How to Do Professional Wrestling Moves (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

While some say professional wrestling is “fake”, the skill, athleticism, and risk of injury are all very real. If you look beyond the sheer entertainment value of the craft, you may be mesmerized by the intricate, powerful, and high-flying maneuvers that professional wrestlers perform, and are eager to try them out for yourself. This article describes the physical and mental preparation and instructions needed before safely trying pro wrestler moves, along with descriptions of ten classic maneuvers so you can understand and appreciate them better. However, do not try these moves unless you have been trained and supervised by a professional.

Step

Part 1 of 3: Getting Ready

Step 1. Pay attention to the experts

If you're interested in learning and doing pro wrestling moves, you've probably seen them from the WWE and/or other wrestling arenas on television. However, we recommend that you adjust the way you watch.

Pay close attention to how to perform the movement. Watch (re)watch body and hand positioning, jump and landing methods, and how wrestlers “sell” their moves. Observe security measures hidden in motion.
Also watch old wrestling videos and shows. Notice the similarities and differences in technique and style.
Go to a live wrestling show. Even though the performances are local and of low caliber, watching a wrestling show live will give a real sense of the complexity and maneuverability of pro wrestlers. See how the two wrestlers work together to perform moves successfully and safely. Talk to a few wrestlers if you get the chance, and express your interest in learning. They may have some good suggestions.

Step 2. Prepare your body

Strength training is of course very important, but resistance and flexibility training is just as important. Good pro wrestlers don't just lift weights, they also do cardio, stretching, and even yoga!

Improving your physical condition will also increase your protection against injury.
If you're in high school, it's natural to join a wrestling team, but working out in general will help condition and control your body.
Some of the strength training includes: bench press; chin-ups; dip; biceps curls; hand grips; wrist rolls; leg curls; leg extensions; squats; leg press; Shoulder Shrugs; and 4-way neck press.
Some of the cardio exercises you can do include: running 5 km with a measured time; 10 x 400 meter interval run; 30-minute recovery jog; and other cardio activities such as swimming and cycling.
Train hard, but take time to recuperate. This is the time for your muscles (including the cardiovascular system) to recover and strengthen themselves.

Step 3. Know the risks

Watching pro wrestlers closely will give you a better understanding of the intricate details and exact timings required to perform wrestling moves successfully. It's a good idea to start with the maneuvers of the wrestlers you're watching, perhaps to your friends in the backyard. However, don't try until you've been properly trained.

Practice, preparation, and practice will make practicing wrestling maneuvers safer. However, even experienced professionals can have a tragic fate while doing so

Part 2 of 3: Entering the Practice Ring

Step 1. Enter the wrestling school

If you don't know it, try contacting the Athletes Association office in your city.

Look for schools with a history of which training is effective. This is where the benefits of contacting the Athlete Association will be felt.
Be realistic with your goals. If you're dreaming of becoming a WWE star, local wrestling schools are definitely not the way to go. Most professionals attend major US schools run by former professional wrestlers with a long history. But that doesn't mean your local wrestling school can't provide useful and fun lessons and make you a great wrestler if you're talented.

Step 2. Know what you will encounter

Every wrestling school will be different, but regular instruction sessions with professional wrestlers will get you plenty of fun. You'll work together on building skills in and out of the ring (e.g. interviewing and character building).

Ask for an honest opinion on your skills. Wrestler instructors aren't shy about giving their opinions, so you have to be tough. Think of it as hard affection, to be able to do wrestling moves safely and effectively, it takes precise accuracy every time

Step 3. Learn to compete safely

If you realize that safety is not a top priority at your wrestling school, find a new school. Don't risk your safety and that of your classmates.

Step 4. Match your thoughts with your opponent

When starting to practice wrestling moves, don't forget that professional wrestling moves always require perfect execution from both sides. Start slowly and get used to yourself and build mutual trust with your ring mates.

Pro wrestlers tend to think of their ring opponent as a partner. They need to practice and execute moves together to be successful, just like a basketball team

Part 3 of 3: Familiarize yourself with the Key Moves

Step 1. Learn and visualize these movements, but don't do them without proper practice

Use the descriptions and steps below as a reference to familiarize yourself with the complexities of the 10 pro wrestling maneuvers that will be taught in wrestling school.

Think of this section as a user manual before your friends teach you how to use it. This article is a preparation tool, not a substitute for expert guidance as these movements can be dangerous to you and others

Step 2. Get to know Suplex

There are several variations of this important move. Suplex is done by lifting your opponent overhead, arching your back, and slamming your opponent on his back when you fall.

