 In professional wrestling , some wrestlers use the soccer kick is as a finishing move . A number of professional wrestlers prior to the 1980s professional wrestling boom were taught to use wrestling moves and strikes legitimately . This was due to the likelihood of attacks on the wrestlers from fans . This included the soccer kick , which former pro @-@ wrestler , CM Punk stated was the easiest tactic to use when a fan tried to get in the ring to confront a wrestler . High profile users of soccer kicks as a finishing move includes Katsuyori Shibata , and Randy Orton . In Japan within a 1977 puroresu match between Antonio Inoki and Great Antonio , Inoki started to shoot on Great Antonio after Great Antonio refused to sell Inoki 's offence . Inoki used a takedown on Great Antonio and then used soccer kicks to legitimately knock out Great Antonio . 
