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Jumping Joe Savoldi in Australia 1937

Jumping Joe Savoldi publicity article in 1933

Original Standing Dropkick by Jumping Joe Savoldi, Madison Square Garden 1934

Jeff Hardy performing a low dropkick on Umaga during a live show

A dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than the other (depending on which way he or she twists) and the wrestler falls back to the mat on his or her side, or front.^[1] This is commonly employed by light and nimble wrestlers who can take advantage of their agility, and is often executed on a charging opponent, while charging at an opponent, or a combination of the two.

The most basic form of a dropkick, but potentially the hardest to pull off, is a standing dropkick first used by "Jumping Joe" Savoldi where the wrestler catches a standing or running opponent with a standard dropkick from a standing position. In order to be pulled off effectively, it requires great leg strength in order to gain elevation. Savoldi, a former All-American running back for Knute Rockne at Notre Dame, used his association with football to identify the move as the "drop-kick"^[2] and the press also called it a "flying dropkick".^[3]

The dropkick in its current form was thought to perhaps^[4] originated by "Jumping Joe" Savoldi, although wrestler Abe Coleman, known as "Hebrew Hercules" and "Jewish Cougars" can also be seen in early video using a feet-first dive at an opponent's waist. Coleman, listed at 5'2" in height, called the move a "Kangaroo Kick" and claimed the move was inspired by kangaroos he saw on a tour of Australia in 1930.^[5] When Savoldi performed the "drop" kick in 1933, the press simply said it was another name for Coleman's existing "kangaroo" kick specialty.^[3]

Variations

Baseball slide

The wrestler runs and slides feet first at the opponent, kicking them with both feet, like a baseball player sliding into a base. It is usually performed by a wrestler in the ring sliding to kick the upper torso or head of a wrestler standing outside and beside the ring. A variation involves sliding to kick the head of an opponent hung upside-down from the turnbuckles.

In defensive terms, a baseball slide can be used to counter an Irish whip, as the whipped wrestler slides before they hit the ropes. It can also be used to slide under an opponent, usually as a technique to avoid an attempted kick.

Corner dropkick

The wrestler sets up the opponent, usually seated at a corner turnbuckle and hits him with a dropkick. The most common variation of this is a rope-aided version, where the wrestler uses the ring ropes to elevate his body, connecting with a dropkick to the opponent's chest upon landing. This move is used as a finisher by British wrestler Gentleman Jack Gallagher

Dropsault

Also known as a backflip dropkick, a dropsault is an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with both feet and then executes a backflip, landing on the mat chest-first. Sometimes this move can see the wrestler land chest-first on another opponent. Many wrestlers perform this move with great care, as any slight twist in their body can injure them. This move was popularized by Paul London during his tenure in the WWE.

Front dropkick

A front dropkick, or flying dropkick, is an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks forward so that they hit the opponent with the soles of both feet, without twisting like a normal dropkick. This enables the wrestler to fall backwards to the mat, landing on their upper back and shoulder area. This is often used to attack lower parts of the opponent than the normal dropkick.

Another variation is the running high impact front dropkick, the attacker charges from one corner to an opponent standing in the middle of the ring, catapulting the opponent into the corner. This was popularized in Japan by Takahiro Suwa and Yasushi Kanda, before Finn Bálor made it famous in America.^[6]

Low dropkick

This variant sees the wrestler setting up in front of a bent over opponent, or running to the ropes and applying the traditional dropkick in a side or front position.
This move is also used when an opponent is sitting or kneeling on the ground so that the feet will connect with the opponent's head.

Missile dropkick

Marty Scurll performs a missile dropkick.

Also known as a diving dropkick, a missile dropkick is an attack where the wrestler jumps off the top turnbuckle and executes the dropkick on a standing opponent.

Corner-to-corner missile dropkick

In this variant, the attacking wrestler first sets up the opponent such that he is near one corner (or side) of the ring in a seated position, before himself proceeding to the opposite diagonal corner (or side) and ascending to the top or second rope. From this position the wrestler leaps at his opponent and performs a front dropkick. Often a wrestler performing this maneuver will place a chair or other foreign object in front of the opponent's head, wedging the chair between the middle and bottom ropes such that it is relatively steady, and causing it to be driven into the opponent's face or head upon impact. This move was innovated by Rob Van Dam who named it a "Van-Terminator" and later popularized by Shane McMahon, who renamed this move Coast to Coast. The move is also damaging to the person performing the move, as Shane McMahon had hit the back of his head after landing the drop kick upon landing due to the force recoil.

Running single leg dropkick

In this dropkick an attacking wrestler runs towards an opponent and jumps up sideways striking an opponent's head or chin with the sole of their highest foot, with similar execution as a big boot. A front dropkick variation, in which the attacking wrestler doesn't twist like in a normal dropkick, is also possible. Former NXT Champion Drew McIntyre uses this as a finisher and calls it the Claymore.

Somersault dropkick

In this variation the wrestler executes a front flip while running or standing. He extends both his legs simultaneously as in a front dropkick and hits his opponent in the head or chest. An avalanche or springboard version is also possible.

Springboard dropkick

In this variation, the wrestler jumps onto the ring ropes from either the ring apron or from inside the ring, jumps towards their opponent, and extends their legs to hit them in the head or chest with the soles of their feet.

Standing dropkick

Shawn Spears executing a standing dropkick on Pepper Parks.

In this variation the wrestler executes a traditional dropkick but twisting his/her body while applying it in a standing position, this variation was popularized and perfected by the likes of Hardcore Holly and Kazuchika Okada.
There is also another variation where the attacker holds on to their opponent by the head with one hand while dropkicking them, this variation was innovated by David Von Erich and popularized by Curt Hennig.

See also

• Double-team dropkicks


• Professional wrestling attacks


• Professional wrestling aerial techniques

Footnotes

References

• 
  The Professional Wrestlers' Workout & Instructional Guide - Harley Race, Ricky Steamboat, Les Thatcher, and Alex Marvez pg. 66