10 Hidden Meanings Behind Wrestling Moves

6. Mafia Kick - Uncool Localisation; OR, The NXT UK Of Finisher Names

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NJPW

The Cosa Nostra tend to favour a volley of machine gun fire rather than uncouthly booting foes of the family in the face, but it's an entirely different story within a wrestling ring.

The Mafia Kick looks like it could be used to punt an informant with concrete in their shoes off a bridge, though this vague speculation isn't the reason for its name. It's actually just a localised version of Masa Chono's Yakuza Kick, a move he adopted during his mid-'90s heel transformation which saw him take on organised crime aesthetics such as rad sunglasses and an evil trench coat.

It's not known whether a quick foot to the swede is a common technique employed by Japan's crime gangs, but it definitely is by the Yakuza-styled Chono. Presumably, the move has a different name in other parts of the world; the Cartel Kick has a nice ring to it.

 
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Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.