Attacking maneuvers are offensive moves in professional wrestling, used to set up an opponent for a submission hold or for a throw. There are a wide variety of attacking moves in pro wrestling, and many are known by several different names. Professional wrestlers frequently give their finishers new names. Occasionally, these names become popular and are used regardless of the wrestler performing the technique.
Professional wrestling contains a variety of punches and kicks found in martial arts and other fighting sports; the moves listed below are more specific to wrestling itself. Many of the moves below can also be performed from a raised platform (the top rope, the ring apron, etc.); these are called aerial variations. Moves are listed under general categories whenever possible.
A maneuver that involves a wrestler attacking with the core of the body. It is executed from a vertical, running position using momentum and weight to run over the opponent.
The wrestler charges into an opponent in the corner of the ring without leaving the feet, crushing the opponent into the turnbuckle. This is normally used by bigger, heavier wrestlers.
This move, innovated by, popularized and subsequently named after Lou Thesz, sees the attacking wrestler jumping towards a standing opponent, knocking him / her over his / her back, sitting on his /her waist and pinning him / her in a body scissors. A variation, popularized by Stone Cold Steve Austin, involves the attacking standing wrestler jumping on a running opponent, then repeatedly striking the opponent in the face with mounted punches. .
A jumping attack made by a charging wrestler against a standing opponent, landing on his / her chest and shoulders while remaining upright, the wrestler employes the momentum to bring his / her opponent down to the mat into a seated senton.
Popularly known simply as Karate chops, these are attacks performed by striking the opponent's neck, shoulders or chest with the edge of a hand.