10 Surprising Origins Of Your Favourite Wrestling Moves
6. Powerbomb: Lou Thesz (By Accident)
The Powerbomb is one of the most versatile and long-lasting moves in all of pro wrestling. Its appeal is due to a combination of the way the move favours momentum over pure strength (although strength helps) and the fact that it looks downright painful.
The man credited with inventing the Powerbomb is Lou Thesz, who might as well be the Thomas Edison of pro wrestling: he also gave us the STF and the Lou Thesz Press (that last one probably won't come as a surprise to anyone.)
Like the diving headbutt, the Powerbomb was created by accident rather than by design. During a bout with Antonino Rocca, Thesz accidentally dropped Rocca on the back of his head. Rather than be thrown off by the botch, Thesz refined the move and added it to his repertoire, creating the basis for hundreds of finishers for years to come.