Neckbreaker 2169584 225905218 2008-07-15T23:14:56Z Maxwell7985 1794899 That name was never used {{Unreferenced|date=January 2007}} In [[professional wrestling]] a '''neckbreaker''' is any throw or slam that focuses its attack on the opponent’s [[neck]]. One type of neckbreaker involves the wrestler slamming an opponent's neck against a part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee, head or shoulder. Many uses of the word "'''breaker'''" apply to this sort of action, including: [[Professional wrestling throws#Facebreaker|Facebreaker]], [[Backbreaker]], etc. The other type of neckbreaker is a slam technique in which the wrestler throws an opponent to the ground by twisting the opponent’s neck. This also refers to a ''back head slam'' where a wrestler drops to the mat while holding an opponent by their neck, without having to twist it. ==Variations== === Argentine neckbreaker === The wrestler lifts the opponent up so that he or she is laying across the wrestler's shoulders and hooks the opponent’s neck and leg. The wrestler releases the opponent’s legs and pushes the opponent’s body so that it swings out straight behind the wrestler's body. As the opponent’s body is moving out, the wrestler keeps hold to the opponent’s neck and falls down, executing a [[#Neckbreaker slam|falling neckbreaker]]. This move was also popularly used by wrestler [[Travis Tomko|Tomko]] ===Arm trap neckbreaker === This version of a [[#Shoulder neckbreaker|shoulder neckbreaker]] occurs when an attacking wrestler takes hold of an arm of an opponent, then moves to a back-to-back position, so that the opponent's arm hooks across and round the opponent's own head. At this point the attacking wrestler falls backwards to the ground, forcing the opponent's own arm to drag them to the mat. [[William Regal]] popularized this move and calls it the '''Regal Cutter'''. In a [[Professional wrestling holds#Straight jacket|straight jacket]] version of this move, often known as a Cross-arm neckbreaker, a wrestler can hold both arms across on opposite sides of the opponent's neck before dropping down, often in a seated position, to drag the opponent to the mat. The [[tag team]] [[Shane Twins|Gymini]] have been known to use the double team version of a Cross-arm neckbreaker where they both trap one of the opponent's arms (crossing them over) calling it the '''Cross-Trainer'''. === Corkscrew neckbreaker === Also known as a '''standing somersault neckbreaker''', this move sees the attacking wrestler place the opponent in a [[Professional wrestling holds#Side headlock|side headlock]] and perform a [[somersault]] forwards, then falls down [[Supine_position|supine]], using the momentum of the flip to twist the opponent's neck and back into the ground. This move was popularized by [[Chris Hero]], calling it it the '''Cravate Buster''', and [[John Hennigan|John Morrison]], calling it the '''Moonlight Drive'''. === Elevated neckbreaker === An elevated neckbreaker refers to any neckbreaker performed on an opponent who is held on an elevated position. Normally a wrestler places the opponent on the turnbuckle so that they face away from the ring. The wrestler takes hold of the opponent by their neck, and from this position performs many variations of the neckbreaker, like falling to a sitting or kneeling position, or just running forward and pulling the opponent away from the corner, and dropping them in a standard neckbreaker. There are [[Professional wrestling double-team maneuvers#Aided neckbreaker|double team variations]]. ==== Elevated cradle neckbreaker ==== In this variation of a [[Professional wrestling throws#Muscle Buster|Muscle Buster]], which focuses more of the attack on the neck, a wrestler holds his or her opponent upside-down, with both legs hooked and with the back of the opponent’s neck against the wrestler's shoulder, then drops to a kneeling or sitting position so that the opponent’s neck hits against the shoulder. It is usually performed against an opponent who is sitting on the top turnbuckle. ==== Gutwrench elevated neckbreaker ==== A move in which the attacking wrestler performs a [[Professional wrestling holds#Gutwrench|gutwrench]] and lifts the opponent so that their back rests across one of the wrestler's shoulders. The wrestler then reaches forward with both hands and grabs the opponent under the chin. At this point, the wrestler would drop down to the mat backwards, causing the opponent to drop from an elevated height and land on the back of their neck. === Flying neckbreaker === ''See [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Flying neckbreaker|flying neckbreaker]]''. === Fireman's carry neckbreaker === Popularized by Billy Kidman, this moves sees a wrestler take an opponent across their shoulders in a fireman's