Backbreaker refers to a kind of
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...
move which sees a wrestler dropping an opponent so that the opponent's back impacts or is bent backwards against a part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee. The standard version of the move sees the wrestler scoop their opponent horizontally before dropping to one knee, slamming the opponent's back on their other knee.
Variations
Argentine backbreaker rack
This
submission hold, better known as a Torture Rack or simply a rack, sees the attacking wrestler carrying the opponent face-up across his own shoulders, before hooking the opponent's head with one hand and a leg with the other to then pull down on both ends to
hyperextend
Motion, the process of movement, is described using specific anatomical terms. Motion includes movement of organs, joints, limbs, and specific sections of the body. The terminology used describes this motion according to its direction relativ ...
the opponent's back and force a
submission
Deference (also called submission or passivity) is the condition of submitting to the espoused, legitimate influence of one's superior or superiors. Deference implies a yielding or submitting to the judgment of a recognized superior, out of re ...
. Wrestler
Lex Luger
Lawrence Wendell Pfohl (born June 2, 1958), better known by the ring name Lex Luger, is an American retired professional wrestler, bodybuilder, and football player. In 2011 he began working with WWE on its wellness policy. He is best known for ...
was famous for using it as a
finisher. Former WWF Superstar
Hercules
Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures.
The Romans adapted the Gr ...
even used this move as a finisher, along with a Full Nelson Submission Hold.
A
backbreaker drop
Backbreaker refers to a kind of professional wrestling move which sees a wrestler dropping an opponent so that the opponent's back impacts or is bent backwards against a part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee. The standard version of the ...
variation of this submission move sees the attacking wrestler first hold an opponent up for the Argentine backbreaker rack before dropping to the mat in a sitting or kneeling position, thus flexing the opponent's back with the impact of the drop. Another version sees the wrestler hold their opponent in the Argentine backbreaker rack before dropping into a sitting or kneeling position while simultaneously throwing the opponent off their shoulders, causing the opponent to roll in midair and fall to the mat in a face-down position.
Nikki Bella
Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace (born November 21, 1983), known professionally as Nikki Bella, is an American professional wrestler and television personality. She is currently signed to WWE as an ambassador.
In 2007, Bella signed with WWE a ...
has used both variations as a finisher in
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and vario ...
.
A variation of the Argentine backbreaker rack, known as the ''La Reinera'', sees the opponent held across the wrestler's
upper back rather than his shoulders/neck. Often set up by a
tilt-a-whirl
Tilt-A-Whirl is a flat ride similar to the Waltzer in Europe, designed for commercial use at amusement parks, fairs, and carnivals, in which it is commonly found. The rides are manufactured by Larson International of Plainview, Texas.
Des ...
, the opponent ends up suspended with one arm hooked behind and both legs hooked by the wrestler's other arm.
Rolando Vera was credited with inventing the move.
Another Argentine backbreaker rack variation called the ''La Atlántida'', favored by Mexican ''
luchador
Lucha libre (, meaning "freestyle wrestling" or literally translated as "free fight") is the term used in Latin America for professional wrestling. Since its introduction to Mexico in the early 20th century, it has developed into a unique form ...
''
Atlantis
Atlantis ( grc, Ἀτλαντὶς νῆσος, , island of Atlas (mythology), Atlas) is a fictional island mentioned in an allegory on the hubris of nations in Plato's works ''Timaeus (dialogue), Timaeus'' and ''Critias (dialogue), Critias'' ...
, sees the attacking wrestler holding the opponent across the shoulders and behind the head in a
side-lying position facing towards the rear, then pulling down on the head and one leg to laterally bending the opponent.
A variation of the ''La Atlántida'', sometimes known as the "Accordion Rack", sees the opponent held similarly in a side-lying position facing the rear across the attacking wrestler's shoulders, but with the opponent's
lower back curvature directly behind the wrestler's head, and instead of pulling downwards the wrestler will
chest fly
A fly or flye is a strength training exercise in which the hand and arm move through an arc while the elbow is kept at a constant angle. Flies are used to work the muscles of the upper body. Because these exercises use the arms as levers at th ...
forward to bend the opponent, sometimes to the point that the opponent's heel touches the head. However, this move is mainly limited to opponents with great
flexibility
Stiffness is the extent to which an object resists deformation in response to an applied force.
The complementary concept is flexibility or pliability: the more flexible an object is, the less stiff it is.
