Why I love the vertical suplex

[JerryvonKramer]

 

Introduction

 

While I was merely winding up Pete in the other thread, I do genuinely love suplexes. I like all the different varieties of suplex, but I hold a special regard for the vertical suplex.

 

It has been bothering me for a while that some people may regard my love for high spots as being a disregard for structure or storytelling; that, for all intents and purposes, I am a "spot monkey" fan. This is not the case. I want to write this post to clear it up once and for all. If it ever comes up on a show or whatever, I will point people back to this defense of the vertical suplex.

 

I also want to write this post as a way of showing how liking suplexes is not in any way shallow or superficial. There are more reasons for liking them than the fact that they "look cool". Most people who post here will know all this already -- most of it is obvious -- but sometimes that's all criticism is: pointing out the obvious.

 

Part 1: Vertical Suplex during heel control segment

 

As a storytelling device, the vertical suplex is actually doing quite a lot of work -- subtle and underappreciated work. When are we most likely to see a vertical suplex and who is doing the move? The most common occurrence of the vertical suplex is in the second portion of a match during the heel control sequence. In that context, here are some of the basic things it is suggesting:

 

- The heel is really in control of this match now and the babyface is taking some real punishment

- The heel is starting to bust out his big artillery and feels confident enough to do so

- The heel is a technically proficient wrestler who knows his shit

 

The net result of all of this is doing more than just the suplex itself ... it's the suggestion of the follow up. The heel has established that he's in control, that he's looking to take his offense to the next gear, and that he has a mastery of pro wrestling maneuvers ... so what is really enticing about this moment in a match is the prospect of what comes next. The vertical suplex is about as basic a high spot as they come. If the heel does typically two or three big moves in their control segment before the babyface starts coming back, then the suplex is likely to be the first one. It's a very exciting bit in a match. It is a move of potential.

 

Other suplexes don't have this quality. The gutwrench or the butterfly suplex, for example, are ends in themselves. The message is a bit different, these moves say "look at me I'm a fucking great wrestler, my A game is deep, and I'm dominating this match". In fact, if I was ever laying out a match, I'd suggest using one of these moves to be the follow up to the vertical suplex. These sorts of moves are, in fact, the sort of thing that the "potential" I'm talking about above is pointing to. To make an analogy: imagine turning the volume up on your stereo, the vertical suplex is the dial transitioning from 5 to about 7, the other suplex variations are 8 through 10 (where 10 is using the move as a finisher).

 

In addition to all of this, the vertical suplex during a heel control segment may also suggest:

 

- The heel is working on weakening the opponent's upper back / lower neck area

 

Part 2: Vertical suplex as transition to babyface comeback

 

The second most common occurrence we'll see of the vertical suplex is when it is done by the babyface as a counter. We've all seen this spot hundreds of times. The heel goes for a suplex and is blocked and the babyface hits it instead. Sometimes this is done when the heel is standing on the apron and attempts to suplex the babyface to the floor (almost never succeeds / is always countered, like the piledriver on the floor).

 

This occurrence of the vertical suplex is so common because it is arguably one of the two or three most effective transitional moves in pro wrestling. In one fell swoop you can see:

 

- Momentum has swung

- The babyface still has something left in the locker

- The heel might have showed us a lot of flash already, but don't write off the babyface's wrestling acumen! He also knows his shit. Aka "anything the heel can do, the babyface can do better (or at least just as well)".

 

Here is the real versatility of the move. You can't do this with many other suplex variations. The gutwrench and belly to back, for example, don't work like that -- the giver and taker of the move are in different positions so a counter is much more convoluted. This is also more effective as a transitional move than something like the babyface powering out of a piledriver and backdropping the heel. Why? You lose the visual "see saw" effect of the countered suplex and with it that "anything you can do" subtext. A backdrop is a "less impressive" move than the piledriver, whereas the countered suplex is parity embodied.

 

Part 3: Vertical suplex as transition to hot finish, or limitations of the vertical suplex

 

A final possible occurrence of the vertical suplex might come in a longer match that follows the matwork>strikes>throws structure. This structure was common in the 70s, during longer matches in the 80s and 90s, as well as in Japan. In this context, it is doing a different job again, simply:

 

- Signalling that the match is moving into its final chapter, the participants have tried technical wrestling and they've tried beating the shit out of each other, it's time to get the bombs out

 

I will concede that there are some better moves than the vertical suplex at achieving this. I think visually something like Jumbo Tsurta's backdrop suplex signals this transition more convincingly. In this hypothetical scenario in which I'm laying out matches, I'd advise against using the vertical suplex in this context. In a way, it is not quite "big" enough to say "fuck it, I've tried everything, now EAT THIS". It's much more about maintaining control (see part 1) or signalling loss of control (see part 2). It's not really a "big bomb" in itself, as such, but a demonstration of control through knowledge while teasing the tantilizing suggestion of further bombs.

