Top 5 Submission Holds

[Mat FTW]

5) CRIPPLER CROSFACE-Man! This hold kills you! Unlike most holds, this one just has some body pulling on your head instead of twisting something.

4) LIONTAMER- It puts pressure on your neck and back. Jericho edited the Boston Crap into a masterpiece. It hurts thinking about it.

3) HELL'S GATE-One time in MMA, I was fighting someone and he locked in a gogoplata/Hell's Gate. Let's just say, I lost.

2) SHARPSHOOTER- This move kills your back if applied correctly. It looks great in the ring and it always puts you at the edge of your seat.

1) ANKLE LOCK- You can apply this anywhere anytime. MAN. Whenever i watch Angle i remember that he can lock it from anywhere

 

[Freddy4190]

5) Ankle Lock - Intense looking move. Everytime Angle locked it on and really got into it you just knew he was gonna snap that ankle. He could lock it on from about any angle [no pun intended] and made it look good, made you think that the opponent's ankle was gone.

4) Coquina Clutch - Samoa Joe is no small dude. He's a big guy. 250 lbs to be exact. This makes the simple rear naked choke he bills as the 'Coquina Clutch' even more dangerous then it is already. All the leverage Joe has as he locks it in and drops you to the ground, nearly impossible to escape.

3) Cloverleaf - Dean Malenko popularized this move. It looks so simple, but it stretches the legs, the back, the abdomen. When done right it can be dangerous and very painful.

2) STFU - I have to go with this move. John Cena is a fucking monster. For him to lock his arm around your throat then pull back while he has your leg locked up is torture. Edge said the only time he's ever been knocked unconcious in a match was when Cena locked in the STFU on him in their TLC match. Keep in mind, this is the same Edge that's taken numerous chairshots, fallen off 20ft ladders, had all sorts of punishment dealt to him.

1) Masterlock/Full Nelson - I love this move. Chris Masters is a big dude, he has pretty large arms. I've locked this move onto people myself and they ALWAYS tap out. It's a nasty submission hold and one of the most underrated and underutilized submissions in wrestling in my own humble opinion.

 

[Viola Moonlight]

This is more like it, my wrestling speciality!

5) Armbar - Simple yet effective maneouvre. There are so many variations of this move it is not funny, and all of them hurt big time. There is the Fujiwara Armbar that focuses on the shoulderblade of the opponent, where an elbow is cinched underneath the blade whilst pulling on the arm. Any movement = dislocation. Then, there is the Juji-Gatame, otherwise known as the cross-armbreaker, that focuses on literally pulling the arm from the socket. Don't even get me started on the Flying Armbar... that shit is crazy.

These are one of the very few moves that can be transitioned from mat based wrestling moves to this particular submission move. Judo throws and headlock takedowns are good combination moves to use.

4) Cloverleaf - An enhanced version of the Sharpshooter where you are able to focus more on the leg submission whilst attacking the torso region more effectively. Although one must have a hell of a lot of strength to execute, this is one painful move. Thankyou Dean Milenko for performing this.

3) Figure Four Leg Lock - I don't have much a reason why I love this submission, apart from Ric Flair and his execution of the move. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

2) Cobra Clutch - Classic move that was used by many in the past and has been unfortunately not used as much, expect for the Anaconda Vise IF you can call that a cobra clutch. But, this was a much better version of the Sleeper Hold and could be executed anywhere at any time. It used your opponents own body to torture themselves and they couldn't do much to move their own arm out of the way.

1) Gogoplata (Shin Choke) - Otherwise known as Hell's Gate for those wrestling fans, this is one of the most dangerous moves ever to be invented. Once locked onto this submission there is no way of escape unless you are willing to cut your life short or injury yourself. The executer attempts a varied version of the Triangle Choke Hold whereby the shin chokes the opponents neck causing a cut off for blood and oxygen to the brain and the other leg pushes down on the opponent to make sure there is no way of escape.

 

[Henry Hill]

Fantastic Thread.
5. Indian Death Lock - an old school move, but Triple H used it at Wrestlemania 19 and it looked truly inescapable, and incredibly painful. Also gains points for being the least P.C. named move of the current era.
4. Figure Four - Used by many of the greats, most notably by Ric Flair, still a staple of modern wrestling.
3. Sharpshooter - one of the greatest submissions ever in wrestling. I may catch some flak for this, but i think Bret's Sharpshooter was always better than Sting's Scorpion Death Lock. The way Bret sat back on it, the set up, everything was perfectly done.
2. Ankle Lock - The first guy I remember using an Ankle Lock was Ken Shamrock, which made sense due to his UFC background. He did it well and made it look like it hurt, but when Kurt Angle started using it, the move got better. When he started grapevining the legs it looked unbreakable.
1. Crippler Crossface - It came out of any move. Benoit made this look truly unpredictable and unforgettable. However you feel about Benoit as a person, he was amazing in the ring and amazing with this move.

