Powerbomb

A Powerbomb is a wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted up (usually so that they are sitting on the wrestler's shoulders) and then slammed back-first down to the mat.
The standard powerbomb sees an opponent first placed in a standing headscissors position (bent forward with their head placed between the attacking wrestler's thighs). He is then lifted up on the wrestler's shoulders and slammed down back-first to the mat. A prawn hold is commonly used for a pinning powerbomb.
Powerbombs are sometimes used in mixed martial arts competitions, when a fighter attempts to slam another fighter who has him trapped in a triangle choke.
==Variations==
=== Release powerbomb ===
A variation of the powerbomb where the opponent is lifted into the air, and then dropped without any extra force exerted for a pinfall attempt. Sometimes the wrestler steps back while releasing the opponent, which is known as a sheer drop powerbomb due to the high elevation, or the opponent would be thrown horizontally away from the wrestler rather than merely dropped.
The step back variation was popularized in the United States by Sid Vicious, and later by Kevin "Diesel" Nash, who called it the Jack Knife. However, with the name it was later confused with the other Jackknife powerbomb.
===Reverse Powerbomb===
See Reverse Powerbomb
=== Rope aided powerbomb ===
The wrestler takes hold of an opponent, who is lying on the mat, by their legs. The opponent then grabs hold of one of the ropes with both hands as the wrestler pulls them backwards, lifting them off the mat. At this point the opponent releases their grip on the rope and is brought down to the mat.
====Corner sitout powerbomb====
The opponent begins sitting in the corner of the ring and facing outwards, while holding on to the ring ropes. The wrestler 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 wrestler, placing the opponent in a pinning predicament.
===Rydeen bomb===
This high-lifting sitout / sitdown Spinebuster, also popularly known as a sky lift powerbomb in which a wrestler will take hold of an (often charging) opponent with each hand placed under the opponent's arm pits. At this point the attacking wrestler will lift the opponent into the air as high as possible, before dropping to a seated position so that the opponent falls backfirst between the wrestler's legs. A wrestler will often place his hands on the falling opponent's chest or hook their legs to attempt a pin. Satoshi Kojima is credited with naming the move the Rydeen Bomb, while D'Lo Brown is credited with being among the first American wrestlers to use the move, which he called the Sky High. There is also a standing side slam variation which was used by Lance Cade that is also known as a sitout / sitdown side slam spinebuster or a ura-nage driver.
===Scoop lift powerbomb===
In this variation of a powerbomb an opponent is first scooped so they are horizontal across an attacking wrestler's chest. The wrestler then pushes the opponent up and turns them, so that they are sitting on the shoulders of the wrestler, before then slamming them down in a powerbomb motion. This move was innovated by Monty Brown, who calls the move the Alpha Bomb.
=== Sitout powerbomb ===
Also called a sitdown powerbomb, this is any powerbomb in which the wrestler 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 neck scissors, and then lifted up on the wrestler's shoulders. At this point, the wrestler slams the opponent down, and at the same time falls to a sitting position.
In Japan the move is often known as Liger Bomb, due to Jushin Liger who popularized it. Liger's variation actually differs from the regular sitout powerbomb in that the opponent is dropped down in a higher angle, on their shoulders instead of flat on their back, this allows him to trap the opponent's arms under his legs, since they are closer to him. Liger also uses a running variation which drops the opponent regularly flat on their back, known as a Running Liger Bomb. In the United States, both the standing and the running variations are commonly referred to as just Liger Bomb. This powerbomb is also commonly associated with The Beast and Batista, who named it the Batista Bomb.
A variation of the Running Liger Bomb was performed by Último Dragón, who named his variation the Dragon Bomb, in which he lifts the opponent, runs towards the ropes, and performed a slingshot sitout powerbomb.
Yet another variation of the sitout powerbomb is currently and popularly used by Claudio Castagnoli under the name Ricola Bomb, in which he crosses the opponent's arms before lifting them up and then dropping them.
There's also a variation where the opponent is first pumphandled, before being slammed into the mat with the powerbomb.
=== Slingshot powerbomb ===
From a position in which the opponent is sitting across the wrestlers shoulder, the attacker bounces the opponent's back across the top rope. The attacker then spins around, using the momentum to powerbomb the opponent.
