List of Wrestling Moves

List of Wrestling Moves

List of Wrestling Moves: Wrestling is considered one of the oldest combat sports in the world. The rumor is that it was a major sport in the ancient Greek and Roman empires. The sport flourished in the Middle Ages and was quite popular with the masses as well as the monarchies.

Professional wrestling is very popular and is aired on television. Although professional wrestling has included most of the moves that are used in freestyle wrestling, certain moves are allowed to be performed only in a pro wrestling match.

Aerial Moves

Single Leg Takedown

In this move, the wrestler holds either of the legs of his opponent with his hands to throw him off balance onto the ground.

Tie Up

A wrestler holds a part of the opponent’s body in such a way that the opponent finds it difficult to extract himself. 

Duck Under

The wrestler ducks under either of the arms of his opponent to have full control of his body.

Arm Twist Ropewalk Chop

In this move, the wrestler holds his opponent’s arm and twists it to have control over his body. 

Diving Elbow Drop

The wrestler jumps from the top rope with his elbow pointed at his opponent and lands it on his chest, or neck.

Diving Bulldog

In this move, a wrestler holds his opponent’s head and jumps forward to force his face into the mat.

Diving Crossbody

In this move, the wrestler goes on the top rope and jumps on his opponent’s torso to pin him.

Diving Double Axe Handle

The wrestler places himself on the top turnbuckle and jumps on his opponent joining his hands together in the shape of a holding an ax.

Diving Knee Drop

The wrestler jumps from the turnbuckle on his opponent with his knee landing on the torso of his opponent.

Diving Leg Drop

This move is somewhat similar to the diving knee drop with only one difference – instead of the knees, the wrestler uses the lower part of his legs to take a hit at the opponent.

Diving Shoulder Block

The wrestler jumps from the turnbuckle and hits his opponent with his shoulders.

Diving Double Stomp

The wrestler jumps from a position of height onto the body of his opponent and lands his foot on the torso or arm of the opponent.

Flying Calf Kick

The wrestler, in this move,  jumps from the turnbuckle to kick his opponent with the back of his leg.

Flying Clothesline

The wrestler jumps from the turnbuckle with his extended arm and hits his opponent on the chest or the neck with the intention to knock him down.

Flying Spinning Heel Kick

The wrestler jumps from the turnbuckle spinning about 360 degrees in the air in order to hit his opponent with the back of the leg.

Moonsault

The wrestler performs a backflip from the turnbuckle and hits his opponent to knock him down.

Splash

The wrestler lands his stomach first on his opponent lying on the ground.

Shooting Star

The wrestler jumps from the turnbuckle and performs a backflip with his knees pressed against his chest, and lands his stomach on his opponent who is lying on the ground.

Sunset Flip

The wrestler jumps from the highest turnbuckle on the opponent executing a waist-lock on him.

Plancha

Plancha is the most popular move in professional wrestling. This move is generally executed in two ways. The wrestler comes running after gaining momentum from the ropes and jumps over the top ring landing on the opponent.

Topé

Tope is quite similar to plancha, with only one difference – instead of the wrestler going over the ropes, he goes through them to lay an attack on the opponent with the head.

Attacking Moves

Backhand Chop

The wrestler slaps the chest of the opponent using his backhand.

Clothesline

The wrestler charges toward his opponent (who is in a standing position) with his extended arms to hit him in order to knock him down.

Elbow Drop

In an elbow drop, the wrestler lands on his opponent in such a way that his elbow comes in contact with the chest or shoulders of the opponent.

Back Elbow

This is a surprise move of counter-attack used by wrestlers against a charging opponent. The wrestler uses the back of his elbow to stroke his opponent.

Facewash

The opponent needs to be at the bottom corner turnbuckle for the execution of this move. The wrestler rubs his sole against the opponent’s face, and after he gains momentum by running to the opposite ropes, strikes him with a kick.

Forearm Club

In this move, the wrestler grabs the head of the opponent with one hand and with the other hand strikes a fist onto his chest.

Headbutt

The wrestler charges at the opponent and attacks the opponent’s head with his own head.

High Knee

In this move, the wrestler runs toward the opponent striking his knee against the opponent’s head or face.

Back Kick

In this move, the wrestler turns 180°C to hit the opponent on the face or on his chest with the sole of his boot.

Enzuigiri

This move is usually performed by wrestlers having martial arts backgrounds. When the first kick of the wrestler is blocked and held by the opponent, this move is executed where to extract himself from this situation, and to counter-attack his opponent, the wrestler jumps to kick the back of the head of the opponent.

Holds

Chinlock

The wrestler holds the chin of the opponent in a sitting position and places his knee against the opponent’s back pulling the opponent’s chin to cause him pain.

Camel Clutch

The wrestler sits on his opponent’s back and applies a chin lock on him. The attacking wrestler then pulls the head and torso of the opponent backward causing immense pain to gain submission from him.

Clawhold

The attacking wrestler inflicts pain on the opponent by pressing his skull using the last two knuckles of his hand.

Crossface

In this move, the wrestler locks the arm of the opponent in his leg, wrapping his neck in the arms, and pulling the opponent’s head backward.

Mandible Claw

The attacking wrestler inserts his middle and ring fingers into the lower part of the mouth of the opponent and uses the rest of his fingers to hold his jaw.

Head Scissors

The wrestler wraps his legs around the opponent to choke him into submission.

Ankle Lock

The wrestler grabs the foot of the opponent and wraps his arms around his toe and his ankle to put pressure on them.

Anaconda

The wrestler wraps his arms around the head and the arm of the opponent to squeeze him.

Double Choke

The wrestler grabs the throat of the opponent to throttle him.