Backbreaker
Backbreaker refers to a kind of professional wrestling move which sees a wrestler dropping an opponent so that the opponent's back impacts or is bent backwards against a part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee. The standard version of the move sees the wrestler scoop their opponent horizontally before dropping to one knee, slamming the opponent's back on their other knee.Variations
[|Argentine backbreaker] rack
This submission hold, better known as a Torture Rack or simply a rack, sees the attacking wrestler carrying the opponent face-up across his own shoulders, before hooking the opponent's head with one hand and a leg with the other to then pull down on both ends to hyperextend the opponent's back and force a submission. Wrestler Lex Luger was famous for using it as a finisher. Former WWF Superstar Hercules even used this move as a finisher, along with a Full Nelson Submission Hold.
A [|backbreaker drop] variation of this submission move sees the attacking wrestler first hold an opponent up for the Argentine backbreaker rack before dropping to the mat in a sitting or kneeling position, thus flexing the opponent's back with the impact of the drop. Another version sees the wrestler hold their opponent in the Argentine backbreaker rack before dropping into a sitting or kneeling position while simultaneously throwing the opponent off their shoulders, causing the opponent to roll in midair and fall to the mat in a face-down position. Nikki Bella has used both variations as a finisher in WWE.
A variation of the Argentine backbreaker rack, known as the La Reinera, sees the opponent held across the wrestler's upper back rather than his shoulders/neck. Often set up by a tilt-a-whirl, the opponent ends up suspended with one arm hooked behind and both legs hooked by the wrestler's other arm. Rolando Vera was credited with inventing the move.
Another Argentine backbreaker rack variation called the La Atlántida, favored by Mexican luchador Atlantis, sees the attacking wrestler holding the opponent across the shoulders and behind the head in a side-lying position facing towards the rear, then pulling down on the head and one leg to laterally bending the opponent.
A variation of the La Atlántida, sometimes known as the "Accordion Rack", sees the opponent held similarly in a side-lying position facing the rear across the attacking wrestler's shoulders, but with the opponent's lower back curvature directly behind the wrestler's head, and instead of pulling downwards the wrestler will chest fly forward to bend the opponent, sometimes to the point that the opponent's heel touches the head. However, this move is mainly limited to opponents with great flexibility. It was utilized by wrestlers like Awesome Kong.Backbreaker drop
A backbreaker move in which the wrestler lifts an opponent up into an Argentine backbreaker or an [|overhead gutwrench backbreaker rack], so the opponent's back is resting on the wrestler's shoulder, with the opponent's head pointing in the direction that the wrestler is facing. The attacking wrestler then drops to a kneeling or sitting position while maintaining the hold, thus jarring the back of the opponent by driving the opponent's spine into the attacking wrestler's shoulder. TNA wrestler Abyss used the Argentine version called the Shock Treatment.Belly-to-back backbreaker
The wrestler stands behind the opponent and puts their head under the opponent's arm, as in a belly-to-back suplex, but raises a knee and brings the opponent back down, so that the opponent's back collides with the knee of the wrestler. The move was popularized by Billy Robinson. Tatsumi Fujinami calls this the Dragon Backbreaker. Cedric Alexander uses a double knee version called the Lumbar Check.Canadian backbreaker rack
Also known technically as the overhead gutwrench backbreaker rack, this sees an attacking wrestler first lift an opponent up so the opponent's back is resting on the wrestler's shoulder, with the opponent's head pointing in the direction that the wrestler is facing. The wrestler then links their arms around the face-up opponent's torso and presses down, squeezing the opponent's spine against the wrestler's shoulder. Hulk Hogan used this move as a finisher early into his WWF career. A common variant of this hold has the attacking wrestler also apply a double underhook before or after lifting the opponent. This was used by Colt Cabana as the Colt.45. The double underhook variant is often seen when the hold is used to transition to another maneuver, such as a backbreaker drop or inverted powerbomb. Bruno Sammartino famously used this move on his opponents.Catapult backbreaker