Calculations
The stiffness, k, of a bo ...
. It was utilized by wrestlers like
Awesome Kong
Kia Stevens (born September 4, 1977) is an American actress and retired professional wrestler. She is best known for her time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)/Impact Wrestling under the ring name Awesome Kong. She also worked with Ri ...
.
Backbreaker drop
A backbreaker move in which the wrestler lifts an opponent up into an
Argentine backbreaker or an
overhead gutwrench backbreaker rack, so the opponent's back is resting on the wrestler's shoulder, with the opponent's head pointing in the direction that the wrestler is facing. The attacking wrestler then drops to a kneeling or sitting position while maintaining the hold, thus jarring the back of the opponent by driving the opponent's spine into the attacking wrestler's shoulder. TNA wrestler
Abyss
Abyss may refer to:
* Abyss (religion), a bottomless pit, or a passage to the underworld
Film and television
* ''The Abyss'' (1910 film), a Danish silent film starring Asta Nielsen
* ''The Abyss'' (1988 film) (''L'Œuvre au noir''), a French- ...
used the Argentine version called the ''Shock Treatment''.
Belly-to-back backbreaker
The wrestler stands behind the opponent and puts their head under the opponent's arm, as in a
belly-to-back suplex
A suplex is an offensive move used in sport wrestling as well as amateur wrestling and professional wrestling. It is a throw that involves lifting the opponents and bridging or rolling to slam them on their backs.
Professional wrestling featur ...
, but raises a knee and brings the opponent back down, so that the opponent's back collides with the knee of the wrestler.
Cedric Alexander
Cedric Alexander Johnson (born August 16, 1989) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand.
Alexander worked for Ring of Honor (ROH) from 2010 until 2016. He started as part of C&C Factory, a ...
uses a double knee version called the ''Lumbar Check''.
Canadian backbreaker rack
Also known technically as the overhead gutwrench backbreaker rack, this sees an attacking wrestler first lift an opponent up so the opponent's back is resting on the wrestler's shoulder, with the opponent's head pointing in the direction that the wrestler is facing. The wrestler then links their arms around the face-up opponent's torso and presses down, squeezing the opponent's spine against the wrestler's shoulder.
Hulk Hogan
Terry Eugene Bollea (; born August 11, 1953), better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American retired professional wrestler. He is widely regarded as the most recognized wrestling star worldwide and the most popular wrestler of the 19 ...
used this move as a finisher early into his WWF career. A common variant of this hold has the attacking wrestler also apply a
double underhook before or after lifting the opponent. This was used by
Colt Cabana as the ''Colt .45''. The double underhook variant is often seen when the hold is used to transition to another maneuver, such as a
backbreaker drop
Backbreaker refers to a kind of professional wrestling move which sees a wrestler dropping an opponent so that the opponent's back impacts or is bent backwards against a part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee. The standard version of the ...
or
inverted powerbomb.
Bruno Sammartino
Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino (October 6, 1935 – April 18, 2018) was an Italian-born American professional wrestler, best known for his work with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now WWE). There, he held the WWWF World Heavywei ...
famously used this move on his opponents.
Catapult backbreaker
The catapult throw typically starts with the attacking wrestler standing and facing the opponent, who is lying on their back. The wrestler hooks each of the opponent's legs in one of their arms then falls backwards to slingshot the opponent into a turnbuckles, ladders, ropes, etc. At this point the attacking wrestler will remain on the ground and raise their knees while still holding the opponent's legs. The rebounding opponent will instantly trip, falling backwards onto the raised knees of the wrestler. In another method, the wrestler performs a catapult and raises the knees prematurely so that the opponent is draped over the knees without an actual launch.
Chokeslam backbreaker
The wrestler performing the move stands in front of and slightly to the side of the opponent receiving it. The wrestler then reaches out and grabs the opponent's throat and trunks, and lifts them in the air as though the wrestler is about to deliver a
chokeslam
A chokeslam is a type of body slam in professional wrestling, in which a wrestler grasps an opponent's neck, lifts them up, and slams them to the mat. It is common in televised wrestling because it is simple and relatively safe, yet looks power ...
. However, as the wrestler brings the opponent back down to the mat, the wrestler kneels, slamming the opponent's back onto their extended knee. This move is popularly known as a chokebreaker, which is a
portmanteau
A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of words[Baron Corbin
Thomas Pestock (born September 13, 1984) is an American professional wrestler and former professional football player. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Baron Corbin.