 

[Aversion]

5) Crossface: Benoit made this move so popular, and it will always be in the top 5/10 submission holds.

4) Full Nelson/ Masterlock: It's fun to watch someone swinging someone's arms around, while others are beating each other up.

3) Ankle Lock: Made very popular by Kurt Angle, that says enough.

2) Liontamer: Chris Jericho's first submission maneuver... and it applies a lot of pressure the the neck, back, etc.

1) Sharpshooter: A move popularized by 2 generations of Harts. I don't think I need to explain.

 

[Theo Mays]

5. Ankle Lock
-Can be applied anytime, anywhere. And when applied correctly it looks pretty damn painful.

4. Crossface
-This move is awesome. And when Benoit got this bad boy locked in, it was usually over.

3. Cloverleaf
-The first time I saw Milenko perform this, I had one of my first mark outs. And it instantly became one of my fav moves.

2. Figure 4
-WOOOOOOOOO! I remember my brother saying he doesn't see how the F4LL would hurt and then I applied it and he gave the move some respect.

1. Sharpshooter
-My all time fav submission and my all time fav move. Bret Hart is my all time favorite wrestler and the Sharpshooter was just as part of Hart as the shades. This move when applied by Hart or any of the Dungeoners it looked legitimately painful.

 

[Rayquaza2233]

Now, I'm not putting these in order of how good I think they are, but in the order I think of them.

1. Crippler Crossface
This move just looks awesome IMO. Dude, I knew what the crippler crossface was just by people talking about it. I didn't watch wrestling then. The armtrap involved is subtle, yet makes it so much harder to get out of.
2. Hell's Gate
I swear, this move almost always comes out of nowhere. It's incredibly effective, too. It's the finish if the hold isn't broken, and a major turning point that usually leads to an Undertaker victory if it does somehow get broken. I offer respect to those who can break out of it. xD
3. Sharpshooter
The main reason I like this is due to Bret Hart, what with him being Canadian and all. I always love the Sharpshooter, it's one of the reasons that I miss Edge so much. I don't really have anything else to say about it.
4. Liontamer/Walls of Jericho
I'm not sure which one I like better, I've only seen pictures of the Liontamer so I can't pass a fair verdict. It's not just the move itself, though. The way Jericho shakes his head and goes "YEAH" is something I like, I dunno why. (inb4 homo) It looks pretty crushing, with the legs bending and the weight and pressure being applied to the back. Things that get reversed into the Walls always look cool.
5. STFU
This move makes it onto my list because it's the only submission move I can think of off the top of my head (are there any others? o_o) that damages both the lower and upper body. It stretches both and really does wear an opponent down.

 

[Haner388994]

This is quite easy for me. I love submission moves and specialists, so here is my top five submission moves:

5. Ankle Lock - This move can be applied at any time. It is very painful to boot. Anyone that recieves this submission move is sure to tap out.

4. Sharpshooter - Probably one of the most famous of submission moves. The Sharpshooter has won many titles for the Great Bret Hart. He almost always applied the Sharpshooter and got the win, wrenching his opponents into tapping.

3. Crippler Crossface - Made famous by Chris Benoit, the Crippler Crossface was one of the most feared moves in the WWE/F for a very long time. Anyone Benoit faced had to watch very carefully for the Crossface or else they were in some deep trouble.

2. Gogoplata/Hell's Gate - A move that the Undertaker has recently been using, the Gogoplata/Hell's Gate is very dangerous. Whenever 'Taker locks in this hold his opponent becomes incapable of doing anything. They usually begin bleeding from the mouth and collapse. Devastating!

1. Anaconda Vice - This move not only looks awesome but, hurts like hell. Anyone that has ever felt this move knows that it is one of the more painful of submission holds.

 

[BOSTN BEANER]

5. STFU- I always loved this move before Cena started using it but he uses it better then I've ever seen anyone use it. He realy sells it as a great finisher as it should be.

4. Crippler Crossface - I've seen Benoit apply this from many spots and positions in the ring. Its a move u can put ur opponent in as fast as he thinks he has the match under control. Benoit sold this finisher as well as anyone can sell any submission move.

3. Figure-Four - this move is extremely painful to ur legs if locked in right and the nature boy won many titles cuz of this move. There are variations of this move such as using the ringpost as bret hart used to always do and that made it even greater.

2. Sharpshooter - I didn't like when owen did it or sting(scorpion deathlock) but when bret did it, it looked so great. Like a work of art and he says the key was to hold the knee with ur right arm so the leg crossing doesn't look so sloppy. Bret mastered it and so many people have used it but just never looks right when everyone else does it like the rock and shawn michaels.

