The powerbomb stands as one of professional wrestling’s most devastating and iconic maneuvers, sending opponents crashing to the canvas with spectacular impact. While many wrestlers have popularized different variations of this move throughout the decades, its true origins remain somewhat shrouded in wrestling lore.
The Early Days of the Powerbomb
Wrestling historians generally credit Lou Thesz, one of professional wrestling’s greatest technical pioneers, with developing the original prototype of what would eventually evolve into the modern powerbomb. In the 1950s, Thesz performed a move called the “Thesz Bomb” which contained elements that would later influence the powerbomb’s development.
However, the move as we recognize it today truly took shape in Japan during the 1970s. The legendary Antonio Inoki is often mentioned as one of the first to execute a move resembling the contemporary powerbomb, though his version wasn’t yet branded with that specific name.
The Modern Powerbomb Takes Form
The powerbomb as we know it today gained significant prominence in the 1980s when “Dr. Death” Steve Williams began using it as his finishing maneuver in Japan. Williams’ explosive execution helped establish the move as a legitimate finisher that could believably end matches.
But if we’re discussing who truly popularized and perfected the powerbomb, the conversation inevitably turns to Vader (Leon White) and Sid Vicious (Sid Eudy). By the early 1990s, these two powerhouses had transformed the powerbomb into signature moves that fans would anticipate with a mixture of awe and dread.
Vader’s Contribution
Vader’s powerbomb, often executed with a sit-out finish, became one of wrestling’s most feared maneuvers. Standing at 6’5″ and weighing over 400 pounds, when Vader hoisted opponents for his devastating powerbomb, the impact was genuinely jarring. His run in Japan and later WCW helped cement the powerbomb as one of wrestling’s premier power moves.
The Evolution Continues
By 2025, we’ve witnessed countless variations of the powerbomb, each wrestler adding their own stylistic touch to the foundational move. Kevin Nash’s Jackknife Powerbomb, Batista’s Batista Bomb, and Kevin Owens’ Pop-up Powerbomb all represent evolutions of the original concept.
The Ganso Bomb, an extremely dangerous variation performed by Toshiaki Kawada, and the Package Piledriver Powerbomb popularized by Kevin Steen (Kevin Owens) demonstrate how the move continues to evolve in sometimes frightening directions.
The Cultural Impact
More than just a wrestling move, the powerbomb has transcended into popular culture, appearing in video games, movies, and becoming shorthand for dominance and power. When someone mentions getting “powerbombed,” even those unfamiliar with wrestling understand the implication of complete devastation.
While we can’t definitively name a single inventor of the powerbomb, what’s clear is that this move represents professional wrestling’s collaborative evolution. Each generation of wrestlers has contributed to refining what began as a simple concept into the various spectacular versions we witness today. The powerbomb remains one of wrestling’s most enduring contributions to physical storytelling—a perfect blend of athleticism, danger, and theatrical impact that continues to elicit gasps from audiences worldwide.