Pestock is a former offen ...](_blank)
uses this move calling it the "Blood Moon".
Cobra clutch backbreaker
This move involves an attacking wrestler first putting an opponent in a
cobra clutch hold before lifting the opponent up while maintaining the hold (turning them in mid-air so they are horizontal) and bringing them down while the wrestler drops to a knee, so that the opponent impacts back-first on the knee of the attacking wrestler, all while the wrestler maintains the hold. The attacking wrestler can continue the hold after impact for a cobra clutch submission attempt. It was used by
Big Show
Paul Donald Wight II (born February 8, 1972) is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as an in-ring performer, and as a commentator for its web television show, '' AEW Dark: Elevation,'' under ...
as finishing move on rare occasions.
Double knee backbreaker
Also known as a lung blower, this technique involves an attacking wrestler going behind an opponent and putting both of their hands around the opponent's head for a
rear chin lock or on both of the opponent's shoulders while jumping up to place both knees against the opponent's back. Both wrestlers then fall backward to the ground, forcing the wrestler's knees to push up into the back of the opponent. This move can be done from a variety of transition holds, including a
powerbomb transition and a vertical suplex transition.
Used by
Carlito as the ''Backstabber''.
Sasha Banks
Mercedes Justine Kaestner-Varnado (born January 26, 1992) is an American professional wrestler and actress. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Sasha Banks.
Banks previously wrestled on ...
uses this move before delivering her Submission.
Roderick Strong
Christopher Lindsey (born July 26, 1983), better known by his name Roderick Strong, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the NXT brand, as the leader of Diamond Mine, but is currently inactive due to ...
uses a vertical suplex transition version called the "End of Heartache".
Tommaso Ciampa
Tommaso Whitney (born May 8, 1985) is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Tommaso Ciampa.
Whitney began his career in 2005, working on several independent pro ...
uses a powerbomb transition called the "Project Ciampa".
Liv Morgan
Gionna Jene Daddio (born June 8, 1994) is an American professional wrestler and actress. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Liv Morgan. She is a former SmackDown Women's Champion.
In 20 ...
uses this move since the year 2022.
Somersault double knee backbreaker
This move sees the attacker running to a opponent whose hunched over facing them. The attacker then jumps up and in the process grabs onto the stomach of the opponent which forces the opponents back onto the knees of the attacker.
Dakota Kai
Cheree Georgina Crowley (born 6 May 1988) is a New Zealand-born professional wrestler. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Dakota Kai. She is a member of Damage CTRL and is one half of the cu ...
uses this as her finisher and calls it the ‘Kairopractor.’
Double foot backbreaker
Liv Morgan
Gionna Jene Daddio (born June 8, 1994) is an American professional wrestler and actress. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Liv Morgan. She is a former SmackDown Women's Champion.
In 20 ...
invented this variation of backbreaker in 2021. She performs it by standing behind her opponent by holding both her wrists and forcing both her feet on her opponent's back pushing her, mostly face-first on the top turnbuckle. Liv is the only user of this backbreaker variation till now.
Double underhook backbreaker
Made famous by
Tiger Mask
is a Japanese manga series written by Ikki Kajiwara and illustrated by Naoki Tsuji. The series was first published in Kodansha's ''Bokura Magazine'' from 1968 to 1970 and was later published in ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' from 1970 to ...
as the ''Tiger Bomb''. An attacking wrestler stands facing a bent over opponent and
hooks each of the opponent's arms behind the opponent's back, then lifts the opponent as if executing a
Tiger Bomb. However, as the attacker drops the opponent back down, they raise a knee and bring the opponent back down horizontally, so their back collides with the knee of the attacking wrestler.
CM Punk
Phillip Jack Brooks (born October 26, 1978), better known by the ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler, sports commentator, actor, and retired mixed martial artist currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Best known for ...
used this move, calling it the ''Welcome to Chicago Motherfucker''.
Io Shirai
is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Iyo Sky (stylized in all caps). She is a member of Damage CTRL and one-half of the current WWE Women's Tag Team Champions ...
also uses this move.
Fireman's carry backbreaker
The attacker lifts the opponent on their shoulders in a fireman's carry, then flips them over so their back lands on the top of their knee. A variation to this move is performed similar to how an
Ushigoroshi is performed instead by driving a knee into the upper back.
