This is an old revision of this page, as edited by McPhail (talk | contribs) at 13:07, 24 June 2005 (Using "he" as a default pronoun is totally inappropriate in an encyclopedic context, where gender neutrality is especially essential.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 13:07, 24 June 2005 by McPhail (talk | contribs) (Using "he" as a default pronoun is totally inappropriate in an encyclopedic context, where gender neutrality is especially essential.)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)A Powerbomb is a professional wrestling move in which an opponent is lifted up (usually so that they are sitting on the attacker's shoulders) and then slammed back first down to the mat.
The standard Powerbomb sees a wrestler placed in a standing headscissors position (bent forward with his head placed between the attacker's thighs), lifted up on the attacker's shoulders, and then slammed down back-first to the mat.
The first powerbomb, was allegedly performed by Lou Thesz when he accidentally botched a piledriver by letting go his opponent so that he fell down to the mat head first.
Variations
Argentine powerbomb
The attacker 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 attacker will then spin the opponent's head away from the attacker, dropping the opponent down to the mat. Often the attacker drops to a seated position while spinning the opponent.
Independent circuit wrestler Ken Mack uses this move, calling it The White Light.
Belly to back powerbomb
The attacker puts the opponent in a standing headscissors (bent over and head placed between the attackers thighs), lifts the opponent upside down (piledriver position), from there they swing the opponent up horizontally to the mat, and slam them down to the mat with extra force. This is sometimes called "The Power Outage".
Chokebomb
Similar to a chokeslam, except that the wrestler drops to a sitting position and slams the opponent to the mat between their legs.
Notable users: Men's Teioh (Miracle Ecstasy Bomb), Abyss (Death Penalty)
The attacker may also use a two-handed choke hold to lift the opponent before falling to a sitting position.
Notable users: A-Train (Derailer / Baldo Bomb), Viscera (The Embalmer).
Crucifix powerbomb
The opponent is lifted on to the back of the attacker with their arms spread out. The attacker then kneels, bends forward, and throws the opponent forward to the mat on to their back or neck and shoulders.
This move was made popular by Scott Hall (The Razor's Edge) and is used now by Mordecai.
Mike Awesome uses a running crucifix powerbomb from the shoulder, which he calls the Awesome Bomb. The running crucifix powerbomb is also known as the Hammer Bomb.
Sitout crucifix powerbomb
Instead of kneeling forward the attacker sits down while throwing the opponent forward and pulling them down by hooking their arms around the opponent's pelvis, causing them to fall down between the attacker's legs into the Sitout powerbomb position.
Notable users include: Eddie Guerrero (Splash Mountain / Black Tiger Bomb)
Double underhook powerbomb
The attacker faces a bent over opponent, and underhooks the opponent's arms with both arms. The attacker 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 attacker may also fall to their knees as they slam the opponent down. This move is also known as a Butterfly powerbomb.
Among some of the wrestlers who have used this move are Dean Malenko, William Regal and Scott Steiner.
A sitout double underhook powerbomb is known as a Tiger Driver, or, less commonly, as a Tiger Bomb.
Elevated powerbomb
Similar to a normal Powerbomb, but instead of slamming the opponent directly on the mat from the shoulders, the attacker lifts the opponent even higher by extending their arms up, and then drives the opponent down to the mat.
Notable users: The Undertaker (The Last Ride).
Ganso Bomb
Also known as Original Powerbomb.
The attacker bends their opponent over and grabs a belly to back waistlock. The attacker then lifts the opponent until they are vertical. The attacker then drives the opponent down on their neck and shoulders. The attacker either stays standing or drops to his knees.
This move was originally invented by Lou Thesz when he botched a Piledriver attempt. The move is commonly known as Ganso Bomb because it has been mostly used only in Japan in the last decades. Ganso means "original" in Japanese.
Some of the wrestlers who have performed this move are Toshiaki Kawada and Megumi Kudo.
