buttocks on the opponent's body (usually the chest or stomach). This variant on the seated senton, which is technically described as a flipping seated senton, is performed by flipping forward off a raised platform on to the shoulders of a standing opponent forcing them to the ground in a pinning position. In this variation of the senton, the attacking wrestler executes a quick front somersault off the top turnbuckle, before landing on the opponent backfirst as in a regular senton. It can also be performed from a standing position. A variant of the senton bomb, which sees an attacking wrestler leaping off the top turnbuckle keeping their bodies straight and arms out-stretched, making it resemble a swan dive, and then waiting until the last moment to execute the flip, so that they just barely complete it when impacting with the opponent. This move was popularized by The Great Sasuke, who named it the Senton Atomico. The wrestler jumps forward from an elevated position, executing a backflip in mid-air to perform a shooting star, but continues the rotation after the initial backflip and lands on a downed opponent in the senton position. Innovated and popularized by Yoshitsune, who calls this move the Shura.
Shiranui
The shiranui (or sea fire in English) is a springboard backflip three-quarter facelock falling reverse DDT, which has also been known as Sliced Bread #2 and Shinobi. Invented by Naomichi Marufuji, this move has a wrestler put a three-quarter facelock on the opponent and runs up a vertical surface, usually the corner turnbuckles, and jumps backwards, performing a backflip in the air, and landing face down to the mat, driving the opponent back-first down to the mat. The Brian Kendrick and Alex Shelley used this move as their finisher. In a slight variation the wrestler lands instead to a seated position, driving the opponent's head between his legs. Both variations can see a modified version where both wrestlers are already perched on the top rope, and the backflip D...
Additional Techniques and Variations
Beyond the core moves, many other variations and specialized techniques exist, showcasing the creativity and athleticism of professional wrestlers.
- Old School: The wrestler takes hold of one of the opponent's wrists, twisting the arm into an arm wrench. The wrestler then climbs up the corner turnbuckles and takes a walk on the top rope before falling down striking the opponent's head, back, shoulder or nape with a chop.
- Overhead Chop: Standing on the top turnbuckle, the attacking wrestler proceeds to jump in order to deliver an overhead chop to a standing opponent's head.
- 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. 2 Cold Scorpio popularized this move as a signature called Drop The Bomb.
- 450° Splash: The wrestler dives forward from an elevated position performing a 450 somersault landing on the supine opponent with the elbow drop.
- Diving Foot Stomp: The wrestler jumps down from a raised platform onto an opponent, dropping one foot onto the opponent's body. A variation known as a diving double foot stomp sees the attacking wrestler jumping down from a raised platform on an opponent, driving both feet into the opponent.
- Codebreaker: The wrestler jumps forward from an elevated position and presses their knees to their own chest, executes a backflip and lands on the opponent as if performing a body press.
- Diving Dropkick: A move in which the wrestler jumps from an elevated position (usually the top turnbuckle) and strikes a standing opponent with the soles of both feet, essentially executing a diving version of a dropkick.
Famous Aerial Moves and Their Innovators
Many wrestlers have innovated and popularized specific aerial moves, leaving a lasting impact on the sport.
| Move | Innovator/Popularizer |
|---|---|
| Frog Splash | La Fiera (innovator), Eddie Guerrero (popularizer) |
| Five-Star Frog Splash | Rob Van Dam |
| Phoenix Splash | Hayabusa |
| Superfly Splash | Jimmy Snuka |
| Senton Atomico | The Great Sasuke |
| Swanton Bomb | Jeff Hardy |
| Shiranui | Naomichi Marufuji |
| Red Arrow/Black Arrow | PAC |
These are just a few examples of the many exciting and innovative aerial techniques used in professional wrestling. As the sport evolves, new moves and variations will continue to emerge, pushing the boundaries of athleticism and creativity.