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10 Banned Wrestling Moves in WWE You’ll Never See Again
Explore the 10 wrestling moves banned in WWE due to high risks. Learn why WWE prioritized wrestler safety by removing these dangerous moves from the ring.
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WWE is known for its exciting action and talented performers. But some wrestling moves have been banned because they are too dangerous. Over the years, WWE has decided that the safety of its wrestlers is more important than keeping these risky moves in their shows. Here are 10 banned wrestling moves in WWE that were once part of many memorable matches.
Banned Moves in WWE
| Move | Performer (Famous) | Reason for Ban |
|---|---|---|
| Wings of Love | Michelle McCool | Too dangerous for women to execute |
| Piledriver | Owen Hart, CM Punk | Neck injury to Steve Austin |
| Muscle Buster | Samoa Joe | Ended Tyson Kidd’s career |
| Shooting Star Press | Billy Kidman, Lesnar | Caused a concussion for Chavo Guerrero |
| Brainbuster | Finn Balor, Sami Zayn | Head injury risk |
| Vertebreaker | The Hurricane | Extremely dangerous if done wrong |
| Burning Hammer | Kotetsu Yamamoto | Rare and highly dangerous |
| Curb Stomp | Seth Rollins | Too easy for children to imitate |
| Diving Headbutt | Chris Benoit | Led to severe brain damage |
| Punt Kick | Randy Orton | Caused real concussions |
10. Wings of Love
A WWE legend, Michelle McCool once used the Wings of Love as her finishing move. This move was made famous by TNA wrestler Christopher Daniels. WWE thought it was too powerful for women to use, so they banned it for many years. But in 2022, Mandy Rose started using it again in NXT.
9. Piledriver
The Piledriver is one of the most dangerous moves in wrestling. A wrestler lifts their opponent and drops them headfirst into the mat. It was banned after a bad accident at SummerSlam 1997. Owen Hart used the move on Steve Austin, which caused a serious neck injury. The move left Austin temporarily paralyzed. Although it is banned, wrestlers like CM Punk and Kevin Owens have used it occasionally.
8. Muscle Buster
Samoa Joe popularized the Muscle Buster. He used it for years in both TNA and WWE. However, at a live WWE event, Joe accidentally injured Tyson Kidd while performing this move. Kidd suffered a severe neck injury that ended his wrestling career. Because of this, WWE banned the move, and Samoa Joe never used it on the main roster.
7. Shooting Star Press
The Shooting Star Press is a high-flying move involving a wrestler flipping mid-air and landing on their opponent. Billy Kidman used it as his finisher. In 2004, Kidman accidentally landed on Chavo Guerrero, causing a concussion. Brock Lesnar also attempted this move at WrestleMania XIX and almost hurt his neck. Although banned for most wrestlers, WWE allowed Evan Bourne to use it in 2008 because he performed it safely.
6. Brainbuster
The Brainbuster looks like a regular suplex, but the opponent is dropped on their head instead of their back. This made the move dangerous and led WWE to ban it. However, in recent years, wrestlers like Finn Balor and Sami Zayn have used a safer version of the Brainbuster.
5. Vertebreaker
The Vertebreaker is a reverse version of the piledriver. It was created by Japanese wrestler Megumi Kudo and later used by WWE’s The Hurricane. Like other piledrivers, the move is extremely dangerous and banned in WWE. If not executed properly, it could cause severe injuries to the wrestler taking the move.
4. Burning Hammer
The Burning Hammer is one of the rarest and most dangerous wrestling moves. It was invented by Kotetsu Yamamoto and used only seven times in WWE because of its high risk. The move involves dropping an opponent on their neck and head, which could easily lead to injury. Due to its dangerous nature, WWE banned the move completely.
3. Curb Stomp
Seth Rollins made the Curb Stomp famous by stomping his opponent’s head into the mat. It was his main finishing move until 2015 when WWE banned it. The main reason was that it looked too easy for children to imitate. After a few years, Rollins was allowed to use the move again in 2018, and it remains one of his signature moves today.
2. Diving Headbutt
The Diving Headbutt was a move made popular by Chris Benoit. Sadly, this move contributed to his tragic death. Benoit’s hero, Dynamite Kid, also suffered from the effects of this move. Both men experienced serious head injuries, leading to severe health problems. After Benoit’s death, WWE permanently banned the Diving Headbutt.
1. Punt Kick
Randy Orton’s Punt Kick was known for knocking out WWE superstars. Orton would run toward his opponent and kick them in the head. The move was banned after he used it on WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, who suffered a real concussion. Even Orton admitted that it was difficult to make the move safe. WWE banned the move in the early 2010s, and Orton has not used it since.
These banned wrestling moves were once exciting to watch, but the risks involved were too great. WWE made the right decision to prioritize the safety of their wrestlers. Even though we no longer see these moves in action, they will always be part of WWE history.
This list shows how WWE values the safety of its wrestlers, banning moves that could lead to serious injury.
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