Full nelson backbreaker
The attacking wrestler stands behind the opponent and locks them in a
full nelson
A nelson hold is a grappling hold which is executed by one person from behind the opponent, generally when both are on the mat face down with the opponent under the aggressor. One or both arms are used to encircle the opponent's arm under the armpi ...
before lifting the opponent, as if to perform a
full nelson slam, but as the wrestler drops down the opponent, they slam the opponent back-first against their exposed knee.
Half nelson backbreaker
The attacking wrestler stands behind the opponent and locks in a
half nelson
A nelson hold is a grappling hold which is executed by one person from behind the opponent, generally when both are on the mat face down with the opponent under the aggressor. One or both arms are used to encircle the opponent's arm under the armpi ...
before lifting the opponent, as if to perform a
half nelson slam, but as the wrestler brings the opponent down to the mat, they drop to one knee, slamming the opponent's back across their extended knee.
Hair-pull backbreaker (Head-pull backbreaker)
This move is performed behind the opponent. The wrestler grabs the opponent by the hair (or by the head if the opponent is bald or if the attacking wrestler is a clean performer) and pulls them back, so the opponent's back lands on the wrestler's knee. In a variation of this move, the wrestler faces the opponent, grabs them by the hair, twists around so the wrestler and opponent are back to back, and then the wrestler pulls the opponent's hair down, driving their back into the wrestler's knee.
Katie Lea Burchill
Katarina Leigh Waters (born 10 November 1980) is a German-born English American professional wrestler and actress. She is best known for her time with Impact Wrestling under the ring names Katarina or Winter and for her time in WWE under the rin ...
used both variations as her finisher.
Michelle McCool
Michelle Leigh Calaway (née McCool; born January 25, 1980) is an American retired professional wrestler. She is best known for her time with WWE, where she is a former two-time WWE Divas Champion and a two-time WWE Women's Champion.
McCool or ...
used this move as a finisher called ''Final Exam''.
Alexa Bliss
Alexis Cabrera (née Kaufman; born August 9, 1991) is an American professional wrestler. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Alexa Bliss. In 2013, Bliss signed a contract with WWE and was ass ...
also uses this move.
Spinning inverted facelock lariat backbreaker
First the wrestler holds the opponent in an inverted facelock and then the wrestler spins around and delivers a lariat onto their knee. This was invented by
Hirooki Goto
is a Japanese professional wrestler. Since his debut, he has wrestled primarily for New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He is also known for being the longest reigning NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion with his Chaos stablemates, Tomohiro Ishii ...
as the ''GTR'' (''Go To Revolution'').
Spinning inverted facelock lariat double knee backbreaker
Similar to the spinning inverted facelock lariat backbreaker, this move starts with an inverted facelock then sees the attacker fall onto their back while performing a lariat so the opponent is pushed onto the attackers knees.
This move was popularized by
Angelina Love
Lauren Williams (born September 13, 1981) is a Canadian professional wrestler She is best known for her time in TNA/Impact Wrestling under the ring name Angelina Love. She is currently signed with National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
Between ROH ...
who used it as her finisher in
Impact Wrestling
Impact Wrestling (stylized as ''IMPACT! Wrestling''), is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment.
Founded by Jeff and Jerry Jarrett in 2002, the promot ...
and called it 'break a bitch.'
Inverted headlock backbreaker
Used by
Randy Orton
Randal Keith Orton (born April 1, 1980) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and actor who is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw brand but is currently out of action due to a back injury. H ...
. This move sees the attacking wrestler stand behind the opponent and place one arm around the opponent's neck. The attacker then turns 180° so they are back to back and bends forward, pulling the opponent across their own back, before dropping down to their knees and jarring the opponent's back.
Inverted three-quarter facelock backbreaker
Can be also known as an inverted three-quarter facelock neckbreaker, or more commonly known as neckbreaker (slam) backbreaker. The wrestler stands beside the opponent facing either side, catches the opponent's neck from behind with both hands (as seen primarily before falling into a
neckbreaker slam In professional wrestling, a neckbreaker is any throw or slam that focuses its attack on the opponent's neck. One type of neckbreaker involves the wrestler slamming an opponent's neck against a part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee, head or ...
), and then forces the opponent's neck down, simultaneously extending a knee so they lands the opponent's back into the knee.
