Wrestling kicks A kick is an attack using the foot , knee or leg to strike any part of the opponent ' s body . There are a wide variety of kicking moves in pro wrestling , and many moves are known by several different names . Usually a small wrestler or a wrestler with a martial arts background or gimmick will do a combination of kicks instead of only one kick at a time . Variations . Backflip kick . While the wrestler has his or her back to the opponent , he or she performs a standing backflip and hits the opponent in the head with one or both his or her legs , with the wrestler usually landing on his or her hands and / or feet facing downward . This maneuver is known for its use chiefly by Puroresu Legend Keiji Mutoh and , more recently , A . J . Styles and Finn Bálor who call it the Pelé kick after the famed Brazilian footballer who popularised the bicycle kick in football . Corner backflip kick . This move sees an opponent propped up in the corner as an attacking wrestler charges towards him or her , running up the ropes ( that are beside the opponent ) , or in some cases , up the opponent , and , as he or she reaches the top , kicking off this opponent ' s chest to perform a backflip so the wrestler lands on his / her feet . Big boot . This is usually done with the opponent charging towards the wrestler , using the opponent ' s momentum to deliver the wrestler ' s boot to the upper - body or head . This move is commonly performed by tall wrestlers to enhance its view as a strong attack even though the wrestler themselves are not moving and the opponent is running into their foot , and due to that their height makes it easy for their leg to reach the head of normal sized wrestlers . When this move is performed with the wrestler charging towards an opponent it is referred to as a Yakuza Kick , named by Masahiro Chono . Taking the naming convention in reference to the organized crime groups , the move is also referred to as a Mafia Kick in the United States , and Hooligan Kick in the United Kingdom . Bicycle kick . An attacking wrestler jumps up and kicks forward with both feet in a pedaling motion with the foot that gets lifted second being extended fully to catch a charging opponent directly in the face . Dragon whip . This is a leg lariat or Spinning heel - kick move which is performed after an opponent catches the leg of a wrestler who has attempted a kick of some sort ( i . e . superkick or side kick ) , then while the opponent throws the leg out away from himself the wrestler continues to spin all the way out with his leg still extended to hit the leg lariat . Dropkick . A dropkick is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet , this sees the wrestler twist as they jump so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher that the other ( depending on which way they twist ) and the wrestler fall back to the mat on their side , or front . This is commonly employed by light and nimble wrestlers who can take advantage of their agility . Enzuigiri . Enzuigiri was one of the signature moves by Antonio Inoki . The term " Enzui " is the Japanese word for medulla oblongata and " giri " means " to chop " . Thus , an " enzuigiri " ( often misspelled ' ensuigiri ' or ' enzuiguri ' ) is any attack that strikes the back of the head . It is usually associated with lighter weight class wrestlers , as well as wrestlers who have a martial arts background or gimmick . It is often a counter - move after a kick is blocked and the leg caught , or the initial kick is a feint to set up the real enzuigiri attack . " Gentleman " Chris Adams ' enzuigiri was often mistakenly called a superkick before bringing the real maneuver itself to the U . S . from his stint in Japan . In America , this maneuver was made famous by Bad News Brown , who used a running variation simply known as a running enzuigiri in which he calls it the Ghetto Blaster . Football kick . Sometimes also referred to as a soccer kick . The wrestler kicks an opponent , who is sitting on the mat , vertically to their back , with the foot striking the base of the spine , and the shin striking the back of the head . Hardcore Holly uses a variation in which he positions the opponent facing the ropes , grabs both ankles lifting the lower half of the body , with the upper body now hanging over the ropes , and delivers a firm kick between the legs to the lower abdominal region of the opponent . Jumping high kick . The wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent to the side of their head . It is properly called a " Gamengiri " , but due to the similar nature can be confused for an enzuigiri . Legsweep . The wrestler drops to one knee and extends their other leg , then quickly pivots their body around , using their extended leg to knock away the opponent ’ s legs . Mule kick . While facing away from a charging opponent , the wrestler bends down and pushes out one foot , striking the opponent with the bottom of it . A double mule kick variation is also possible , usually done with the wrestler facing away from the opponent , sometimes done in a corner . The wrestler jumps and kicks backwards with both legs to the opponent , hitting them with both soles of their feet . If acrobatically inclined , the wrestler can then roll forward into a standing position . Paul London uses an elevated variation where he jumps from the second rope over a bend over opponent , and thrusts both his feet down onto the opponent ' s back . A two - man variation is also possible , used by