=== Spinning powerbomb ===
The wrestler lifts the opponent up onto his shoulders and spins around several rotations before sitting down and slamming the opponent down to the mat, as in a sitout powerbomb. A release variation sees the wrestler remain standing or kneeling and just throwing the opponent away from them onto their back to the mat.
=== Spin-out powerbomb ===
This is a belly to back Powerbomb, usually beginning in the back suplex position where the wrestler 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 wrestler then spins the opponent around 180°, 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 Bomb because it resembles a Powerbomb more than a driver. There is also a sit-out variation, a side variaton, a slingshot variation, a neckbreaker variation and a front powerslam version, the last one used by Batista in his time in Ohio Valley Wrestling under his "Leviathan" gimmick, where instead of hitting the powerbomb, he lifts his opponent into a running powerslam position, driving the opponent into the mat.
Another variation of this move ends in an inverted side slam position and with the wrestler going down to a kneeling position. This version has been used by John Cena throughout his career, which he calls the Proto-Bomb while wrestling as "The Prototype" and the Killswitch, in WWE.
=== 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.
A variation of the move which was innovated by Super Shisa, who called it the Yoshi Tonic. This variation sees a wrestler wrap their legs around the waist of an opponent who is facing away from the attacking wrestler. The wrestler uses a 'see-saw' motion to throw himself forward pulling the opponent over the top of them and down to the mat. This version is technically known as a leg-trap sunset flip powerbomb. Notable users include Amazing Red, MsChif, Melina and Rey Mysterio. Former WWE Superstar Trevor Murdoch performs a modified version in which instead doing of the 'see-saw motion', he stands over the top of his opponent before executing the move.
Another variation was seen in the United States as used by Brian Christopher, in which the sunset flip powerbomb is executed against a wrestler standing on the ring apron, facing toward the ring. In this variation Christopher would jump over the opponent as if to execute a sunset flip and complete the move by powerbombing the opponent from the ring apron to the arena floor.
===Superbomb===
This move was popularized in America by The Pitbulls in ECW. The attacking wrestler forces the opponent to ascend to the top rope, standing usually on the top ropes with their legs spread. The wrestler then bends the opponent, placing their head between the wrestler's thighs. The wrestler then wraps their hands around the opponent's waist. The wrestler then lifts the opponent up, flipping them over, while jumping forward. The opponent falls down to the mat back first, and the wrestler usually falls to their knees or to a sitting position.
Another variation sees the opponent sitting on the top rope. The wrestler 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 wrestler then flips the opponent up and over so they are sitting on the shoulders of the wrestler. At the same time, the wrestler 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.
Many variations of a regular standing powerbomb can be seen being done off of the top rope as well (ex. Super double underhook powerbomb, Super thunder fire powerbomb, Super crucifix powerbomb, etc.)
=== Tiger bomb ===
:See Tiger driver
=== Thunder fire powerbomb ===
Also known as a One shoulder powerbomb, the wrestler faces a bent opponent and places them in the standing headscissors position (bent forward with their head placed between the wrestler's thighs). The wrestler then grabs hold around the opponent's upper torso or waist, and lifts them on top one of the wrestler's shoulders on his back. The wrestler then bends forward and slams the opponent down to the mat on his back or shoulders.
=== Turnbuckle powerbomb ===
The wrestler faces a standing opponent, bends them forwards, takes a hold around their waist and then flips the opponent up and over so the opponent is sitting on the wrestler's shoulders. The wrestler 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.
=== Vertical suplex powerbomb ===
The wrestler 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. Kenta Kobashi is the most well known user of this move and calls it the Orange Crush. However, he only uses the move in very high-profile matches.
A variation of the move in which the wrestler lifts the opponent up and flips them in one fluid motion, releasing the opponent in mid-air, allowing them to fall down to the mat onto their back, while the wrestler falls to all fours beside him, was innovated by E.Z. Money, who calls it Cha-ching Powerbomb.
Another variation used by Kenta Kobashi known as "Spike Vertical Suplex Powerbomb", where he didn't push the opponents as far out, so they landed on their neck and shoulders instead of their back.
Category:Powerbombs
Category:Professional wrestling moves