Wrestling Techniques and Styles: A Detailed Guide to the Art of Professional Wrestling
Professional wrestling is an intricate blend of athleticism, storytelling, and technique, where competitors combine physical skill with dramatic presentation to engage and entertain audiences. While the outcomes of matches are scripted, the physical execution of moves and the styles of wrestling vary greatly. These techniques and styles, which have evolved over time, provide the foundation for the intense action fans see inside the ring. In this article, we will explore the different wrestling techniques and styles that have shaped the sport into what it is today.
1. Grappling Techniques
Grappling is a core element of professional wrestling, involving holds, locks, and throws designed to control the opponent. These techniques are used both offensively and defensively to weaken or subdue the opponent.
Key Grappling Moves:
Arm Drag: A technique where a wrestler grabs their opponent’s arm and uses their momentum to throw them over their shoulder or behind them. This move is a staple in many wrestling styles.
Suplex: One of the most iconic wrestling moves, the suplex involves lifting the opponent off the ground and throwing them backward, often with great force. Variations include the German suplex, vertical suplex, and overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Body Slam: A move in which a wrestler lifts their opponent, typically by the waist or chest, and throws them to the mat. This is one of the foundational moves in professional wrestling.
Armbar: A submission hold in which a wrestler locks the opponent’s arm behind their back and applies pressure to the elbow joint, potentially forcing a tap-out if the pain becomes unbearable.
Headlock: A classic move where one wrestler wraps their arm around their opponent’s head, typically with their opponent’s neck tucked under their arm, applying pressure.
These grappling techniques are fundamental to professional wrestling. They rely on the combination of strength, technique, and timing to execute safely and effectively.
2. Striking Techniques
While grappling is central to wrestling, Watch Wrestling, Watch Wrestling Online, WWE, WWE RAW strikes such as punches, kicks, and slaps are also key to the action. Wrestlers use these moves to wear down their opponents and increase the drama of the match. These moves often serve as transitions or ways to create openings for other, more complex moves.
Key Striking Moves:
Punches and Kicks: Basic yet effective, punches (usually forearms or closed fists) and kicks (such as roundhouse kicks or superkicks) are used to create impact and add intensity to the match.
Chops: The “knife-edge chop,” often delivered to the chest with an open hand, is a classic move that causes a loud slap sound, which reverberates through the arena and is often met with audience chants.
Elbows: Elbow strikes are often used in close-quarters combat, such as in the corner or during a clinch, and can be particularly devastating due to the hard, bony nature of the elbow.
Superkick: A high-impact move where a wrestler delivers a super-fast kick to the opponent’s face, often leading to a dramatic near-fall.
Striking techniques in professional wrestling are performed with a level of precision and timing that helps avoid injury while still conveying the intended impact. Wrestlers often “work” their punches, meaning they pull back or slap their opponent to reduce the risk of harm while making the move appear powerful.
3. Submission Holds
Submission wrestling involves forcing an opponent to submit by applying painful joint locks, chokeholds, or pressure on the body. In wrestling, submissions are often used to create dramatic near-finishes or to enhance a wrestler’s character as a technically skilled fighter.
Key Submission Moves:
Sharpshooter: A submission hold in which a wrestler turns their opponent over onto their back, crosses their legs, and applies pressure to the lower back and legs by pulling back. Made famous by Bret Hart, this move is an iconic finisher.
Figure-Four Leglock: A leg submission where the wrestler entangles their opponent’s legs in a figure-four shape and then applies pressure to the knee joint. This move is often associated with legends like Ric Flair.
Crossface: A submission hold where a wrestler locks their Watch Wrestling, Watch Wrestling Online, WWE, WWE RAWopponent’s arm behind their head while pulling their face into their shoulder, applying pressure to the neck and shoulders.
Camel Clutch: A submission move in which a wrestler sits on the opponent’s back, pulling their arms behind them and applying pressure to the neck. This move was famously popularized by The Iron Sheik.
Ankle Lock: A painful submission that focuses on the ankle joint, with the wrestler twisting and applying pressure on the ankle, often leading to a tap-out.
Submission wrestling techniques require significant technical skill, as they rely on applying leverage, joint manipulation, and Watch Wrestling, Watch Wrestling Online, WWE, WWE RAW body positioning to force an opponent to either tap out or be incapacitated for a period.