Moves Opponents Should Avoid Doing Against These WWE Wrestlers (2024)

Pro wrestling is built on stereotypes and unwritten rules. That's just the name of the game. Sometimes, these rules and stereotypes have applied to specific wrestlers. This has ranged from a certain wrestler always reversing a specific move, to others suckering opponents in to embarrass them in the ring.

Wrestlers should learn to avoid doing these things, but they never do, and fans can rely on certain things to play out the way they always have. WWE wrestlers, in particular, have certain aspects of their character that opponents should never go up against unless they want to crash and burn or be embarrassed in front of a live audience and millions (and millions) watching at home.

Never Try To Superplex Kevin Owens

We All Know Owens Will Reverse It

• Owens always reverses the Superplex
• He turns it into an Avalanche Fisherman's Buster

Kevin Owens has one of the most versatile movesets in WWE, perhaps the entire industry. He blends power with technical ability, and striking combinations when necessary.

If he is ever placed on the top turnbuckle and his opponent intends to hit a Superplex, fans can bet good money that The Prizefighter will reverse the move into an Avalanche Fisherman's Buster that turns the tide of the match in his favor.

Doing A High-Flying Move Against Randy Orton Is Never A Good Idea

There's A Reason They Say, 'Outta Nowhere!'

• Randy Orton can hit the RKO outta nowhere
• He loves hitting it on airborne high-flyers

Randy Orton has one of the greatest and most popular finishers of all time. The RKO always pops the crowd, and the Apex Predator has managed to hit the move in a variety of situations.

Against high-flyers in particular, Orton loves hitting the move when they springboard off the ropes or the turnbuckle. The Viper strikes in less than a second and steals the win. Evan Bourne and AJ Styles will both testify to that fact.

Going For A Powerbomb Against Billy Kidman Will Cost You The Match

He Will Reverse It Into A Kid Factor

• Billy Kidman reversed the Powerbomb almost every single time
• He turns it into his finisher, Kid Factor

Billy Kidman was no stranger to being tossed around by heavyweights in the squared circle. Considering his build and high-flying style, that's not too surprising.

But anyone standing across the ring from Kidman must avoid going for a Powerbomb at all costs. Every time Kidman is lifted up, he reverses the move into a Kid Factor for the win.

Never Headbutt A Samoan

It Will Just Make Them Mad

• Headbutting a Samoan will just hurt the person doing the move
• It's a trait that applies to all Samoan wrestlers

This isn't true for any one wrestler, but every wrestler of Samoan descent. This unwritten rule is born from the fact that back in the day, Samoan wrestlers were often presented as tough-as-nails savages. So headbutting them would only hurt the headbutter, and make the Samoan very, very angry.

It was true for Afa and Sika then, and it's true for Solo Sikoa today.

Do A High-Flying Move Against A Standing Samoa Joe

He'll Just Walk Away

• Samoa Joe walks away from airborne wrestlers
• It's a massive insult to his opponent

Samoa Joe is a force to be reckoned with in the ring. He is a brilliant technician, and almost impossible to dominate physically. He also has a great sense of humor.

When standing, dazed in the ring, high-flyers will feel tempted to climb the ropes and fly at the Samoan. But Joe is almost always playing possum. The moment his opponent takes off, he walks away nonchalantly, making the other wrestler look like a fool.

Trying To Crossbody John Cena Isn't Smart

He Will Roll Through Into An Attitude Adjustment

• Cena reverses a Crossbody into the AA
• It's a showcase of his insane strength

Pound-for-pound, John Cena is probably the strongest wrestler WWE has ever seen. His feats of strength wowed fans for years, and opponents always had to be wary of him using that strength to transition into an Attitude Adjustment.

He is especially fond of doing that when hit with a Crossbody. He usually just catches the wrestler, lifts them onto his wrestler like they weigh nothing, and hits the AA.

Never Accept A Beer From Stone Cold Steve Austin

The Beer Comes With A Stone Cold Stunner

• No one is safe from the Stunner
• He loves hitting it on people who share a beer with him

When Stone Cold Steve Austin was around, everyone was just one step away from being hit with a Stunner. Sharing a beer with the Texas Rattlesnake basically guaranteed a Stunner coming along with it.

He did it when he was a full-time performer, and he has done it in the years since, even in one-off appearances.

Don't Chop Gunther

What Goes Around Comes Around, But Much Worse

• Chopping Gunther is just inviting punishment
• The chop is the most-used move in his arsenal

Only gluttons for punishment get into the ring with Gunther willingly. He is one of the most dominant wrestlers WWE has seen in a long time, with a strike-based, high-impact offense that breaks down his opponents.

He also adjusts his approach based on his opponent, sometimes focusing on one body part and hurting it as best he can. But the centerpiece of his arsenal is the chop, which can be heard around the arena. Occasionally, an opponent will think they can beat Gunther at his own game. To no one's surprise, they cannot, and the Ring General unleashes a barrage of punishment.

Never Catch Anything Eddie Guerrero Throws To You

He Will Lie, Cheat & Steal To Win

• Guerrero throws a chair at opponents, forcing them to catch it on instinct
• He pretends to be hit with it to get the DQ win or turn the match in his favor

Going up against the late, great Eddie Guerrero was never a fair fight. Latino Heat was already amazing in the ring with phenomenal resilience, but he also did whatever was necessary to walk away the victor.

He lied, cheated, and stole his way into fans' hearts. One of his favorite tactics involved tossing a steel chair at his opponent when the referee was distracted, and then pretending he was hit when the ref turned around. That would leave his opponent looking like a fool, and Eddie would usually walk away with the DQ win.

Answer Any Question The Rock Asks You

It Doesn't Matter What The Answer Is

• The Rock loves suckering in opponents by asking a question
• When they answer, he shuts them up by saying "it doesn't matter"

The Rock spent years laying the smackdown on his opponents in the ring and on the mic. He had wildly popular catchphrases that popped the crowd and would also sucker his opponents in, before insulting them for everyone to see.

He would usually ask his opponent a question, and when they attempted to answer, would proclaim that it didn't matter what their answer was. It was hilarious, entertaining, and a perfect representation of The Brahma Bull's character.