Every WWE superstar knows that one wrong move can turn you from hero to highlight reel for all the wrong reasons. These 12 moves might look awesome on paper, but they’re an invitation to get destroyed in the ring.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just getting started, avoiding these mistakes could save your career – or at least your dignity.
1. Going for a Top Rope Move When Your Opponent’s Too Far Away
How often have we watched someone like Rey Mysterio or Seth Rollins take flight, only to eat canvas because their opponent had enough time to make a sandwich, do their taxes, and still roll away? The crowd always sees it coming, and yet wrestlers keep trying.
Just ask Rob Van Dam – he’s spent half his career learning this lesson the hard way. Even Jeff Hardy, the master of high-flying moves, has fallen victim to this classic blunder.
There is nothing like watching a perfectly executed Swanton Bomb hit nothing but a mat while your opponent casually rolls to safety.
2. The Classic Turnbuckle Charge
You would think after decades of wrestling, someone would have posted a warning sign on those turnbuckles: “Your opponent WILL move.” Yet here we are, watching superstar after superstar running full steam ahead into nothing but pain.
Remember when Roman Reigns would do this during his early days? Yeah, that didn’t work out great for the Big Dog either. The only thing worse than hitting the turnbuckle is the look of “I should have seen that coming” on your face while the crowd collectively facepalms.
3. Multiple Irish Whip Rebounds
Sure, it looked cool when The Ultimate Warrior did it, but trying to bounce your opponent off the ropes more than once is begging them to counter with a dropkick, clothesline, or whatever finishing move they have been dying to hit.
It is like giving them a written invitation to destroy you. The success rate drops dramatically with each bounce, and by the third one, you might as well lie down and save everyone some time. Dolph Ziggler has made an entire career out of catching people in this trap.
4. The Super Slow Climb
Nothing screams “Please push me off” quite like taking 45 years to climb a ladder during a title match. Every time Big Show attempted this, the entire arena aged collectively.
Pro tip: If you can hear the crowd counting how long you are taking, you are doing it wrong.
It’s even worse in Money in the Bank matches, where six other superstars are just waiting for their moment to tip over the ladder. Kane once took so long climbing that the audience had time to order and finish their concessions before he reached the top.
5. Attempting a Submission Hold on The Big Show
Let’s be real – unless you’re Brock Lesnar or maybe André the Giant’s ghost, trying to submit someone three times your size is just asking for trouble.
How many times have we watched wrestlers try to lock in an armbar on Big Show, only to end up being used as a human javelin? Daniel Bryan might have made the Yes Lock work on everyone else, but watching him try it on Giants was like seeing a chihuahua trying to take down an elephant.
Spoiler alert: The elephant usually wins.
6. The Mid-Match Taunt
Dear every wrestler ever: Those three seconds you spend doing DX chops or asking “Can you smell what the Rock is cooking?” are three seconds your opponent can use to plan your doom.
Just ask The Rock himself – for every successful “People’s Elbow” setup, there were plenty of times when showing off led to showing up in the trainer’s room. Randy Orton’s made a living out of punishing showboats with RKOs.
The only thing worse than getting caught showing off is watching the replay in slow motion while Michael Cole reminds everyone about your poor life choices.
7. Arguing With the Referee
Here’s a shocking revelation – while you’re telling the ref how wrong they are about that two-count, your opponent is probably behind you, warming up their finisher.
The number of matches that ended because someone just had to prove their point to the official is too high to count. Even legends like Shawn Michaels have fallen into this trap.
And let’s be honest, has anyone in the history of wrestling ever convinced a referee to change their mind? The answer is no, but that doesn’t stop everyone from trying.
8. The “Come On!” Gesture
Standing there slapping your chest and daring someone to hit you? Congratulations, you’ve just volunteered to star in their highlight reel. Just ask John Cena how many times his open challenges turned into impromptu nap times.
This move is especially dangerous against someone like Brock Lesnar, who takes every chest slap as a personal invitation to send you to Suplex City. The only thing you’re inviting is pain and lots of it.
9. Going for a Pin After a Regular Move
If Randy Orton’s regular DDT hasn’t finished a match since 2004, why do wrestlers keep trying to pin after basic moves?
It’s like trying to win the lottery with a ticket from last week’s drawing – it’s not happening, and you’re just wasting everyone’s time. Even more baffling is when someone tries to pin after a bodyslam in the first two minutes of a match.
The only thing you’re accomplishing is giving your opponent a nice rest break.
10. The Premature Victory Celebration
Nothing says “Please hit me with your finisher” quite like celebrating before the match is over. Edge made an entire career out of capitalizing on overconfident opponents who thought they had the match won.
The number of championships that have changed hands because someone decided to pose for the crowd instead of finishing the job is staggering. Just ask Triple H about his match with Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania XII – actually, on second thought, don’t bring that up.
11. Attempting a Hurricane-Style Chokeslam Counter
Unless your name is Rey Mysterio or you’ve somehow acquired superhuman strength overnight, trying to chokeslam someone twice your size is volunteering for a powerbomb.
The success rate of this move is somewhere between “never” and “nice try, buddy.” The Hurricane might have made it look possible, but for everyone else, it’s just a fast track to getting your spine readjusted the hard way.
12. The Long-Distance Spear
Edge and Roman Reigns can pull off a spear from across the ring because they’ve mastered it. For everyone else, charging from too far away is like sending a telegram announcing “I’m about to try something stupid – please counter it.”
The longer the run-up, the more time your opponent has to think “Nope!” It’s especially embarrassing when they simply sidestep and you crash through the ropes into the timekeeper’s area.
Just ask Goldberg about his infamous encounter with the ring post at WrestleMania XX.
Saving Your Career (And Your Pride)
Remember folks, wrestling isn’t rocket science – it’s harder because rockets don’t actively try to counter your moves.
Next time you’re in the ring (or more likely, playing WWE 2K24), maybe think twice before attempting any of these career-shortening choices. Your virtual chiropractor will thank you, and so will your win-loss record.
