Shooting star press

A Shooting Star Press is a professional wrestling aerial technique invented by Japanese professional wrestler Jushin Liger after seeing a similar move performed in the manga show Fist of the North Star.

Related Topics:
Professional wrestling aerial technique - Japan - Professional wrestler - Jushin Liger - Manga - Fist of the North Star

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In a standard shooting star press, the attacker jumps forward from an elevated position, executes a backflip in mid-air, and lands on the opponent in the splash/press position. In kayfabe, the move is considered a more impactful version of a splash, since the attacker utilizes rotational speed, as if he were a circular saw.

Related Topics:
Kayfabe - Splash - Circular saw

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The shooting star press is considered a very dangerous maneuver both to execute and to receive. If the attacker is unable to completely rotate, or if he lands incorrectly on the opponent, then there can be a serious injury. For example, Billy Kidman (who called the move Seven Year Itch in WCW) caused a serious injury to Chavo Guerrero Jr. on WWE SmackDown! when Kidman's knee impacted Guerrero's head, forcing it hard against the mat. Guerrero lost consciousness for several minutes.

Related Topics:
Billy Kidman - WCW - Chavo Guerrero Jr. - WWE SmackDown!

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Brock Lesnar is another wrestler who was involved in a memorable incident that involved the shooting star press. Lesnar's first usage of the move in WWE was in the main event of WrestleMania XIX. His opponent, Kurt Angle, lay across the ring, and so Lesnar climbed the turnbuckle and attempted the maneuver. Lesnar was tired, however, and so he failed to complete the rotation, resulting in his landing on his head instead of on Angle. (Lesnar was not seriously hurt, though, and still won the match.) The slang term 'to Brock' originates from this incident, and refers to botching the biggest move of the biggest match.

Related Topics:
Brock Lesnar - WWE - WrestleMania XIX - Kurt Angle - Slang term - Brock - Botching

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As a result of injuries like these promotions ban the use of the maneuver. World Wrestling Entertainment only recently banned the use of the move, leaving long-time user, Paul London, notably upset, and without a finisher.

Related Topics:
Paul London - Finisher

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