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Randy Orton performing an inverted headlock backbreaker on Sheamus at a WWE house show.

A backbreaker refers to professional wrestling moves which see a wrestler dropping an opponent so that the opponent's back impacts or is bent backwards against a part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee.^[1] The standard version of the move sees the wrestling scoop their opponent horizontally before dropping to one knee, slamming the opponent's back on their other knee.

Variations[link]

Argentine backbreaker rack[link]

This backbreaker submission, better known as a Torture Rack and simply known as a backbreaker rack, sees the attacking wrestler place his/her opponent face-up across the wrestler's own shoulders before hooking the head with one hand and a leg with the other to then pull down on both ends to flex the opponent's back.

The Argentine backbreaker drop variation of this submission move sees the attacking wrestler first hold an opponent up for the Argentine backbreaker rack before dropping to the mat in a sitting or kneeling position, thus flexing the opponent's back with the impact of the drop. Another version sees the wrestler hold their opponent in the Argentine backbreaker rack before dropping into a sitting or kneeling position while simultaneously throwing the opponent off their shoulders, causing the opponent to roll in midair and fall to the mat in a facing down.

A variation of the Argentine backbreaker rack, known as La Reienera, sees the opponent held across the wrestler's back rather than his shoulders/neck. Often set up by a tilt-a-whirl, the opponent ends up suspended with one arm hooked behind him and both legs hooked by the wrestler's other arm.

Backbreaker drop[link]

A backbreaker move in which a wrestler lifts an opponent up into a backbreaker submission hold before dropping down to a sitting or kneeling position while maintaining the hold, thus jarring the back of the opponent by driving the opponent's spine into the attacking wrestler's shoulder.

Another variation is the double underhook backbreaker drop which sees the attacking wrestler first face a bent over opponent and hook both of the opponent's arms with their own arms before then flipping the opponent up and over so the opponent's back is resting on the wrestler's shoulder, with the opponent's head pointing in the direction that the wrestler is facing. The attacking wrestler then drops to a kneeling or sitting position while maintaining the hold, thus jarring the back of the victim by driving the victim's spine into the attacker's shoulder.

Belly to back suplex backbreaker[link]

The wrestler stands behind his opponent and puts his head under the arm of the opponent, as for a belly-to-back suplex, but raises a knee, and brings the opponent back down, so that the opponent's back collides with the knee of the wrestler.

Canadian backbreaker rack[link]

Also known technically as the overhead gutwrench backbreaker rack, this sees an attacking wrestler first lifts an opponent up so the opponent's back is resting on the wrestler's shoulder, with the opponent's head pointing in the direction that the wrestler is facing. While being held face up across the wrestler's shoulder, the wrestler then links his/her arms around the opponent's torso and presses down, squeezing the opponent's spine against the wrestler's shoulder.

Catapult backbreaker[link]

The Catapult throw typically starts with an opponent on his/her back, and the attacking wrestler standing and facing him/her. The wrestler hooks each of the opponent's legs in one of his/her arms then falls backwards to slingshot the opponent into a turnbuckles, ladders, ropes etc. At this point the attacking wrestler will remain on the ground and raise his knees while still holding the opponent's legs. The rebounding opponent will instantly trip falling backwards onto the raised knees of the wrestler. Another method is that the wrestler performs a catapult and raises the knees prematurely so that the wrestler is draped over the knees without an actual launch.

Chokeslam backbreaker[link]

The wrestler performing the move stands in front of and slightly to the left of the opponent receiving it. The wrestler then reaches out and grabs the opponent's throat and trunks, and lifts him or her in the air as though the wrestler is about to deliver a chokeslam. However, as the wrestler brings the opponent back down to the mat the wrestler kneels, slamming the other wrestler's back onto his extended knee. This move is popularly known as a chokebreaker, which is a portmanteau of this move's technical name.

Cobra clutch backbreaker[link]

This move involves an attacking wrestler first putting an opponent in a cobra clutch hold before then lifting the opponent up while maintaining the hold (turning them in mid-air so they are horizontal) and bringing them down while the wrestler drops to a knee so that the opponent impacts back-first on the knee of the attacking wrestler. All while the wrestler continues to maintain the hold. The attacking wrestler can maintain the hold after impact for a cobra clutch submission attempt.

Double underhook backbreaker[link]

An attacking wrestler stands facing a bent over opponent and hooks his/her arms. He then lifts the opponent for a Tiger Driver. However, as the opponents drops the wrestler back down, he raises a knee and brings the opponent back down horizontally so his/her back collides with the knee of the attacking wrestler.

Double knee backbreaker[link]

Jetta using her strangehold double knee backbreaker (left) and transitioning it into a mounted strangehold (right).

