The backdrop suplex is a truly high impact female wrestling throw, one that is a true pre-finisher move in the sense that it sets up the victim for the pin. The backdrop suplex is a high amplitude throw, which is quite dangerous for the victim and which takes a lot of energy and power on the part of the attacker to execute. The backdrop suplex can be executed from a variety of positions. The attacker can surprise the victim with it as she attempts to climb the ring ropes to execute a move of her own. The backdrop suplex can also be snapped on from a standing position in the middle of the ring.

The attacker approaches the would-be victim from behind. She pushes her head under one of the victim’s arms from behind, while hugging her waist with one arm. She grabs hold of one of her legs with her free arm, right above the knee-bend and then she stands up hoisting the victim into the air. At the top of the motion, the victim is up almost as high as the shoulder of the attacker, in a sitting position. The attacker then simple stiffens her body and falls backwards, slamming the victim onto her back. If this move doesn’t drive the air out of your opponent, nothing will.

Possible escape: some skilled lady wrestlers are able to tumble backward in the hold and then land on their feet behind their attacker, effectively reversing the move into a reverse headlock, which can then be worked with in a variety of ways. For the regular female wrestler though, once up at the peak of the move, escape is quite impossible. All one can do from there on is to brace for the impact.

Rating: the backdrop suplex is highly spectacular and its impact shakes the entire ring too. Most of the time it is used to deliver that final blow to the victim before hooking her leg for the 1-2-3. It is indeed a very efficient and powerful women’s wrestling move.