Powerbomb

Jacknife Powrbomb, used by Kevin Nash
An animated example of a powerbomb

A powerbomb is a professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted (usually so that they are sitting on the wrestler's shoulders) and then slammed back-first down to the mat.[1] 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). The opponent is then lifted on the wrestler's shoulders and slammed down back-first to the mat.[1] 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. In professional wrestling, it is also sometimes used by a bigger wrestler as a counter to an attempted hurricanrana by a smaller wrestler. While it was associated with super-heavyweight wrestlers, the move was invented by Lou Thesz.[2]

  1. ^ a b Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks (p.242).
  2. ^ https://www.wwe.com/classics/sports-entertainment-maneuver-innovators The innovators behind sports-entertainment's best maneuvers