Low Blow, YeaOh!
Kenny Herzog has a new article on The Ringer featuring a review of Shinsuke Nakamura’s low blows to AJ Styles and the best nut shots in WWE history.
The article features an analysis from Krav Maga expert and stuntman AJ Draven, who breaks down what it takes to have a truly great low blow. You can check out a few highlights below:
Low-Blower: Shinsuke Nakamura
Victim and Venue: AJ Styles, WrestleMania 34, April 8, 2018
Draven on Nakamura’s Technique: “Here’s my issue with this. It caught him with the crook of his elbow a little bit, so it kind of bends and is fleshy and wouldn’t be as solid if he had used his forearm. From a technical perspective, he probably didn’t inflict as much pain as he could have by using that particular strike. But he still would have hurt him, especially with the way he took him by surprise. Just a little flick can hurt you. In Krav Maga, one of the things we teach is that element of surprise can level the playing field almost immediately.”
Draven on Styles’s Sell: “That was pretty accurate. I liked the double-over. That would have been like, ‘What just happened to me down there?’”
Overall Ball-Buster Rating: 6Low-Blower: Randy Orton
Victim and Venue: Shawn Michaels, Cyber Sunday, October 28, 2007
Draven on Orton’s Technique: “To me, it came out of nowhere, and this is the one I’m giving a 10 out of 10. I rarely would recommend an elbow strike to the balls like that. It’s weird to get into that situation. But from that angle, with this dude jumping at you with his leg out like that—perfect. He nailed him. Not only was the strike strong, it was the right part of his arm to catch him in the right area. And one of the best ways you can inflict damage is when not only are you giving momentum toward the attacker, but they’re giving momentum to you. Bam. 10 out of 10.”
Draven on Michaels’s Sell: “It was perfect. If I could give it an 11, they got my vote.”
Overall Ball-Buster Rating: 10
The Stooges
The following video features Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco looking back at one of the highest rated RAW segments of all time:
