There are many variations, including the following.
Dropsault Also known as a backflip dropkick or a moonsault dropkick, a dropsault is an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with both feet and then executes a backflip, landing on the mat chest-first. This move was popularized by
Paul London during his tenure in the WWE. This move has also be used to attack both a standing opponent as well as an already
supine opponent.
Front dropkick Popularized by
Jumping Joe Savoldi and
Abe Coleman, the front dropkick involves the wrestler jumping kicking forward so that they hit the opponent with the soles of both feet. This enables the wrestler to fall backwards to the mat, landing on their upper back and shoulder area. This is often used to attack lower parts of the opponent than the modern dropkick. Another variation, known as a shotgun dropkick, sees the wrestler charge from one corner to an opponent standing in the middle of the ring and dropkicking them with such force that it catapults the opponent into the corner. This was popularized in Japan by
Takahiro Suwa and
Yasushi Kanda before
Finn Bálor made it famous in America.
Missile dropkick performs a missile dropkick. A missile dropkick involves the wrestler jumping off the second or top turnbuckle and performing the dropkick on a standing opponent.
Running single leg dropkick In this dropkick an attacking wrestler runs towards an opponent and jumps up sideways striking an opponent's head or chin with the sole of their highest foot, with similar execution as a
big boot. A front dropkick variation, in which the attacking wrestler does not twist like in a normal dropkick, is also possible.
Drew McIntyre uses this as a finisher and calls it the
Claymore.
Swerve Strickland also uses this as his finisher called the
House Call.
Standing dropkick executing a standing dropkick on
Pepper Parks. In this variation, the wrestler executes a traditional dropkick, but twists their body while performing it in a standing position. There is also a slight variation where the attacker holds on to their opponent by the head with one hand while dropkicking them. This variation was innovated by
David Von Erich and popularized by
Curt Hennig. == See also ==