Moonsault: Difference between revisions

A '''moonsault''', moonsault press, or back flip splash is a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques|professional wrestling aerial technique]]. It was innovated by [[Mando Guerrero]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=BirchTwitter|first=Nathan|date=2015-09-10|title=Piledriving Pioneers: Celebrating The Creators Of Pro Wrestling’sWrestling's Most Popular Moves|url=https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/pro-wrestlers-who-created-your-favorite-moves/|access-date=2021-07-27|website=UPROXX|language=en-US}}</ref> Much of its popularity in both [[Puroresu|Japanese]] and [[professional wrestling|American wrestling]] is attributed to [[Keiji Mutoh|The Great Muta]], despite it being used in North America by [[Lanny Poffo|"Leaping" Lanny Poffo]] years before Muta came from Japan.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rfvideo.com/browseproducts/Shoot-with-Lanny-Poffo.HTML | title=RF Video: Lanny Poffo Shoot Interview Synopsis}}</ref>

TheWhen executed properly the moonsault is generally considered onesafe, of the safest high flying maneuvers; however,but as with everyany aerial maneuver, there is inherent high risk if it iswhen not executed properly. The wrestler performing the move often misses and lands on their stomach unharmed (such as [[Keiji Mutoh]] during [[Starrcade (1989)]], when he went for a Moonsault on [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]], but ended up missing; he was eventually able to land on his feet and land a kick).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-11-01|title=The World's Most Devastating Pro Wrestling Moves: Moonsault - RondaRousey.com|url=https://www.rondarousey.com/pro-wrestling/ronda-rousey-devastating-moves-moonsault/|access-date=2021-07-27|website=Ronda Rousey}}</ref> Mutoh underwent double knee replacement surgery on February 18th18, 2018,<ref>{{Cite web|title=411MANIA|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/great-muta-undergo-double-knee-replacement/|access-date=2021-07-27|website=The Great Muta to Undergo Double Knee Replacement|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-06|title=Naomichi Marufuji Defeats Keiji Mutoh To Become The New GHC Heavyweight Champion|url=https://wrestlingheadlines.com/naomichi-marufuji-defeats-keiji-mutoh-to-become-the-new-ghc-heavyweight-champion/|access-date=2021-07-27|website=Wrestling Headlines|language=en-US}}</ref> and has since then not performed the Moonsault. In an interview with [[Tokyo Sports]], Mutoh told them that he was lucky to be alive after [[Botch (professional wrestling)|botching]] a moonsault.<ref>{{Cite web|title=【ノア】武藤がムーンサルトプレスの“"永久封印”"を決断！「もう、やらねえよ。あれで最後」 – 東京スポーツ新聞社|url=https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/noah/3398511/|access-date=2021-07-27|website=東スポＷeb – 東京スポーツ新聞社|language=ja}}</ref>

In an example of a moonsault gone spectacularly wrong, Eiji Ezaki, better known as [[Hayabusa (wrestler)|Hayabusa]], suffered a life-threatening injury on October 22nd22, 2001, while working for the Japanese wrestling promotion [[Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling]];. heAs preformedHayabusa began executing a springboard moonsault from the second rope, buthis feet slipped off the rope and struck the first rope below. As a result Hayabusa did not have enough height within which to execute the full 360° of the move, causing him to landedland head first and on his neck. He broke two vertebrae and he was left [[Tetraplegia|quadriplegic]], completely ending his career. Hayabusa was eventually able to gain some movement in his lower body, but was never able to wrestle again.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Podgorski|first=Alex|date=2018-06-18|title=8 Most devastating career-ending injuries in wrestling history|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/8-most-devastating-career-ending-injuries-in-wrestling-history|access-date=2021-08-02|website=www.sportskeeda.com|language=en-us}}</ref>

This is a Moonsault from the top rope, a wrestler faces away from the supine opponent and executes a Diving backflip landing on the opponent in a splash position but facing towards the elevated position.in In this moonsault, the wrestler land on a standing opponent and forcing them down to the mat. The move is considered a higher-impact version of a splash, since the wrestler utilizes rotational speed.