Paul London and Brian Kendrick . Overhead kick . Similar to a backflip kick , this attack sees the wrestler either start by lying down or drops down on the mat while the opponent standing near their head . The wrestler lifts a leg and kicks up over their waist and chest , hitting the opponent with the top of their foot , usually in the head . Can be used as a counter to an attack from behind . For example , a wrestler attempts a full nelson , the wrestler breaks the opponent ’ s lock , falls to the canvas and kicks them in the face with their foot . Punt . Based on the punt kick used in American football , this sees the wrestler take a run up to a kneeling opponent and strike him in the head with the sole of his foot . WWE superstar Randy Orton has been using this move ever since 2007 and has kayfabe knocked many of his opponents into " concussion " . Rolling wheel kick . It is also known as an Abisegiri or a Rolling Koppou Kick . The wrestler rolls towards a standing opponent , extending a leg which connects with the back , chest , or head of the opponent . Savate kick . The most commonly used kick which is referred to as a " Savate kick " in wrestling is the " chassé " , a piston - action kick , with the sole of the foot to an opponent ' s head or chin . This kick is in some ways similar to , but not considered , a superkick . Scissors kick . A version of a leg drop , which is performed on an opponent who is standing , bent over , usually in the middle of the ring . This sees a wrestler bounces off the ropes , jumps — driving his leg ( s ) into the back of the head and the neck of the opponent , forcing them face first into the floor . Also known as a Jumping Axe Kick , or a Butterfly Kick . In the West , this move is usually associated with Booker T . Shoot kick . A kickboxing - style kick with the shin ( generally protected by a shin guard ) striking an opponent ' s face or chest . This move originated in the Japanese UWF and is used in shoot - style environments and by many Japanese wrestlers , most notably Toshiaki Kawada , whose usage of this kick resulted in it being called the Kawada Kick on some occasions . Sole kick . A thrust kick where the wrestler turns his torso away from the opponent while at the same time lifting his leg horizontally and extending it forward , striking the opponent in the torso with the sole of his foot . Tiger Mask and Último Dragón use it as a part of their kick combination , which consists of a shoot kick and a spin kick , followed by the jumping rolling sole butt kick . A spin kick variation sees the wrestler spin around and then perform the sole butt kick with his outer leg , which is known as a Rolling sole kick in Japan . There is also jumping variation where the wrestler jumps straight up , spins in the air , and then delivers the sole butt with his outer leg targeting the head of the opponent . Spin kick . A high kick which gains power and momentum from spinning in place . Similar to the spinning heel kick or a reverse roundhouse kick , but the wrestler does not jump off the ground , making the move a leg lariat of sorts . It is common to see this move executed after an opponent is Irish whipped off the ropes . In Mexico , it is known as La Filomena . Spinning heel kick . This move usually involves the wrestler spinning 360 degrees as they jump so that his or her body is somewhat horizontal , before hitting their opponent with back of his / her leg ( s ) or heel ( s ) on the face , neck or chest . Stomp . Also known as a foot stomp , this attack sees a wrestler stamp his foot on any part of a fallen opponent . One variation of the stomp called the Garvin Stomp , named after its innovator Ron Garvin , sees a wrestler perform a series of stomps all over the body of a fallen opponent in the order of left arm , left chest , left stomach , left upper leg , left lower leg , right lower leg , right upper leg , right stomach , right chest , right arm , and finally the jaw . Double foot stomp . When a wrestler jumps and stamps both feet on any part of an opponent . Also known as a double stomp . Superkick . A high side thrust kick with the sole of the foot to an opponent ' s head or chin , usually preceded by a sidestep , often referred to as a Shuffle side kick , Crescent Kick , or just a Side kick . The wrestler will often slap their thigh to generate an appropriate sound effect . It is the equivalent of the Sokuto Geri or Yoko Geri used in Karate . A popular variation of the superkick is Shawn Michaels ' Sweet Chin Music . Tiger feint kick . The Tiger Feint Kick , named after Tiger Mask , and innovated by the first Tiger Mask , Satoru Sayama , is a move in which a wrestler jumps through the second and top rope while holding on to the ropes , and uses the momentum to swing back around into the ring , and was originally performed as a " fake " dive to make opponents and fans think that the wrestler was about to dive through the ropes to opponents outside the ring . This move requires high agility , and is mainly used by smaller wrestlers in Japan and Mexico . A variation of this move , innovated by the Japanese wrestler MIKAMI , who calls it the Mickey Boom , sees an opponent being hung over the second rope facing the outside , as MIKAMI swings around back to the ring his feet would hit the prone opponent in the head . In the western world , this version is best known as the 619 as named by Rey Mysterio in reference to the area code of San Diego , Mysterio ' s hometown . See also . Wrestling attacks