Professional wrestling is frequently described as a combination of entertainment and action, as it incorporates both storytelling and physical confrontation, but both are based on a predetermined script and cooperation. Every aspect of the fight seen in the ring is intended to give the audience the impression of a real fight while ensuring the performers’ safety. This is why many moves appear to be extremely dangerous, but are actually performed in a way that reduces the risk of injury. However, this does not mean there will be no pain.
Many martial arts moves, such as punches, kicks, and powerbombs, can also be seen in wrestling, but their purpose is to make the storyline more exciting rather than to inflict real harm. Despite this, some moves are unlikely to be used in a real fight because they require full cooperation from both wrestlers. These are the moves that make wrestling so unique and incredible.
These five wrestling moves only make sense in the physics of wrestling.
1. Canadian Destroyer and Code Red
The Canadian Destroyer has become one of the most popular high-impact moves of the last decade, being used by a variety of celebrities including Adam Cole, Penta, Young Bucks, Jack Perry, Jimmy Uso, and Bad Bunny. It is essentially a flipping piledriver in which the performer does a front flip with their opponent before landing in a piledriver position. This move only looks good when the opposing wrestler fully cooperates, because such a flip is impossible without it.
Code Red, another move from the same family, is frequently used by smaller wrestlers such as Roxanne Perez and Zelina Vega. This move requires the performer to climb onto their opponent’s back, perform a forward flip, and slam them down like a sunset flip powerbomb. This move is also entirely dependent on cooperation and is almost impossible to use in a real fight.
2. Hurricanrana and 619
The Hurricanrana has become as common as the DDT these days, and wrestlers from Rey Mysterio to Bron Breakker use it regularly. In this move, the wrestler uses a scissor-like leg hold to flip the opponent, but the truth is, it only works if the opponent also tries to flip and fall. Sometimes, even when the legs aren’t placed correctly, the opponent still flips, making it clear that the move relies entirely on cooperation.
The 619 looks even more staged, as the opponent first has to stand on the middle rope in the correct position so that Rey Mysterio can run, grab the ropes, and deliver a spinning kick. This move looks spectacular, but such a setup is impossible in a real fight because the opponent would never remain still for that long.
3. Tree of Woe and Old School Rope Walk
In the Tree of Woe, the wrestler hangs their opponent upside down in the corner ropes, but the opponent themselves holds onto the ropes with their legs. They could easily free themselves, but to make the move look successful, they remain hanging there so that a stomp or running dropkick can be delivered from above.
Similarly, The Undertaker’s Old School Rope Walk is a great example of cooperation. The opponent themselves maintains a firm grip so that The Undertaker can walk on the ropes and deliver a strike before dismounting. This move looks unique, but it has no practical benefit in the real world.
4. Sling Blade and Sling Shot
Wrestlers like Finn Balor and Seth Rollins often use the Sling Blade, in which they run, grab the opponent’s neck, spin around, and throw them backward. The move only looks successful when the opponent falls down along with the momentum of the spin; otherwise, no one would fall so easily from just a touch.
The slingshot is another such unbelievable move, in which the wrestler grabs their opponent’s legs, falls backward, and tries to throw the opponent upwards. Throwing a heavy person like this is completely impossible in reality, so this move only works within the physics of wrestling.
5. Spanish Fly and Irish Whip
The Spanish Fly has become one of the most frequently used high-risk moves in recent years. In this move, both wrestlers flip backward and forward in the air simultaneously and fall to the ground. This move is entirely dependent on the timing and cooperation of both wrestlers, and even a slight delay can cause the move to fail. Repeated attempts at this move sometimes affect the realism of the match.
In contrast, the Irish Whip is one of the most basic yet unrealistic moves in wrestling. In this move, the wrestler pushes their opponent towards the ropes, and the opponent runs without any resistance, bounces off the ropes, and comes back. In the real world, no one would run like that from a slight push, but this tradition has continued for years to advance the wrestling storyline, and the audience has accepted it.
Also Read: Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 Complete Guide: Teams, Groups, Squads And Live Streaming