The move is also known as the Hangman's DDT, this name was invented and popularized by two games, WWF WrestleMania 2000 and WWF No Mercy, which were developed by AKI and released on the Nintendo 64 in the United States. Having previously developed Japanese wrestling games featuring Toshiaki Kawada, AKI left the move, along with many other Japanese moves, in the US games they developed as a bonus feature. However, most Americans didn't know what the Ganso Bomb was or even that "ganso" was a real word, so calling it by its original name in an American video game would have sounded like Engrish. The name "Hangman's DDT" was thus concocted.
Gutwrench powerbomb
A gutwrench powerbomb involves a wrestler standing over a 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 attacker sits down while slamming the opponent.
Also known as the Doctor Bomb as used by "Dr. Death" Steve Williams.
Inverted powerbomb
Also known as Inverted front powerslam. The attacker faces a bent-over opponent and applies a waistlock. The attacker then lifts the opponent up so they are lying across the attacker's shoulder, facing upward, with the attacker maintaining the waistlock to hold them in position. The attacker then falls forward while flipping the opponent forward, driving the opponent horizontally face first into the ground.
Notable users: Ron "Faarooq" Simmons (The Dominator), Yutaka Yoshie (Canadian Hammer).
Jackknife powerbomb
The attacker performs a regular powerbomb on the opponent and then follows up with the Jackknife Hold, used, for example, by Kenta Kobashi.
Jackknife Powerbomb is also the name applied to a powerbomb where, when the opponent is lifted into the air, they are simply dropped without any extra force exerted. Sometimes the opponent would be thrown (horizontally) away from the attacker rather than merely dropped. This variation on the standard powerbomb was popularised by Kevin "Diesel" Nash.
Sitout powerbomb
Also called a sit-down powerbomb, this is any powerbomb in which the attacker 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 headscissors, and then lifted up on the attacker's shoulders. At this point, the attacker slams the opponent down, and at the same time falls to a sitting position.
Current WWE superstar Batista uses this version and calls it the Batista Bomb. Also known as Akira Taue's Dynamic Bomb.
Corner sitout powerbomb
The opponent begins sitting in the corner of the ring and facing outwards. The attacker takes hold of the opponent by the legs and pulls them upwards and backwards, 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 attacker, placing the opponent in a pinning predicament.
Spin-out powerbomb
This is a belly-to-back powerbomb, usually beginning in the back suplex position where the attacker 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 attacker then spins the opponent over dropping them to the mat back first as they drop to a sitting position.
Known under the name Blue Thunder Driver, a name invented by Jun Akiyama. The move is also known as Blue Thunder Powerbomb because it resembles a Powerbomb more than a Driver.
Val Venis is probably the most famous user of spin-out powerbomb in the U.S. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi also uses the move calling it the Fireball Bomb.
Another variation of this move ends in side slam positions, this version is used by John Cena who calls it Protobomb / Freestyle.
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.
Tiger bomb
Alternate name for the Tiger Driver.
Top rope powerbomb
The attacker stands on the top turnbuckle. They force the opponent to ascend to the top rope, standing usually on the top ropes with their legs spread. The attacker then bends the opponent, placing their head between the attacker's thighs. The attacker then wraps their hands around the opponent's waist. The attacker then lifts the opponent up, flipping them over, while jumping forward. The opponent falls down to the mat back first, and the attacker usually falls to their knees or to a sitting position.
Notable users include: Mike Awesome (Kamikaze Awesome Bomb)
Another variation sees the opponent sitting on the top rope. The attacker 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 attacker then flips the opponent up and over so they are sitting on the shoulders of the attacker. At the same time, the attacker 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.
This version is also known as the Superbomb, and was popularised by Chris Benoit and Chris Candido.
Turnbuckle powerbomb
The attacker faces a standing opponent, bends them forwards, takes holds around the waist and then flips the opponent up and over so the opponent is sitting on the attacker's shoulders. The attacker 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.
Notable users: Erik Watts (E-Bomb), B-Boy, and Kenta Kobashi.
Vertical suplex powerbomb
The attacker 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.
Most notable user for this move is Kenta Kobashi, who calls it the Orange Crush. Originally he didn't push the opponent's as far out, so they landed on their neck and shoulders instead of their back.