5 World-Famous Wrestling Moves Created Entirely By Accident

The Powerbomb, the go-to maneuver for every wrestler striving to demonstrate strength in the ring, was created by accident, as legendary wrestler Lou Thesz attempted a Piledriver. 

Thesz lifted Antonino Rocca up by the waist, but Rocca didn’t position his head for the Piledriver to be executed properly, and so a tired Thesz dropped Rocca down to the mat unceremoniously. Rocca landed on his back with his legs up, which became the earliest interpretation of the maneuver now known as the Powerbomb.

To this day, the Powerbomb, in its many variations, carries a considerable degree of risk. Even though the move is executed with more cooperation between both wrestlers, it requires considerable practice and precision to execute the move safely. 

The wrestler taking the move has to be cinched properly as to not fall down and land on their heads, and the landing must be done in such a way as to not cause serious damage to the victim’s back and spine.

Of course, even the regular Powerbomb has several ridiculous versions to it that amplify the risk factor even further. The Thunder Fire Powerbomb is a modified Crucifix Powerbomb that targets the upper shoulders and neck, which can easily lead to serious damage. The Orange Crush is a Powerbomb landing done out of a vertical Suplex, which requires perfect timing and skill. Then there’s the running Powerbomb, which, in Droz’s case, led to instantaneous paralysis.

So while Thesz invented an awesome move by accident, he also opened the door to even crazier interpretations of that move afterwards.