Apparatus and method for stripping a can body having an open end and a closed end from the punch on a reciprocating ram of a can body making apparatus wherein a cavity exists between the closed end and the punch and wherein the ram has a forward stroke and a return stroke by moving the closed end into contact with doming apparatus during the forward stroke to move a valve from a closed to an opened position to feed air under pressure into the cavity to hold the closed end against the doming apparatus during the return stroke until the can body is separated from the punch and ejecting the stripped can body from the doming apparatus.