The catapult throw typically starts with the attacking wrestler standing and facing the opponent, who is lying on their back. The wrestler hooks each of the opponent's legs in one of their arms then falls backwards to slingshot the opponent into a turnbuckles, ladders, ropes, etc. At this point the attacking wrestler will remain on the ground and raise their knees while still holding the opponent's legs. The rebounding opponent will instantly trip, falling backwards onto the raised knees of the wrestler. In another method, the wrestler performs a catapult and raises the knees prematurely so that the opponent is draped over the knees without an actual launch.The wrestler performing the move stands in front of and slightly to the side of the opponent receiving it. The wrestler then reaches out and grabs the opponent's throat and trunks, and lifts them in the air as though the wrestler is about to deliver a chokeslam. However, as the wrestler brings the opponent back down to the mat, the wrestler kneels, slamming the opponent's back onto their extended knee. This move is popularly known as a chokebreaker, which is a portmanteau of this move's technical name. Baron Corbin uses this move calling it the Blood Moon.This move involves an attacking wrestler first putting an opponent in a cobra clutch hold before lifting the opponent up while maintaining the hold and bringing them down while the wrestler drops to a knee, so that the opponent impacts back-first on the knee of the attacking wrestler, all while the wrestler maintains the hold. The attacking wrestler can continue the hold after impact for a cobra clutch submission attempt. It was used by Big Show as finishing move on rare occasions.Double knee backbreaker
Also known as a lung blower, this technique involves an attacking wrestler going behind an opponent and putting both of their hands around the opponent's head for a rear chin lock or on both of the opponent's shoulders while jumping up to place both knees against the opponent's back. Both wrestlers then fall backward to the ground, forcing the wrestler's knees to push up into the back of the opponent. This move can be done from a variety of transition holds, including a powerbomb transition and a vertical suplex transition. First popularised by Carlito as the Backstabber, his brother Primo and cousin Epico would also use that move under the same name. Sasha Banks uses this move before delivering her Banks Statement submission move. Roderick Strong uses a vertical suplex transition version called the End of Heartache. Tommaso Ciampa uses a powerbomb transition called Project Ciampa. Liv Morgan has used this move since 2022.Somersault double knee backbreaker
This move sees the attacker running to a opponent whose hunched over facing them. The attacker then jumps up and in the process grabs onto the stomach of the opponent which forces the opponents back onto the knees of the attacker. Dakota Kai uses this as her finisher and calls it the Kairopractor.Double foot backbreaker
invented this variation of backbreaker in 2021. She performs it by standing behind her opponent by holding both her wrists and forcing both her feet on her opponent's back pushing her, mostly face-first on the top turnbuckle. Liv is the only user of this backbreaker variation till now.Made famous by Tiger Mask as the Tiger Bomb. An attacking wrestler stands facing a bent over opponent and hooks each of the opponent's arms behind the opponent's back, then lifts the opponent as if executing a Tiger Bomb. However, as the attacker drops the opponent back down, they raise a knee and bring the opponent back down horizontally, so their back collides with the knee of the attacking wrestler. CM Punk used this move, calling it the Welcome to Chicago Motherfucker. Io Shirai also uses this move.The attacker lifts the opponent on their shoulders in a fireman's carry, then flips them over so their back lands on the top of their knee. A variation to this move is performed similar to how an Ushigoroshi is performed instead by driving a knee into the upper back.The attacking wrestler stands behind the opponent and locks them in a full nelson before lifting the opponent, as if to perform a full nelson slam, but as the wrestler drops down the opponent, they slam the opponent back-first against their exposed knee.The attacking wrestler stands behind the opponent and locks in a half nelson before lifting the opponent, as if to perform a half nelson slam, but as the wrestler brings the opponent down to the mat, they drop to one knee, slamming the opponent's back across their extended knee.Hair-pull backbreaker (Head-pull backbreaker)
This move is performed behind the opponent. The wrestler grabs the opponent by the hair and pulls them back, so the opponent's back lands on the wrestler's knee. In a variation of this move, the wrestler faces the opponent, grabs them by the hair, twists around so the wrestler and opponent are back to back, and then the wrestler pulls the opponent's hair down, driving their back into the wrestler's knee. Katie Lea Burchill used both variations as her finisher. Michelle McCool used this move as a finisher called Final Exam. Alexa Bliss also uses this move.