This is a variation of the double jump moonsault where, from a running start, the attacking wrestler jumps to a chair or other elevated platform, onto the top rope, and then does a moonsault from there onto the opponent. This move has been popularized by wrestler [[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]]. [[Tiffany Stratton]] uses a variation of the move where she uses the ropes for each jump, called the ''Prettiest Moonsault Ever''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/tiffany-stratton-would-add-twist-her-prettiest-moonsault-ever|title=Tiffany Stratton Would Like To Add A Twist To Her 'Prettiest Moonsault Ever'|work=Fightful|first=Jeremy|last=Lambert|date=May 9, 2023|access-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517065427/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/tiffany-stratton-would-add-twist-her-prettiest-moonsault-ever|archive-date=May 17, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

Invented by [[Naomichi Marufuji]] and called ''Shiranui Kai''. Any move where the wrestler stands on an elevated position, grabs hold of the opponent, and performs a moonsault while still holding on to the opponent, driving them down to the mat. This move is also known as a ''Solo Spanish Fly''. Multiple variations exist, such as a [[Suplex#Overhead belly-to-belly suplex|belly-to-belly]] version andused by [[Matt Sydal]]. This version which sees him holding the opponent in a belly-to-belly position while performing the moonsault to land on top of them in a [[Professional wrestling strikes#Seated senton|seated senton]]. He calls this version the ''Sydal Special''., a side slam version or a [[#Rounding moonsault|rolling version]], which can also be performed while [[Powerslam#Standing moonsault side slam|standing]]. It was used by the wrestler, [[John Morrison (wrestler)|John Morrison]] used the standing version as the ''C4.'', while [[Frankie Kazarian]] use the rolling version as the ''Flux Capacitor''.

This variation is also referred to as a sideways moonsault, rolling moonsault, rounding splash, and Original-style moonsault. The attacker climbs the top rope, or other elevated position facing away the opponent. Instead of doing a backflip as in a normal moonsault, the attacker rotates their body off to one side horizontallydiagonally and lands on the opponent chest-first, facing the turnbuckle as in a normal moonsault. Innovated by [[Satoru Sayama|Tiger Mask I]] and used by [[Bam Bam Bigelow]] as the ''Bam Bam-Sault''. and [[Big_Van_Vader|Vader]] as the ''Vadersault'' respectively.

Another variation of this move sees the attacker facing the prone opponent with the attacker leaping forward into the air rotating their body in a semi-circle to end up-side down as if doing a midair [[Cartwheel (gymnastics)|cartwheel]] then landing on the opponent chest first facing the turnbuckle. [[Shane McMahon]] used this move in a 1999 singles match against [[Test_(wrestler)|Test]]. [[Alexa Bliss]] uses this move as her finisher, which she calls ''Twisted Bliss''. [[Dana Brooke]] uses this move as a variation while running to an opponent lying on the mat, they rotate in opposite directions.<ref>{{Citation|last=Issac Gore|title=Dana Brooke vs Alexa Bliss- Diving Rounding Moonsault|date=2016-11-30|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSqZ--cHEzQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/tSqZ--cHEzQ |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2017-10-23}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

This moonsault variation sees the performer jump up and split their legs onto both the left and right top ropes surrounding the top turnbuckle, using the impact of their thighs on the rope to flip themselves over, executing a moonsault onto a prone opponent.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} [[Rey Mysterio]] and [[Naomi (wrestler)|Naomi]] uses this move. Also known for being used by [[CM Punk]] as the ''Crooked Moonsault'' earlier in his career and currently [[Rob Van Dam]] as the ''Hollywood Star Press.''

This variation involves performing a [[#Corkscrew moonsault|corkscrew moonsault]] after using the impact of their thighs on the ropes to flip themselves over.<ref>{{cite web|title=WWE JUDGMENT DAY PPV FLASHBACK SERIES - 2009 PPV Report: Jeff Hardy vs. Edge, Jericho vs. Mysterio, Orton vs. Batista|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_41506.shtml#.VntxtOw8KnO|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=December 23, 2015}}</ref> It was popularized by [[John Morrison (wrestler)|John Morrison]], who called the move the ''Starship Pain'' and ''The End of The World''.

This is a move in which a wrestler [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Springboard|springboards]] (bounces off ropes), then executes a backflip and lands on an opponent. This move is known as ''La Quebrada'' in [[lucha libre]], sometimes shortened to simply Quebrada. A variation performed off the second rope from a running start, popularized by [[Chris Jericho]], is known as the ''Lionsault''. The move is also known to have ended the career of [[Hayabusa (wrestler)|Hayabusa]], after he botched the move in 2001.