Professional wrestling double-team maneuvers


In professional wrestling double-team maneuvers are executed by multiple wrestlers instead of one and typically are used by tag teams in tag team matches. Many of these maneuvers are combination of two throws, or submission holds. Most moves are known by the names that professional wrestlers give their "finishing move" names. Occasionally, these names become popular and are used regardless of the wrestler performing the technique. Moves are listed under general categories whenever possible.

Aided moves

These moves involve one wrestler actually performing the move to an opponent. An ally of the attacker will do something to make the move more effective. For example, a wrestler could perform a DDT on an opponent. However, an ally could lift the opponent' feet off the ground first, making it an Aided DDT, a much more effective variation of the move.

Aided brainbuster

An aided brainbuster sees one wrestler help another wrestler perform a brainbuster, usually by putting their own weight behind the move to increase its impact.

Aided Butterfly DDT

This move is best known as being the finisher used by NJPW tag team and Bullet Club members Guerrillas of Destiny. In this move, Tanga Loa has an opponent lifted up in a wheelbarrow hold, while Tama Tonga executes a Double-Arm DDT on the opponent.

Aided full nelson facebuster

This move is used by WWE Tag Team Awesome Truth as their finisher by name Truth Crushing Finale . In this move, The Miz an R-Truth execute their respective finishers, the Skull Crushing Finale and the Lil'Jimmy on their opponents at the same time to increase the velocity and effect of move.

Aided leapfrog body guillotine

This move sees an opponent with their upper body on the ropes and their feet on one of the attacking wrestler's shoulders, while the other wrestler charges at their partner, leapfrogging over them and straddling the opponent's lower back. This move was popularized by the World's Greatest Tag Team.

Aided neckbreaker

Any double-team move in which one wrestler helps another to perform a neckbreaker by twisting/forcing the opponent down to the mat harder while a neckbreaker is performed. Another version of an aided neckbreaker, known as an elevated neckbreaker, sees one member of the attacking tag team get the opponent up into an elevated position to allow a wrestler to perform a neckbreaker from a greater height.

Aided whiplash

This is a normal whiplash, but instead of having the opponent held in the air with the aid of the ring rope, they are kept in the elevated position by another wrestler. This wrestler has the opponent's legs on their shoulders and is facing the first wrestler. When the whiplash is performed, the extra wrestler will often twist down to the mat and land on top of the opponent. The move is also known as the Magic Killer or the Tornado-Plex. Originally used by Tomko and AJ Styles, it would then be used by Tomko and Giant Bernard before it was later used by Bernard and Karl Anderson, the latter of whom went on to also use it with Luke Gallows as part of the Good Brothers. Guerrillas of Destiny and Evil and Sanada also used it as well. This was also used by Rob Conway and Sylvain Grenier of La Résistance with this move being called Au Revoir.

Aided wheelbarrow facebuster

A wheelbarrow facebuster can be combined with many facebuster and DDT variations.
While one wrestler holds an opponent in a wheelbarrow clutch the second wrestler applies a front facelock and DDT's the opponent while the other wrestler drops to a sitting position, driving the opponent's face to the mat, finishing the wheelbarrow facebuster.

Aided piledriver

Any double-team move in which one wrestler help another to perform a piledriver on an opponent by pushing down on the opponent’s foot for more impact. In a variation of the move, the second wrestler jumps off the turnbuckle while pushing the opponent’s feet downward for even more damage, this is well known as a spike piledriver. The move was famously used by the Brain Busters, the New Age Outlaws, and FTR, the latter of which dubbed it the Mind Breaker.

Aided powerbomb

Also known as a spike powerbomb, this is any double-team move in which one wrestler help another to perform a powerbomb, either by aiding the wrestler to get the opponent up on to their shoulders or by pulling down on the opponent as they get dropped down, to force them into the mat harder. A three-person variation also exists, popularized by The Shield. The double team powerbomb is known as Old school Powerbomb, while the three-person variation is known as Triple Powerbomb.

Aided superbomb

In this version one partner sits on the top rope facing the ring. The second partner stands behind the opponent. The second partner then puts their head under one of the opponent's arms and lifts them into the air, placing them on the first partner's shoulders. From there the first partner stands up and jumps forward, powerbombing the opponent from the second rope down to the ring. Although it was initially used by ECW tag team The Pitbulls, The Dudley Boyz went on to popularize this move, usually by putting their adversaries through tables.