Also known as a lung blower, backstabber or backcracker, this technique involves an attacking wrestler going behind an opponent and putting both of their hands round an opponent's head for a rear chin lock or on both of the opponent's shoulders while jumping up to place both his/her knees against the opponent's back; both wrestlers then fall backward to the ground, forcing the wrestler's knees to push up into the back of the opponent.

Fireman's carry backbreaker[link]

The attacker lifts the opponent on his shoulders into a fireman's carry then flips the opponent over wth the opponent's back landing on the wrestler's head.

Full nelson double knee backbreaker[link]

To perform this move the wrestler must lock his opponent with a full nelson, turn his hands around, hold the arms, and put his knee onto the back of his opponent.

Hair-pull backbreaker[link]

This move is performed behind the opponent, the wrestler grabs his/her opponent by the hair and pulls them back, so the opponent's back lands on the wrestler's knee. Another variation of this move is the wrestler faces the opponent, grabs them by the hair and twists round so the wrestler and opponent are back to back, and then the wrestler pulls the opponent's hair down, driving their back into the wrestler's knee.

Inverted facelock backbreaker[link]

The attacking wrestler appplies an inverted facelock then sticks his leg out to take them down with the opponent's back landing on the attacker's leg.

Inverted headlock backbreaker[link]

The attacking wrestler stands back to back to the opponent and places one arm around the opponent's neck, twists 270 degrees while bending forward, before dropping to their knees.

Inverted three-quarter facelock backbreaker[link]

Can be also known as an inverted three-quarter facelock neckbreaker or more commonly known as neckbreaker (slam) backbreaker. The wrestler stands beside the opponent facing his either sides, catches the opponent's neck from behind with both his hands (as seen primarily before falling into a neckbreaker slam), and then forces the opponent's neck down and simultaneously extending a knee so he lands his opponent's back into the knee.

Mat backbreaker[link]

The attacking wrestler stands behind an opponent, grabbing them by their head or hair to seemingly perform a standard mat slam. However, as the wrestler pulls the opponent backwards down to the mat, the wrestler kneels down, driving the opponent's back into the wrestler's exposed knee. If the wrestler uses the opponent's hair to pull them back onto the wrestler's exposed knee it is known as a hair pull backbreaker.

Pendulum backbreaker[link]

This basic backbreaker involves a wrestler standing side-to-side and slightly behind, with the opponent facing in the same direction, then reaching around the opponent's torso with one arm across the opponent's chest and under both arms and places the other arm under the opponent's legs. The wrestler then lifts the opponent up, bringing his/her legs off the ground, and dropping him/her back-first against the wrestler's knee. The pendulum backbreaker can also be done by spinning around and then dropping the opponent onto the knee.

Backbreaker submission[link]

This basic backbreaker submission involves the wrestler to lay his opponent's back across one of his knees, then while placing one hand on his opponent's chin and the other on their knee the wrestler would push down to bend the opponent around his/her knee. This move is usually performed at the end of a pendulum backbreaker, a move which sees a wrestler drop an opponent down on the wrestler's knee, thus weakening the back before the hold is applied, as well as setting the opponent in a proper position.

Russian legsweep backbreaker[link]

This backbreaker variation sees the wrestler standing beside the opponent and slightly behind him. Then, he wraps his arm around the opponent's back-neck, and then from the point he catches the opponent's neck, he forces the opponent down in a Russian legsweep style and simultaneously extends a knee. The maneuver results in the opponent's neck or back to be slammed against the wrestler's knee.

Side slam backbreaker[link]

The wrestler first stands side-to-side and slightly behind with the opponent, facing in the opposite direction before next reaching around the opponent's torso with one arm across the opponent's chest and under both arms, lifting him or her in the air as though the wrestler is about to deliver a side slam. However, as the wrestler brings the opponent back down to the mat the attacking wrestler kneels, slamming the opponent's back across his/her extended knee.

A swinging side slam variation sees the attacking wrestler first scoop the opponent horizontally across their chest before swinging them to their side and dropping the opponent back first on their knee. A spinning side slam variation sees the attacking wrestler catch an oncoming opponent and spin them around 180° before dropping them back first onto their knee.

Full nelson backbreaker[link]

The attacking wrestler stands behind the opponent and locks him/her in a full nelson before then lifting the opponent, as if to perform a full nelson slam, but as the wrestler drops down the opponent, he exposes a knee, slamming the opponent back-first against the exposed knee.

Half nelson backbreaker[link]

The attacking wrestler stands behind the opponent and locks in a half nelson before then lifting the opponent, as if to perform a half nelson slam, but as the wrestler brings the opponent down to the mat he/she drops to one knee slamming the opponent's back across the extended knee.

