Aerial techniques, also called high-flying moves, are performance techniques used in professional wrestling for simulated assault on opponents. The techniques involve jumping from the ring's posts and ropes, demonstrating the speed and agility of smaller, nimble and acrobatically inclined wrestlers, with many preferring this style instead of throwing or locking the opponent.
Aerial techniques can be challenging for wrestlers to learn since they learn to trust the other performer, the nominal opponent, to either target the jump correctly or to safely catch their fall. Due to the risk of injury caused by these high-risk moves, some promotions have banned the use of some of them.
The next list of maneuvers was made under general categories whenever possible.
Attacks
187 This move sees a wrestler jumping forward from an elevated position while holding a steel chair or other weapon, driving the weapon onto an opponent lying prone on the mat. This move was innovated by New Jack and named in reference to the prison slang term 187.
Diving chops
Arm twist ropewalk chop The wrestler takes hold of one of the opponent's wrists, twisting the arm into an arm wrench. The wrestler then climbs up the corner turnbuckles and takes a walk on the top rope before falling down striking the opponent's head, back, shoulder or nape with a chop. The move combination is better known as Old School. Invented by Don Jardine and popularized by The Undertaker, who was Jardine's protégé. Japanese wrestler Jinsei Shinzaki uses the move while praying as the Ogami Watari.
Diving overhead chop Standing on the top turnbuckle, the attacking wrestler proceeds to jump in order to deliver an overhead chop to a standing opponent's head. This is one of the most recognizable signature moves performed by Manabu Nakanishi. This was also used by WWE Hall of Famer Tatanka as a signature move called, "Diving Tomahawk Chop".
Diving clothesline The attacking wrestler jumps from an elevated position as extending their arm out from the side of the body and parallel to the ground, hitting the standing opponent in the neck or chest, knocking them over. A version of this move, called a flying lariat, involving the wrestler wrapping the attacking arm around the opponent's neck.
Diving double axe handle Also known as diving axe handle, diving double axe handle smash, or diving double sledge, this is accomplished by jumping from the top turnbuckle to the mat or floor and striking the opponent with two fists held together in the fashion of holding an axe. This is usually done on a standing or rising opponent. A common variation sees the wrestler standing over the top rope, facing away from the ring. From this point, the wrestler jumps, twisting to face inside of the ring, and quickly clutching both fists together to strike the double axe handle. This move was popularized by Randy Savage.
Diving drops Diving leg drop Also called guillotine leg drop, this move sees a wrestler jumping from a raised platform landing the bottom side of one leg across the opponent's throat or chest. This move was popularized in the 1990s by the famed luchador, Psicosis. In the present day, this move is used as the finisher of TNA wrestler Johnny Dango Curtis (JDC), formerly known as Johnny Curtis and Fandango in WWE, calling this move Down and Dirty (formerly known as the Last Dance).
Moonsault leg drop This variation sees the wrestler performing a moonsault but instead of landing on the opponent in a splash position, the wrestler continues the rotation to drive a leg across the downed opponent. 2 Cold Scorpio popularized this move as a signature called Drop The Bomb. Independent wrestler Ruckus has also used this as an occasional move.
Shooting star leg drop The wrestler jumps forward from an elevated position following a full 360° or beyond rotation, driving a leg across the fallen opponent, Teddy Hart use this move as the "Hart Breaker".
Somersault leg drop The wrestler, standing on an elevated position, jumps and flips forward to land one leg on the opponent lying beneath. This move can also be performed from a standing non-elevated position although this variation is quite rare. Booker T used this move during his time in WCW naming the move, Harlem Hangover. 2 Cold Scorpio also used a variation of this move as a finisher which sees him, while facing away from the supine opponent, utilizing a single corkscrew with the move, calling it the Tumbleweed.
Diving elbow drop
Executed by diving onto a supine opponent with one elbow cocked, driving the elbow into the opponent as the wrestler falls on one of their sides. The move was popularized by "Macho Man" Randy Savage. Over the decades, the move has since been used by a number of WWE superstars such as CM Punk and Bayley, who both use the move as a homage to Randy Savage, and Kairi Sane who uses the move as her finisher, referring to it as the InSane Elbow.
Diving 450 elbow drop The wrestler dives forward from an elevated position performing a 450 somersault landing on the supine opponent with the elbow drop. Independent wrestler Flip Kendrick has used the move. John Morrison uses a modified version of this move which sees him utilizing a diving cartwheel motion during the move and uses this as a finisher calling it the Countdown to IMPACT, IMPACT Elbow (using both names while in Impact Wrestling), and Thursday Night Delight respectively.
Diving back elbow drop This less common variation sees a wrestler stand facing away from a standing or supine opponent and in an elevated position (usually the top turnbuckle). The wrestler then dives backwards to strike the opponent. Ted DiBiase has used this move against a supine opponent as a finisher.