Aided splash

This move starts with both partners on either the right or left side of an opponent who is lying face-up on the mat, with one partner in front of the other and both of them facing away from the opponent. The one closest to the opponent picks up the other partner and makes a 180° turn before dropping the partner on the opponent. The wrestler can lift their partner in a variety of ways before dropping them on the opponent. Another variation starts with both partners on either the right or left side of an opponent who is lying face-up on the mat. The one closest to the opponent performs a military press on the other partner and before throwing them, while the other opponent performs a 360° Splash.

Aided suplex

Also known as double suplex, a double-team move in which one wrestler help another to perform a suplex, usually by putting their own weight behind the move to increase its impact.

Aided wheelbarrow suplex

This move sees one wrestler wrap a forward-facing opponent's legs around their waist and apply a gutwrench hold to lift the opponent up off the ground. The partner then steps in front of both wrestlers and grabs the opponent's arms or shoulders and yanks them upward, just as the first attacker throws themself and the victim backwards in a wheelbarrow suplex. This increases the momentum with which the victim is thrown backwards onto their upper back, neck, and head.

Aided Super-Plex

This move was famously used by the former tag team The British Bulldogs. This move is done by one superstar placing an opponent on the top turnbuckle where his partner would perform a Super-plex on their opponent.

Aided headscissors takedown

This move sees one wrestler grab their partner's body while the partner is wrapping their legs around the opponent's neck. Then the partner swings and executes a headscissors takedown.

Power-Plex

This was the finishing move of the tag team known as Power and Glory. Hercules would take an opponent and sit him on the top turnbuckle near his partner Roma. When Hercules set up the opponent and was ready to perform the superplex, he would tag in Roma. Roma would run to the next turnbuckle and climb up. As Hercules executed the superplex, Roma would fly off the top turnbuckle with a splash, timing the landing on the opponent so that he would hit immediately after Hercules landed.

Elevated jawbreaker

With an opponent kept up in an elevated position by one wrestler, another wrestler has chance to drop the opponent into any type of jawbreaker from a raised height. Most notably this sees the opponent's legs being held on the shoulders of one wrestler while another wrestler catches hold of the head of this opponent. At this point the wrestler will lock a hold onto the head of the opponent and drop them into the jawbreaker.

Elevated splash

This is where one wrestler backs up to the corner turnbuckles and allows another wrestler to climb the turnbuckle, then up onto their shoulders. This wrestler then jumps off to perform any type of diving splash on a supine opponent. Sometimes this move sees the first wrestler climb up on the turnbuckle as well, getting even higher before the second wrestler gets up and jumps off them.

Rocket Launcher

One wrestler ascends the top turnbuckle. Their partner then stands below them and reaches up, taking hold of them. The wrestler on the top rope then performs a flying body splash, with their partner throwing them, thus increasing their range, height, and impact. This move was named and innovated by The Midnight Express. A variation of this move has the throwing partner pressing down on the back of the falling partner to further increase the impact. This move was formerly used by Enzo Amore and Big Cass, who called it Bada Boom Shakalaka. Another variation of this move has the elbow drop, which is currently used by Bullet Club.

Assisted senton

One of the wrestlers ascends the top turnbuckle. Their partner then stands below them and reaches up, taking hold of them. The wrestler on the top rope then performs a top rope diving attack, with their partner throwing them, thus increasing their range and height.

Move combinations

This refers to a move in which two attackers perform separate moves on an opponent at the same time. A popular example of this would be the X-Mark performed by D-Generation X, where Shawn Michaels hits the Sweet Chin Music on an opponent, then followed up by a Pedigree by Triple H.

Belly-to-back combinations

Belly-to-back suplex, diving leg drop combination

One attacking wrestler performs a belly-to-back suplex while their partner climbs a turnbuckle. The attacking wrestler holds the opponent at the apex while the second wrestler performs a diving leg drop, driving the opponent into the mat. The Viking Raiders use this move as their tag team finisher called Fallout. Sasha Banks and Bayley also use this move.