STO backbreaker[link]

The attacking wrestler stands facing the opponent, then puts one of their arms across the opponents chest holding their shoulder, the attacking wrestler then sweeps the legs of the opponent in the fashion of an STO, but brings their knee forward so the opponent falls back first on to it. There is also an arm trap version that sees an attacking wrestler take hold of an arm of an opponent and then move to a slightly front to back position, so that the opponent's arm hooks across and round the opponent's own head. At this point, the attacking wrestler kneels forward to the ground, forcing the opponent's own arm to drag them to the attacker's exposed knee.

Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker[link]

The attacking wrestler stands facing the opponent, who is often charging at the attacker, before bending the opponent down so they are bent in front of the attacking wrestler as he/she stands over them then the wrestler reaches around the opponent's body and lifts them up, spinning the opponent in front of the wrestler's body. As the wrestler brings the opponent back down to the mat the wrestler kneels, slamming the opponent's back across the extended knee. In Lucha Libre, it is known as the Quebradora Con Giro.

Powerbomb backbreaker[link]

Often called a Powerbreaker, the attacking wrestler lifts the opponent up into a powerbomb position then as the attacking wrestler brings the opponent down the wrestler falls backward lifting their knees up with the opponents knees going into the back.

See also[link]

• Professional wrestling holds
• Professional wrestling throws

References[link]

Ray Rice

Ray Rice at the Ravens' 2009 Training Camp.
No. 27     Baltimore Ravens
Running back
Personal information
Date of birth: (1987-01-22) January 22, 1987 (age 25)
Place of birth: New Rochelle, New York
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Weight: 212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
College: Rutgers
NFL Draft: 2008 / Round: 2 / Pick: 55
Debuted in 2008 for the Baltimore Ravens
Career history
Baltimore Ravens (2008–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
2× Pro Bowl (2009, 2011) 2× All-Pro (2009, 2011) 2007 All-American (Rivals) 2× First-team All-Big East (2006, 2007) Doak Walker Award finalist (2007) 2× Maxwell Award finalist (2006, 2007) Sporting News Freshman All-American (2005)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2011
Rushing yards 4,377 Rushing average 4.6 Rushing touchdowns 24 Receiving yards 2,235 Receiving touchdowns 5 Stats at NFL.com

Raymell Maurice Rice (born January 22, 1987 in New Rochelle, New York) is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Rutgers. At the end of the 2011 season he was ranked as the Baltimore Ravens second all-time rusher in yards (4377), and attempts (959). He is ranked third all-time for touchdowns (24).

Early years[link]

Rice has had to deal with tragedy and adversity from a young age. When Rice was only a year old, his father was killed in a drive-by shooting.^[1] Ray's cousin helped to raise him before dying in a car accident in 1998 due to a drunk driver. Ray's mother Janet raised her four children with only one income from her job as a special education teacher.^[2]

Rice was the primary running back at New Rochelle High School, playing alongside future Rutgers teammates Courtney Greene and Glen Lee. His sophomore and junior seasons saw him take the primary duties, but he became the feature back in his senior year.

In his junior year, he helped lead NRHS to a New York state championship, and he took the team to the finals his senior year, playing against future Duke point guard and Syracuse quarterback Greg Paulus in the state championship game, in which Christian Brothers Academy (DeWitt, New York) defeated New Rochelle High School.^[3]

College career[link]

Before attending Rutgers, Rice had initially committed to Syracuse University; he switched his commitment to the Scarlet Knights following the firing of Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni in 2005.

Rice attended Rutgers. In 2005 (Rice's freshman year), Rutgers had its first winning season in 14 years and played in only the second bowl in the football program's then 136 year history. In 2006, the Scarlet Knights won a school record-tying 11 games and registered the school's highest ever season-ending national poll ranking, finishing at #12 in both the Associated Press and Coach's Polls.

As a true freshman Rice finished the season as the starting tailback for Rutgers. Rice rushed for 1120 yards and 5 TDs during his freshman campaign, including a 217-yard performance against the University of Connecticut.

Rice gained 1,794 rushing yards in 2006 with 20 touchdowns. His total in 2006 set Rutgers' single-season rushing yardage record, shattering J. J. Jennings' mark of 1,353 set in 1973. Rice's backfield partner during his freshman and sophomore seasons was fullback Brian Leonard. Leonard considered entering the NFL Draft in 2006 but stayed for his senior year and took on a less prominent role in the offense which aided Rice's rise to stardom.^[4] Rice was also a finalist for the Maxwell Award and finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting. Rice was named Big East offensive player of the week a school-record three times in 2006. All three times, Rice rushed for over 200 yards, including a career high 225 yard game against the Pittsburgh Panthers. Rice ended his sophomore season with 170 yards on 24 carries with 1 touchdown during the inaugural Texas Bowl to give Rutgers its first bowl victory ever in a 37-10 win. He was named MVP of the game.^[5]