Diving pointed elbow drop The wrestler sits on the top turnbuckle with a foot on each second rope facing a supine opponent. The wrestler then leaps forward while clasping both forearms together, landing on their knees, driving an elbow into the opponent. It was used and popularized by Bret Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Shooting star elbow drop This move sees a wrestler jumping forward from an elevated position followed by executing a mid-air backflip to land elbow first on an opponent lying on the mat, Teddy Hart use this move as the "Hart Attack 2.0".
Diving fist drop A move in which a wrestler jumps down from the turnbuckle on an opponent, driving their fist into the opponent's head. While doing it, wrestlers have their front four knuckles out, and their thumb to the side. This move was popularized by Jerry Lawler as his finisher.
Diving headbutt
Also known as a Diving headbutt drop or a Flying headbutt, it is delivered from the turnbuckle with the wrestler leaping forward into the air head-first to fall and strike anywhere on the opponent's prone or supine body. The move was accidentally invented by Harley Race, who adapted it as a signature move and it was then further popularized by The Dynamite Kid, Chris Benoit, Bam Bam Bigelow, D-Von Dudley, Tomoaki Honma and recently Bryan Danielson and Chad Gable.
The wrestler will sometimes use this move with a swan diving motion by spreading their arms outwards while arching their legs backwards midair while performing the move. Benoit and Danielson are best known to use this technique.
Benoit also used a version of this move by simply falling forward off the turnbuckle, with his arms spread up and outwards, to hit an opponent at close range. Honma also uses this version that he calls the Kokeshi while keeping his arms to his sides.
This move, popular in lucha libre, can also be used to hit a standing opponent as demonstrated by Rey Mysterio who has used diving and springboard versions of this move earlier, and rarely at later parts in his career, as a signature and finisher.
After the Chris Benoit double-murder and suicide, the WWE banned the move as it was found that the move in general could cause severe brain damage.
Diving knee drop A move in which a wrestler jumps from the top turnbuckle, top rope, or the apron, landing one knee across a supine opponent. There is also a variation where a wrestler jumps from the elevated position and lands both knees across the supine opponent, referred to as a diving double knee drop. Bob "Spark Plug" Holly used this as a finisher, calling it the Pitstop Plunge.
Meteora
This version of the diving double knee drop sees the attacker performing the maneuver from an elevated platform, jumping forward onto a standing or seated upright opponent with each knee striking both of their shoulders simultaneously. Springboard, slingshot, and standing or running versions of this move are also possible with the latter being used while the attacker is charging towards an opponent, against a charging opponent, or a combination of both. Innovated by CIMA, who has used both a springboard and top rope version as finishing maneuvers in Dragon Gate, and named it after the Greek landmark where he proposed to his wife. American wrestlers Sasha Banks and Matt Sydal also use it as a signature move, the latter having also performed in Dragon Gate.
Shooting star knee drop This move sees the wrestler jumping forward from the second turnbuckle, executing a mid-air backflip, landing knee first on an opponent down all on fours. It is a finishing move used by "Speedball" Mike Bailey as Ultima Weapon.
Diving senton This diving variation for a senton sees the wrestler landing back or buttocks first on the opponent's stomach or chest.
Backwards facing diving senton The move sees an attacking wrestler jumping to the top turnbuckle or top rope facing away from the ring before falling down backwards onto the lying opponent. Popularized by Darby Allin who uses it as a finisher as the Coffin Drop. He's also known to use this move to hit a standing opponent.
630° senton The attacker on the top turnbuckle jumps and flips mid-air into a double front somersault to land sitting on the opponent below. It was innovated by Jack Evans and popularized by Ricochet. Vikingo and Sammy Guevara also use this move as their finishers.
Corkscrew 630° senton In this version, the wrestler facing away from the ring on the top turnbuckle performs a 180° mid-air turn while executing the maneuver. Jack Evans, Ricochet, and Ninja Mack use this move.
Diving seated senton
This variant has the wrestler using the tailbone and lower back to fall in a seated position forcing a standing opponent to the mat rather than using their whole back. Performed by jumping forward off a raised platform or springboarding on to the opponent's shoulders, forcing them to the ground. This can also be performed onto an opponent prone or supine on the mat.
A variation of this move known as the Banzai Drop, popularized by Yokozuna and by Rikishi as the Rump Shaker, sees the wrestler standing over a fallen opponent next to the turnbuckle, then climbing up to the second rope and jumping down, landing on the opponent's stomach or chest.
Molly-Go-Round This variant, which is technically described as a diving somersault seated senton is performed by flipping forward off a raised platform on to the shoulders of a standing opponent, forcing them to the ground into a pinning position. Innovated by Molly Holly. Tegan Nox uses this move.
Moonsault senton The attacker jumps to the top turnbuckle or top rope facing away from the ring, and executes a moonsault, landing in an ordinary senton position. There is also a standing version of this move. Chad Gable use this move as his signature move.
Senton bomb In this variation, the attacking wrestler executes a quick front somersault off the top turnbuckle, landing on the opponent back-first. Popularized by The Sandman and renaming it as Rolling Rock. The standing, running variation is known as a cannonball.
Corkscrew senton bomb