Plancha. A springboard crossbody in which the wrestler jumps from the inside of the ring to the outside by going over the top ring rope. In lucha libre, this variation is known as a Pescado (Spanish for fish), because a true plancha is any type of crossbody. This variant was popularized by El Wrestlingo (The Wrestler).
There are two types of planschas: open and closed. With an open plancha, the crossbody strap is loose so it can be opened up and used as a step or platform when jumping off the ring ropes.
With a closed plancha, the crossbody bag is tied up so it cannot be opened and used as a stepping stone. Instead, the wrestler uses the belt as a step when performing the move.
The plancha is one of the most dangerous moves in professional wrestling because it can result in serious injury provided that the wrestler makes a mistake. For this reason, wrestlers rarely use them in competition.
The plancha is commonly employed by wrestlers to get away from their opponents, either by leaving the scene of the crime or by simply trying to put distance between themselves and their opponent(s).
Additionally, the plancha can also be used as a finisher, particularly in Lucha Libre where it is often applied after another dangerous move has been performed leading up to it.
A tope (from the original Spanish tope, meaning headbutt), like the plancha, is a move executed by jumping from the inside of the ring to the outside, but instead of going over the top rope, the tope is performed by leaping forward through the ropes in order to strike the opponent with the head. The term "tope" may also be used as a general term for any flying maneuver executed outside the ring.
In professional wrestling, wrestlers often use these moves to execute dramatic falls or to attempt to inflict pain on their opponents. For example, a wrestler might dive out of the ring and into the crowd to cause panic among the fans; later, when he reappears at ringside, he may have been attacked by an opposing wrestler who wanted to send a message to him that she was still alive and well.
These are just some of the many different maneuvers that can be done during a match. The main goal is for both wrestlers to score points by executing their favorite moves successfully. A match may last several minutes, with each competitor having a chance to score points during specified time periods known as rounds. These rounds usually end when either the time expires or one wrestler has enough points to win the round.
Some matches may include special rounds other than the normal first to 10, second to 7, etc. For example, there may be a handicap match where one wrestler is given a size advantage over his opponent.
When a wrestler behaves outside of his or her gimmick, this is referred to as "breaking kayfabe," a word derived from theatre, where the more frequent term "breaking the fourth wall" is used. When a wrestler interacts with the audience during a performance, they are breaking the fourth wall.
Some examples of wrestlers interacting with the audience include: talking directly to the camera (known as "directing") or other performers on stage (known as "talking trash"); giving away prizes; and asking fans questions that only they can answer (such as "who won the match?"). Some wrestlers may even use social media or live blogs to interact with their fans. However, some wrestlers may feel like doing so would take attention away from them or their character, which would break the illusion that they are just playing a role.
Wrestlers have done this for many reasons. Sometimes they will talk directly to the camera because they want to promote themselves or their merchandise; others do it to entertain the crowd or make them laugh. Some wrestlers may even do this when there's nothing else going on in their act to keep the show moving along.
There have been many famous cases of wrestlers breaking the fourth wall over the years including The Rock, John Cena, Dwayne Johnson, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and Vince McMahon.
Traditional wrestling Scholastic wrestling, sometimes known as "folkstyle wrestling" in the United States, is a type of amateur wrestling conducted at the high school and middle school levels. This wrestling technique is similar to NCAA wrestling but with a few differences. Most traditional wrestlers wear shorts and a t-shirt during practice and matches. Shoes are not allowed during practice or competition.
There is no specific weight class system in traditional wrestling. However, some schools have tried to implement one by using limits set by the state athletic association. These limits can be seen as guidelines only as most states allow for variation from class to class leading up to state competitions. For example, a 126-pounder might wrestle a 115-pounder in a match held at 95% of their body weight. The smaller wrestler would win if they made it to the end of the period without being pinned.
Traditional wrestling uses two 30-minute periods to determine a winner (although some states use three periods). At the beginning of each period, the referee will blow his whistle and start the clock. Wrestlers can score points by throwing their opponent on their back for four seconds, or by submitting (knocking out) their opponent. A tap or signal of some kind is usually used instead of actual submission moves during practice or competitive situations where there is a risk of injury. Traditional wrestling has many similarities to modern combat sports such as MMA and boxing.
A "flying lariat" variation of this technique features the wrestler looping the attacking arm over the opponent's neck. This causes the arm to snap back, throwing the opponent into the air and across his or her own body.
This is one of the most dangerous moves in professional wrestling because it can cause serious injury - or even death - if it connects correctly. However, if handled properly, it is very effective at both opening up new movesets for the wrestler and breaking down resistance from an opposing wrestler or jobber (non-wrestler role).
The flying lariat has been used extensively by Rey Mysterio throughout his career. It can be seen being performed on several occasions in this video clip from August 2000:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5_n4tZHJzM
Mysterio uses it to great effect against a background of strong opposition opinions about his style of wrestling!
The flying lariat is so named because the attacker swings the arm back behind their head before releasing it forward towards the target area. Due to how quickly it happens, it gives the impression that the opponent is lifted off the ground and thrown into another dimension.
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