Lock your arms around your opponent's pelvis from behind.
Bend your knees, pop your hips, and lift your opponent up.
Arch your back and slam your opponent from the top of your head into the opponent's back when you fall.

Step 3. Learn Spear

Spear is a simple but effective attack, similar to the ((now illegal) American soccer tackle method of ramming your head into your opponent's chest to beat him.

Run towards a standing opponent.
Lower your body and slide towards the middle of your opponent's body. Try hitting your opponent's abdomen with your shoulders while keeping your head sideways.
Use your arms to help lunge your opponent onto the mat.

Step 4. Learn more about Andre Slam

The Andre Slam is a hands-on lift-and-slam move, immortalized by Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant in Wrestlemania III.

Facing a standing opponent, grab the arm with your non-dominant hand and lift it with your dominant hand between the legs.
Keep your head down as you lift your opponent up and put him on your shoulder.
Spin your opponent with your dominant hand and keep spinning while slamming your opponent.

Step 5. Know the “yes” and “no” of DDT

This maneuver is done by locking the opponent's head (which is facing you), then slamming him so that his head lands first on the mat when you both fall.

Facing the opponent, lock the opponent's head from the front, wrap your arms around the opponent's head towards the side of one of your waist.
Drop back and push your opponent's face into the mat.
Add your signature when you fall to make it look unique

Step 6. Perform Cutter

Many variations of this move are well known, such as the Diamond Cutter or RKO. This movement is done by pulling the opponent's jaw to the shoulder (from behind you) and slamming him face down.

Place your hands on the back of your opponent's neck. Twist so that you are in front of your opponent and your hands are around his head.
Pull the opponent's chin to the shoulder of the arm that is around the opponent's head.
Kick your feet forward, fall on your back and slam your opponent's face into the mat.

Step 7. Do the Boston Crab

This is a famous locking move when the opponent is on their back. You turn your opponent over, crouch on top of him, and pull his leg back up.

When your opponent is on his stomach, stand on him, holding your opponent's hips and facing his feet. If your opponent is on your back, number both feet while facing your opponent, and step over your opponent while turning him/her around and twisting your body.
Grasp each leg and lock each calf between your biceps and upper ribs.
Lift and pull each leg toward you while crouching over your opponent's lower back.

Step 8. Be smart when using Sharpshooter

One of the most famous finishing moves is done when the opponent is on his back in the middle of the ring. This move combines elements of the Boston Crab with the Figure Four Leg Lock.

Follow the steps of the Boston Crab, but instead of straddling your opponent's legs, place one foot between your opponent's legs at the knee.
Cross your opponent's legs at that knee and start lifting, pulling, and squatting.

Step 9. Brighten up the match with the Shining Wizard Combination Move

This move has many variations in which you strike your opponent's head with your knees or feet, followed by slamming your opponent's head onto the mat.

When your opponent is drooping in the corner of the ring, run up to him and strike in the jaw with your knee or lower leg. You can launch your opponent's knee with the other leg. This movement alone can Shining Wizard.
Wrap your arms around your opponent's neck, rest his head by your side and his body curled up behind you. run a few steps forward while dragging the opponent.
Kick your feet forward, and when you fall, lunge your opponent's face into the mat.

Step 10. Spin with Hurricanrana

The Hurricanrana is a very athletic move that involves jumping on an opponent's shoulder, then flipping the opponent over while pulling him towards the mat.

Run to a standing opponent, and jump so that each of your feet lands on each of your opponent's shoulders.
At the same time, cross your ankles over your opponent's head and twist your body to one side.
Use this twisting motion to spin your opponent when they fall on their back along with you.

Step 11. Unlock the mystery of Movement 619

This is the most acrobatic move in this article. 619 is done by swinging through the rope when holding on, then striking the opponent in the face when swinging back into the ring.

Position your opponent so that they are drooping on the rope in the middle, facing the audience.
Run towards the opponent, but towards one of the sides.
Jump with your feet first between the top and middle ropes. Grasp the top rope with one hand and the middle rope with the other as you go through them.
Use the flexibility of the rope to lure your body back into the ring. Position and bring your feet together so that your knees hit your opponent's knees.
If you still don't fully understand, this move (along with the others mentioned above) is no joke. You could be seriously injured or even killed, if you don't understand what you're doing.