carry. Once there the wrestler does a fireman's carry slam, extending the knee adjacent to the opponent's face and neck. The opponent then lands neck-first across the extended knee, snapping their neck in a similar manner to a Shoulder Neckbreaker. === Inverted facelock neckbreaker === Also known as an '''Inverted facelock backbreaker''', this is a move in which a wrestler places their opponent in an [[Professional wrestling holds#Inverted facelock|inverted facelock]]. The wrestler then drops to one knee while maintaining the hold, bending their other knee in the process, and driving the back of the opponent’s neck and upper spine down on to the bent knee. === Inverted neckbreaker === ''See [[Cutter (professional wrestling)]]'' === Neckbreaker drop === === Neckbreaker slam === Also known as a '''Falling neckbreaker'''. This move sees the attacking wrestler stands back to back with their opponent, then reaches over their shoulder and seizes the opponent by the back of their neck or head. The wrestler then falls to their back while maintaining the hold, dragging the opponent down with them to drive their back into the ground. This move is often used by a wrestler who ducks under an attempted attack by the opponent, e.g. a [[professional wrestling attacks#clothesline|clothesline]], and is thus back to back with their opponent. A slight, but common, variation of this, also known as a '''Jumping neckbreaker''', sees the attacking wrestler jump up after seizing the opponent's head so that they fall to the mat from a greater elevation and with more force. [[Mickie James]] uses a variation of this in which she first traps the arms of her opponent, and then hits the slam. [[Mike Mizanin|The Miz]] also has used this move as his finisher which is usually preceded by a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Knee lift|Running knee lift]] he would then slam his opponent to the ground. He calls this variation the [[Reality Check]]. [[Trish Stratus]] used a variation in which she would use only one arm to hit the neckbreaker slam. [[Paul Burchill]] uses a running variation, calling it the '''Twisted Sister'''. === Neck snap === Popularized by [[Curt Hennig]], the attacking wrestler stands behind and facing a sitting opponent before then running toward them and performing a somersault over them. As the wrestler falls, they grab the opponent by the back of the head or neck, pushing it downwards as they drop to the mat. This causes the opponent to jerk their neck backwards, snapping it to the mat. Currently, [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling|TNA]] wrestler [[Robert Roode]] uses this move regularly in honor to Curt Hennig himself. {{Fact|date=March 2008}} This move can be performed when an opponent is face down on the mat. This version was popularized by [[Shane Douglas]]. [[John Cena]] uses another version where he would run towards a bent over opponent from behind and then perform a somersault over them driving the face of the opponent into the mat with his hands. He calls this move the ''Throwback''. There is also a diving version of this move. === Overdrive === This is a version of a swinging neckbreaker where the attacking wrestler would use a leg rather than hands to perform the twist. With the opponent bent forwards (presumably from a kick or just getting up), the wrestler would hook his or her inside leg over the opponent's head, grabbing the nearer of the opponent's arms. The wrestler leans back before falling to hands and knees as the opponent is spun around, neck landing on the inside of the wrestler's knee. Originally popularized by current [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling|TNA]] superstar "Primetime" [[Elix Skipper]] in [[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]] known as '''Play of the Day''', and is now used by current WWE superstar [[Montel Vontavious Porter]] as his finisher, the '''Playmaker'''. ==== Inverted overdrive ==== A move described as a '''Reverse overdrive''' is another version of a swinging neckbreaker, in which the attacking wrestler would use a leg (in this case a knee) rather than hands to perform the twist. In this move a wrestler would first place one knee (the one closest to an opponent) against the base of the opponent's neck, who is leaning forward, while underhooking one of the opponent's arms (the furthest one) before falling backwards down to the mat as the opponent is spun over, landing neck-first on the attacking wrestler's knee. This move was used by [[Matthew Kaye|Matt Striker]] for a short while, who called it the '''Golden Rule'''. === Shoulder neckbreaker === Better known as a '''hangman's neckbreaker''' and also known as a '''kneeling neckbreaker''' or a '''sitdown'''/'''sitout neckbreaker'''. From a back-to-back