Mat backbreaker
The attacking wrestler stands behind an opponent, grabbing them by their head or hair to seemingly perform a standard
mat slam. However, as the wrestler pulls the opponent backwards down to the mat, the wrestler kneels down, driving the opponent's back into the wrestler's exposed knee. If the wrestler uses the opponent's hair to pull them back onto the wrestler's exposed knee it is known as a
hair pull backbreaker.
Pendulum backbreaker
This basic backbreaker involves a wrestler standing side-to-side and slightly behind the opponent, with the opponent facing in the same direction, then reaching around the opponent's torso with one arm across the opponent's chest and under both arms and placing the other arm under the opponent's legs, as if they were performing a
sidewalk slam. The wrestler then lifts the opponent up, bringing their legs off the ground, and dropping them back-first against the wrestler's knee. The pendulum backbreaker can also be done by spinning around and then dropping the opponent onto the knee.
Backbreaker submission
This basic backbreaker submission involves the wrestler laying the opponent's back across one knee, then, while placing one hand on the opponent's chin and the other on their knee, the wrestler pushes down to bend the opponent around their knee. This move is usually performed at the end of a
pendulum backbreaker, a move which sees a wrestler drop an opponent down on the wrestler's knee, thus weakening the back before the hold is applied, as well as setting the opponent in a proper position.
Russian legsweep backbreaker
This backbreaker variation sees the wrestler standing beside the opponent, slightly behind them. Then, the wrestler wraps one arm around the opponent's back/neck, catches the opponent's neck, and forces the opponent down in a Russian legsweep style and simultaneously extends a knee. The maneuver results in the opponent's neck or back being slammed against the wrestler's knee.
Side slam backbreaker
The wrestler first stands side-to-side and slightly behind the opponent, facing in the opposite direction, before reaching around the opponent's torso with one arm across the opponent's chest and under both arms, lifting them in the air as though the wrestler is about to deliver a
side slam
A Powerslam or simply Slam is a professional wrestling body slam move in which the wrestler performing the slam falls face-down on top of the opponent. The use of the term "powerslam" usually refers to the front powerslam or the scoop powerslam.
...
. However, as the wrestler brings the opponent back down to the mat, the attacking wrestler kneels, slamming the opponent's back across their extended knee. This type of variation is used by
Sheamus
Stephen Farrelly (born 28 January 1978) is an Irish professional wrestler and actor. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Sheamus.
Prior to joining WWE, he wrestled on the European indep ...
, who dubbed it the ''Irish Curse''.
A
swinging side slam variation sees the attacking wrestler first scoop the opponent horizontally across their chest before swinging them to their side and dropping the opponent back first on their knee.
STO backbreaker
The attacking wrestler stands facing the opponent, then puts one of their arms across the opponent's chest holding their shoulder. The attacking wrestler then sweeps the legs of the opponent in the fashion of an
STO
STO may refer to:
Businesses and organizations Government
* Science & Technology Organization, a NATO organization
* ''Service du travail obligatoire'', French men & women between certain ages deported to Germany during WWII to work as slave la ...
, but brings their knee forward so the opponent falls back-first onto it. There is also an arm trap version that sees an attacking wrestler take hold of one of the opponent's arms and then move to a slightly front to back position, so that the opponent's arm hooks across and round the opponent's own head. At this point, the attacking wrestler kneels forward to the ground, forcing the opponent's own arm to drag them to the attacker's exposed knee.
Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker
The attacking wrestler stands facing the opponent, who is often charging at the attacker, before bending the opponent down so they are bent in front of the attacking wrestler as they stands over them. Then the wrestler reaches around the opponent's body and lifts them up,
spinning
Spin or spinning most often refers to:
* Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning
* Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis
* Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...
the opponent in front of the wrestler's body. As the wrestler brings the opponent back down to the mat, the wrestler kneels, slamming the opponent's back across the extended knee. In
Lucha libre
Lucha libre (, meaning "freestyle wrestling" or literally translated as "free fight") is the term used in Latin America for professional wrestling. Since its introduction to Mexico in the early 20th century, it has developed into a unique form ...
, it is known as the ''Quebradora Con Giro''.
See also
*
Professional wrestling holds
Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by performers to immobilize their opponents or lead to a Submission wrestling, submission. This article covers the various pins, stretches and transition holds used in the ri ...
*
Professional wrestling throws
Professional wrestling throws are the application of professional wrestling techniques that involve lifting the opponent up and throwing or slamming them down. They are sometimes also called "power" maneuvers, as they are meant to emphasize a wrest ...
References
{{Wrestling Moves
Professional wrestling moves