10 Wrestling Moves That Defy the Laws of Physics

The phrase "professional wrestling is fake" carries some truth but misses the bigger picture. Wrestling blends scripted storylines, choreographed battles, and dramatic presentation to create the illusion of combat. Like other performance arts, it relies heavily on coordination and timing to execute moves safely.

While techniques like suplexes, punches, and powerbombs exist in real combat sports, their purpose in wrestling is different: they aim to appear impactful without causing real injury. Genuine combat moves, like Rampage Jacksons powerbomb in PRIDE, can knock someone out. In wrestling, performers must balance appearance and safety, often requiring cooperation from both parties involved.

Some wrestling maneuvers are unique to the sport, defying realistic physics purely for spectacle. These moves are impressive but only function with willing participation from both wrestlers.

Canadian Destroyer & Code Red

The Canadian Destroyer, popularized by Petey Williams and later used by stars like Adam Cole, The Young Bucks, and Bad Bunny, is essentially a flipping piledriver. The move only works because the opponent flips with the attacker. Variations like Coles "Panama Sunrise" or Teddy Harts double-underhook version exist, but outside wrestling, this maneuver is impossible.

The Code Red operates similarly, often used by smaller wrestlers like Roxanne Perez and Zelina Vega. Its a forward-flipping sunset flip powerbomb that depends entirely on the opponents cooperation.

Hurricanrana & 619

The Hurricanrana, a staple of high-flyers from Rey Mysterio to Bron Breakker, reverses an opponents position into a rapid, high-impact move. Its success relies on the opponent moving with the motion. A recent example at Survivor Series: WarGames showed Dominik Mysterio executing it on John Cena, with the cooperation of his opponent making the move possible.

The 619, another Mysterio signature, requires setting the opponent against the middle rope to deliver a spinning kick. It is a carefully staged move, relying on timing and positioning, with no realistic combat equivalent.

Tree of Woe & Old School Rope Walk

Moves like the Tree of Woe involve draping an opponent over the ropes, creating a setup for foot stomps or dropkicks. Execution depends entirely on the opponent remaining in position. Similarly, the Old School rope walk, popularized by The Undertaker, has wrestlers walking the ropes while holding an opponent. These moves exist purely for spectacle and require full cooperation.

Sling Blade & Sling Shot

The sling blade, used by Finn Balor and Seth Rollins, drops opponents quickly by hooking their arm and rotating them mid-motion. Its effectiveness depends on the opponent moving along with the momentum. The sling shot, where one wrestler catapults the other across the ring, is similarly impossible without full collaboration, as human weight and physics make it unfeasible in reality.

Spanish Fly & Irish Whip

The Spanish Fly, originating from lucha libre, involves both wrestlers flipping in opposite directions. Without full cooperation, the move fails or becomes dangerous. The Irish Whip, a basic maneuver pushing an opponent into the ropes, also exaggerates momentum, relying on the participant to follow through convincingly.

In professional wrestling, these moves highlight the blend of athleticism, timing, and performance. While appearing impossible in real combat, they are celebrated for their creativity, risk, and showmanship, forming the foundation of wrestlings unique physical storytelling.

Author: Riley Thompson