position, the attacking wrestler reaches back and pulls the opponent's head over their shoulder, then drops to a sitting/kneeling position, causing the back of the opponent's neck to impact on the shoulder of the attacking wrestler. [[Rick Rude]] used this move as his finisher calling it the Rude Awakening [[Melina Perez|Melina]] innovated another variation of the shoulder neckbreaker, rather than dropping into the normal seated or kneeling position, she performes the straddle [[Split (gymnastics)|splits]] crashing the back of her opponent's head into her shoulder. Another version of this move is similar to the [[#Neckbreaker slam|neckbreaker slam]] which sees both wrestlers fall to their backs with the opponent's neck being forced down to the mat instead of onto the attacking wrestler's shoulder. ====Gory neckbreaker ==== This elevated shoulder neckbreaker, also known as a '''Gory driver''', first sees the attacking wrestler lift an opponent into a position where the opponent and the wrestler are back to back with the opponent's head pulled across the shoulder of the attacking wrestler and their legs hooked over the wrestler's legs (the [[Professional wrestling holds#Gory special|Gory special]]). From this position the attacking wrestler drops to a sitting or kneeling position, driving the back of the opponent's neck into the shoulder of the attacking wrestler and the knees of the opponent into the mat. This move can also see the opponent's neck placed over the attacking wrestler's head instead of their shoulder. This is collectively known as a '''Widow's Peak''', as popularized by [[Lisa Marie Varon|Victoria]]. === Reverse Twist of Fate === Also known as an '''Extreme Twist of Fate''', this is a move in which a wrestler places their opponent in an [[Professional wrestling holds#Inverted facelock|inverted facelock]] and then pivots at 180° and catches the opponent's head with their free arm and then drops to a sitting position or lands on his back. This move was innovated by [[Steve Corino]] and later used by [[Jeff Hardy]] and [[Amy Dumas|Lita]]. === Swinging neckbreaker === The attacking wrestler applies a [[Professional wrestling holds#Front facelock|front facelock]] while he places their heads side by side under each other shoulder and uses their free hand to grab hold of the opponent's far hand before then swinging over the opponent and down to the ground, in a semi-circular motion, so that both the wrestler and the opponent fall to the ground back-first causing the back of the opponent's neck to impact on the shoulder of the attacking wrestler. [[The Honky Tonk Man]] popularized this move in the late 80s, calling it the '''Shake, Rattle, and Roll'''. One variation, known as a '''swinging neckbomb''', sees the attacking wrestler fall to a seated position slamming the opponent's neck into the mat between their legs. Another version that sees the attacking wrestler swing inward, throwing the opponent over and to the ground, is often referred to as a [[#Whiplash|(standing) Whiplash]]. === Whiplash === The standard ''(elevated) whiplash'' first sees the attacking wrestler raise an opponent off the ground, often using a [[Suplex#Vertical suplex|suplex lift]], to place the opponent's leg on the top ring rope so that they are face-down while the wrestler holds them in a front facelock, keeping their heads side by side under each other shoulder, making the wrestler the only other thing than the ring ropes keeping the opponent off the ground. At this point the attacking wrestler swings inward as they dive to the ground, twisting on the opponent's neck and in the process lifting the opponent's entire body off the rope, driving their neck and shoulders into the ground. The '''standing whiplash''' version of this move is in a style similar to that of a [[#Swinging neckbreaker|swinging neckbreaker]] which sees an attacking wrestler perform the move even though the opponent is not elevated. Users of the elevated version will often utilize the standing one as well. There is also a [[Professional wrestling double-team maneuvers#Aided whiplash|double team version]] of this move. Another slight variation of the (standing) whiplash move sees the attacking wrestler hook both the opponent’s legs (as in a [[Suplex#Fisherman suplex|leg cradle suplex]]) while keeping both their heads side by side under each other shoulder before then performing the whiplash. This version is often known as a '''muscle twister'''. [[Dustin Rhodes|Black Reign]] uses a variation, calling it the '''Schizophrenic''', in which he lifts the opponent in a suplex position before dropping and twisting them into the whiplash. ==References== {{reflist}} ==See also== *[[Professional wrestling throws]] [[Category:Professional wrestling moves]] [[ja:ネックブリーカー]]