 

Conclusion

 

The vertical suplex is a fundamental part of pro wrestling grammar. It has both hidden depths and real versatility. These qualities make it irreplaceable. It is not a "mere" high spot, but a move that achieves certain things that other moves can't. You can't just replace a vertical suplex in a match with a gutwrench suplex or a back suplex, for example, and expect it to be the same match, because it won't be. The move is saying much more than simply "I'm a big bomb", its main functions, in fact, are not saying that at all. You also can't replace the vertical suplex with a punch. The punch is an illegal move that should get you DQ'd (which says, "fuck wrestling and its rules, this is a fight!"), whereas the suplex is all about displaying wrestling finesse and suggesting that there's more of it to come. For all of these reasons, I love the vertical suplex.

[tim]

The gutwrench or the butterfly suplex, for example, are ends in themselves.

Funny that you mention these specifically. When I was young I always had in my mind a very specific hierarchy of suplexes and the level of damage that should do: Vertical > Butterfly > Gutwrench. The gutwrench is the easiest to lift a guy for, because you can get the most leverage out of the positioning, but you can't lift him quite as high. The butterfly gives you more a chance to hoist him up, while sacrificing some leverage; still, though, you have the arms to hold on to and pick him up with. The vertical though has to be thought of as the toughest lift. Not as much to grab onto and you have to hoist him straight up onto your shoulder -- at the same time, that's the move that gets him the highest and therefore should have the most impact coming down.

[jdw]

Part 3: Vertical suplex as transition to hot finish, or limitations of the vertical suplex

 

A final possible occurrence of the vertical suplex might come in a longer match that follows the matwork>strikes>throws structure. This structure was common in the 70s, during longer matches in the 80s and 90s, as well as in Japan.

Probably should chance that from "final possible occurrence" to "third most common that I can think of" to be consistent with the first two.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqyAmgz2QTs

 

You've got two of them in the Warrior Kicks The Living Shit Out Of Rude section of the match, which is the first six minutes. Neither is a transition/counter. They're just Warrior destroying Rude, and looking like he'd pitch a shutout until the distraction spot turned things around.

 

God I love that match...

 

John

[JerryvonKramer]

I'm not terribly interested in examples that don't fit the models I've outlined or having them pointed out. Yes, they are out there. Oh hum, so what?

 

I'm more interested in young tim's idea of the hierarchy of the suplexes. I guess the reason I see the gutwrench and butterfly as "bigger bombs" is because they look more impressive and appear harder to pull off. This has almost nothing to do with the actual impact or mechanics of how difficult these moves are to do in reality, and almost everything to do with perception. The vertical suplex is more common or "basic" a move than the other two in terms of how often we see it, and the sorts of situations we most often see it. Would you agree with that tim?

[jdw]

I'm not terribly interested in examples that don't fit the models I've outlined or having them pointed out. Yes, they are out there. Oh hum, so what?

Alrighty.

 

John

[ButchReedMark]

I saw the butterfly as the biggest one as it did the most damage of the three on WWF Warzone for the PS and Dave Taylor used it as a finish at the time. Simple thinking for a simple 12 year old.

[goodhelmet]

I don't even remember that move in the game. Why isn't the Northern Lights suplex in the discussion?

[Loss]

While we're on that subject, is there such a thing as a Northern Lights Bomb? Does it differ from a duplex?

[goodhelmet]

Well, yeah, the Northern lights bomb would destroy a duplex.

[goodhelmet]

Northern Lights Bomb...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynpWXL0xDys

[NintendoLogic]

The vertical suplex has always held a certain amount of mystique for me due to the Pro Wrestling game for the NES (the game called it a brainbuster because it was Japanese). It's the most powerful basic move in the game-so much so, in fact, that you couldn't even execute it unless your opponent was sufficiently worn down. I recall unleashing piledriver after piledriver until I heard the whistle signifying that my opponent was depleted, at which point it was brainbuster time.

 

You know, I've never understood why the Northern Lights Bomb was named such. It's not a powerbomb, it's a brainbuster. That is, a brainbuster brainbuster, not a vertical suplex brainbuster. Fuck, wrestling is confusing.

[ButchReedMark]

I've retired from bothering about the naming of moves du to dying of boredom after japanophile would go on about why a Uranage as called by US Commentators isn't a Uranage in the Japanese Language on the UKFF and I'm boring myself again just thinking about it.

 

Some people really suck the fun out of wrestling.

[Johnny Guitar]

I always thought the Gas Mask Suplex was cool looking, and brutal from a kayfabe point of view. As you would be able do some serious damage to the neck and jaw, before you flipped them over.

[goodhelmet]

Never heard of the gas mask suplex... that deserves a gif.

[cheapshot]

Slightly off topic, but I always loved Manami Toyota's Ocean Cyclone Suplex.

[Steven]

Never heard of the gas mask suplex... that deserves a gif.

Bob Holly of all people busted a few out before dropping it. Looks pretty cool.

 

http://youtu.be/GE_0Cr6_JWs?t=3m21s

[Sidebottom]

I liked Chris Jericho's Su-Flex. Best wrestling commentator call ever...

[Log]

Where does the delayed vertical suplex (a la Davey Boy) fit into all of this?

