10 MMA Maneuvers Wrestlers Should Use More Often
8. 12-6 Elbows
On the list of banned MMA moves used in professional wrestling are the 12-6 Elbows.
Know as "12 to 6" Elbows or Downward Elbow Strikes, the concept is to strike an opponent with your elbows by turning them from the 12 o'clock position to 6, referencing a clock face. When applied to the back of the head, 12-6 Elbows can cause serious injury to an opponent, which is why they are banned. Some fighters argue it's nearly impossible to defend against the elbow strikes, such as Matt Hamill, who won against Jon Jones via DQ when the elbows were thrown.
Although not quite in the 6 o'clock position, Brock Lesnar applied some brutal elbow shots to Randy Orton and Roman Reigns that left the WWE Universe aghast. The former instance, turned stomachs as blood gushed out from 'The Viper's' head.
Many went online to speculate 'The Beast Incarnate' went off script during the match. That's how powerful some sharp elbows can be. With Lesnar seemingly in the past, it could be time for a heel to make good use of such strikes (hopefully more padded than 'The Beast's). And why not keep them illegal in the likes of WWE? It could become today's closed right fist. Heels need rules to break. That's what makes them the bad guys, after all.