Rice was widely considered a candidate for both the Maxwell Award and Heisman Trophy in 2007. On October 6, 2007 against the Cincinnati Bearcats, Rice scored his 35th career rushing touchdown, setting the all time program record.On November 9, 2007 against the Army Black Knights, Rice ran for 243 yards and scored twice in the 41-6 win against Army, setting a new school record previously set by Terrell Willis in 1994, and his new single game record.^[6] On January 5, 2008, at the second annual International Bowl in Toronto, Rice ran for a new school record of 280 yards, along with 4 touchdowns as Rutgers beat Ball State University 52-30. One of the TD runs was the longest of his career—a 90-yard scamper. Rice won the MVP award for his performance. On January 8, 2008, Rice declared his intention to enter the 2008 NFL draft.^[7]

Professional career[link]

Baltimore Ravens[link]

Rice was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round (55th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft and signed a 4-year deal with the Ravens worth $2.805 million plus a $1.1 million signing bonus. He wore number #39 during the preseason then switched to #27 (his number at Rutgers), after the Ravens cut cornerback Ronnie Prude.

2008 season[link]

Rice made his first start in his first NFL game (Week 1 of the 2008 season against the Bengals). Rice had a team-high 22 carries which was good for 64 yards, fumbling once. Rice also had three receptions for 19 yards, in the Ravens 17–10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Rice had his best game of the season in Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns where he ran for 154 yards on 21 carries. Rice finished out the season with 454 rushing yards on 107 carries and had 273 receiving yards on 33 receptions.

2009 season[link]

It was announced during training camp that Rice won the starting running back job over Willis McGahee for the 2009 NFL season, and that Le'Ron McClain would be switching back to full time fullback duties.

In the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, Rice rushed for 108-yards on 19 carries, which was his second career 100-yard rushing game.

In week 3, Rice rushed for his first pro touchdown against the Cleveland Browns. On October 11, 2009, he caught his first touchdown reception against the Cincinnati Bengals. On October 18, 2009, (Week 6) Rice led his team in both rushing and receiving yards against the Minnesota Vikings. He rushed for 77-yards off 10 carries, scoring 2 touchdowns. He also caught 10 passes for 117-yards. In week 14, Rice had career-bests 166 rushing yards and 216 total yards, scoring one touchdown. In week 16 at the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rice rushed for a career-high 30 times for 141 yards, which broke the Steelers streak of 32 consecutive games without a 100-yard rusher.

He finished the season with 254 carries for 1,339 yards and 7 touchdowns, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.

Rice was selected to the 2010 Pro Bowl, his first, on December 29, 2009.

In the wildcard playoff game against the New England Patriots on January 10, 2010, Rice scored an 83-yard touchdown on the first offensive play for the Ravens, the longest play for the Ravens that season, the longest rush of his NFL career and the 2nd longest rush in NFL postseason history.^[8]

2010 season[link]

On December 20, 2010, against the New Orleans Saints, Rice amassed a career-best 233 yards from scrimmage (153 rushing and 80 receiving) to go along with two touchdowns. The 233 yards are also the third most in Ravens franchise history.^[9] For his efforts, Rice was awarded his first AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. On January 9, 2011, in the Wild Card round of the playoffs against the Kansas City Chiefs, Rice became the first Ravens RB to have a receiving touchdown in a playoff game. Ray Rice finished the 2010 season with 1,220 total rushing yards, and 556 total receiving yards. This was his second straight season to amass 1000 rushing yards.

2011 season[link]

The 2011 season has started off well for Rice. In week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers Rice gained 107 yards rushing and 1 touchdown, while making 4 receptions for 42 yards and 1 touchdown. The Ravens would win that game 35 to 7. This performance was only the second time a running back had gained more than 100 rushing yards against the Steelers defense since the 2009 season, both belonging to Rice. In week 10 he threw his first career passing touchdown. It was a 1 yard completion to tight end Ed Dickson in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks. In week 13 of the 2011 NFL season Rice ran for 204 yards on the Browns including a 68 yard run and 1 touchdown. Ray Rice has had four games so far in the season where he has rushed for more than 100 yards, and has over 1000 yards rushing for a third straight season. He is currently second in the NFL in rushing yards, and second in total scrimmage yards. For his actions against the Browns Rice won AFC Offensive Player Of The Week. For his performance, Rice was also tabbed as the new cover athlete for the NFL Blitz video game by EA Sports available on XBLA and PSN. In the following game, Rice ran for 103 yards on 26 carries and averaged almost 4 yards per carry while scoring a touchdown and a losing fumble in the win against the Indianapolis Colts. Rice finished the season with 1364 yards off 291 attempts averaging 4.7 yards a carry. He also had 12 TDs. He was 2nd in the league in total rush yards and finished 1st in total yards from scrimmage. Rice had 704 receiving yards off 76 catches averaging 9.3 yards a reception. Rice was selected to his second Pro-Bowl in 2011.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ray Rice

• Baltimore Ravens bio