[JerryvonKramer]

The delayed vertical suplex elevates the vertical suplex -- which, recall, I said was about a 6 or a 7 intensity -- to a fully fledged high spot. It's arguably about a 9 or a 10 and can act as a finisher (see Race late 70s / early 80s). I think there's an argument to say that the delayed vertical suplex is the king of ALL suplexes. What other move creates a massive pause in the middle of a match? It's almost custom made for the camera to hover round and marvel at it before the moment of impact.

[cheapshot]

The delayed vertical suplex elevates the vertical suplex -- which, recall, I said was about a 6 or a 7 intensity -- to a fully fledged high spot. It's arguably about a 9 or a 10 and can act as a finisher (see Race late 70s / early 80s). I think there's an argument to say that the delayed vertical suplex is the king of ALL suplexes. What other move creates a massive pause in the middle of a match? It's almost custom made for the camera to hover round and marvel at it before the moment of impact.

I saw Michael Elgin do the 1 minute delayed vertical suplex spot this year live, and it was a thing of beauty.

[JerryvonKramer]

I may revise this slightly soon.

[Goodear]

I would have to agree with Parv's groupings of butterfly, gut wrench, and vertical of being the 'trinity' of suplexes instead of throwing in all the other variations. All three fit more into the middle of a match more than the other throws perhaps barring the belly-to-back suplex (backdrop driver). These suplexes tend toward being more of the meat in the sandwich than the garnish on top. I especially agree with the vertical being a set up to bigger things as several people would use the suplex to set up a knee or elbow drop. If I had to add anything, it would be the other main variation of the vertical being the snap suplex which seemed like the smaller man's version of the move which used speed and acceleration to offset the loss in power.

[JerryvonKramer]

Reading back over this reminds me why I'm still so hostile towards a certain poster here. What a total bellend.

 

Anyway, the revision concerns other bombs (that are not suplexes) and how they fit into the hierarchy I outlined.

[JerryvonKramer]

Intensity ratings:

 

Armdrag - 4/10 - babyface move, especially used in shine

 

Atomic drop - 6/10 - another babyface move, if done to Rick Rude 7/10

 

Atomic drop (inverted) - 6/10 - see above

 

Backbreaker (standard) - 5/10 - often first move in a sequence to work over back, or first move in a heat sequence, this is a basic bit of offense, slight step up from bodyslam

 

Backbreaker (tilt-a-whirl) - 7/10 - see Billy Robinson, Bobby Eaton

 

Back drop - 5/10 - standard bit of business

 

Bodyslam - 4/10 - one of the most basic bits of offense, unless done by or to Andre, in which case 8 or 9/10

 

Bulldog - 8/10 - high impact move

 

DDT - 8/10 - if done by Jake 9/10

 

Fireman carry takeover - 4/10 - another babyface move, if done by Jack Brisco 5/10

 

Flying Mare - 4/10 - babyface flavour, sort of move Tom Zenk might do

 

Headlock takeover - 3/10 - very basic "early game" move

 

Hiptoss - 3/10 - ditto

 

Hot Shot - 6/10 - unless done to Jumbo, in which case 9/10

 

Military press - 6/10 - total babyface move, if done to Ric Flair by any big man knock down to 4/10

 

Neckbreaker (hanging) - 8/10 - unless done by Rude in which case 9/10

 

Neckbreaker (swinging) - 7/10 - a "ramping up the gears" move

 

Piledriver - 7/10 - often a heel move during the heat sequence, maybe the second one they hit, can rump up to a 9/10 under certain conditions and used as a finisher. If done by Bob Backlund: 10/10

 

Powerbomb - 8/10 - big impact move, can ramp up to 9/10 if done by a Vader or Sid

 

Powerslam (standing) - 7/10 - if the guy is really big or Jumbo Tsururta can be an 8/10

 

Powerslam (scoop) 8/10 - high impact move, in the arsenal of a lot of power wrestlers as well as Buzz Sawyer and Ted DiBiase

 

Pump-handle slam - 6/10 - good during a sequence working on the arm transitioning out of a hammerlock

 

Side Russian legsweep - 5/10 - basic move

 

Shinbreaker - 6/10 - good transition to focusing on the leg, often used as a counter move

 

Shoulderbreaker - 7/10 - nasty move rarely seen unless the specific bodypart is being worked

 

Snapmare - 3/10 - good little "link" move, often done as a setup for a kneedrop (esp. by Flair / Race)

 

Spinebuster - 8/10 - cool looking high impact move, about on part with the scoop powerslam

 

Superplex - 9/10

[dawho5]

I have to comment on the DDT, atomic drop, and back drop. These are all very dependent on the person taking them to make them look devastating. For the DDT watch some mid-90s Akiyama or Misawa (with Roman reigns as part of the Shield coming in a close third). Reigns is also great at making an atomic drop look great. For examples of both by Reigns the 2013 Shield vs. Rhodes feud is good material. As far as the backdrop I think Eddy Guerrero was a guy who made spots like this way better than they normally were. Somehow he would get ridiculous amounts of height on his bumps for these as well as monkey flips. Throw in whatever name you give the move where a guy tosses the opponent straight up in the air and watches them come down on their face/stomach. For whatever reason Eddy could get a lot out of "height" bumps and I always thought that added to his matches against anyone remotely bigger than him.