1. Lion Tamer - I'm not talking about how jericho applies it now, I'm talking about how he applied it back when he first went to WCW. He would turn them over and put his knee on the upper back/neck of his opponent and realy did hurt many wrestlers with that move before being forced to change it because of the injury risk to peoples neck.

 

[CHAOS]

5. Walls Of Jericho - Looks awesome and always gets a pop from the crowd
4. Ankle Lock - Can be locked in at any time and looks intense
3. Figure 4 Leg Lock - Again always gets a pop (i.e. WOOOO) and if anyone has ever been locked in this submission, they know that it hurts like hell
2. Sharpshooter - Looks awesome, if applied correctly,can be painful and must go down as a legendary submission hold.
1. Crippler Crossface - When this applied by the right person the right way, has to be the most painful submission hold of all time. And again, looks awesome and will always go down as my favourite if only because of the WrestleMania 20 finale

 

[Jsaturn14]

5: Sharpshooter: Very Painful, could be applied in a snap, and helped produce one of the most iconic images in all of Pro Wrestling: Austin's bloody face at Mania 13.

4: Figure Four Leg Lock: One Name: Ric Flair. End of story.

3: Ankle Lock: Can be locked in from anywhere, and once someone lays down into it, it is normally over.

2: Crippler Crossface: Extremely painful looking, could be locked in from truly any position (in the air, on the ground, in a hold, etc..) and always provided a great finish to a match.

1: Lion Tamer: IMO, the original Lion Tamer used by Chris Jericho in WCW is the most legit painful submission hold of all time. It wasn't that he just turned you over and put pressure on your back. it was the fact that your body was almost at a 90 degree angle while in it, your neck was wrenched at an awkward angle, and Jericho put his knee in the small of your back, and drove it in. Go back and watch this move in action, and be prepared to grimace in pain. (Not quite what I described, this is the version he used when he was forced to change the move. It is still damn painful looking though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBVfoB18yjY)

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

First and foremost, the "STFU" is actually just the STF. It was around a long time before that idiot Cena came around, so pay the move a little respect, and call it by its proper name. I can't stand "new" wrestling fans, you people are worthless.
Also, the Full Nelson is not the Master Lock. That guy is an idiot, a bum. That move was used by guys with twice the talent and half the muscle, and looked much better.

5. The Million Dollar Dream- Dibiase was the man, and this move put more people to sleep than Michale Cole's interviews.
4. Texas Cloverleaf- Dean Malenko (best small guy of all time) used to torture opponents with this thing, amazing to watch him stretch out small guys, like that bum Mysterio.
3. The Chicken Wing- used by many wrestlers, but most famously by Bob Backlund. This could be the most painful move in real life, if applied by a person much stronger than myself.
2. Figure Four Leg Lock- Ric Flair...enough said.
.....
1. The Sharpshooter- Bret Hart is the greatest in-ring competitor ever born, and he perfected this move. Best submission move ever, and definitely brought in the most submissions.
Cena Sucks.

 

[a1n1hbk]

5)Ankle Lock: The move looked fantastic whenever some one was locked in it.Only reason i kept it on no 5 in my list is because people will be able to reverse it sometimes before submitting to it but any ways even if it is broken will do some damage to the ankles.

4)Crossface: Have to admit it looked really painful when ever benoit applied it, not easy to escape or break.

3)Liontamer: I like the walls too but liontamer i think was a better overall submission with body bend at almost 90 degrees from neck and knee placed at back looked really unbreakable.

2)STF: Well great move and only move today which applied to get a finish unlike other submission who have become just another move.Still STF is great move which applies pressure to knee, back and neck.

1)Sharpshooter: Bret hart made this move legendary with his perfection.The way he used to sit on the back of opponent made it look deadly, great move hats off.

 

[CynicSteve]

5) Stump Puller- This was a truly brutal move. Looked incredibly painful. Would have been unbearable if it wasn't being done by a clown.

4) Haas of Pain- Charlie Haas's flexibility made this work. Why WWE doesn't use him more is beyond me.

3) Anaconda Vice- I may not like CM Punk but this is a brutal hold.

2) Texas Cloverleaf- I've been in this one. It sucks. Your back hurts for days.

1) Cattle Mutilation- I hope to God WWE lets Danielson keep this move. It's the first time I've screamed at my TV in a long time seeing it.

 

[bigevil83]

5. Figure four leglock. Greatest wrestler of all time used this move.

4. The regal stretch. That move looks like it hurts like hell

3. The lion tamer. The torque on your neck and back is intense. Not to mention having his knee in your back at the same time.

2. Crippler crossface. Can be put on anytime from anywhere. When this hold gets slapped on its over

1. Ankle lock. Same reasons as the crossface but more unpredictable. Angle can reverse out of any move and have this on you in a heartbeat

 

[LSN80]

5. Crippler Crossface- Benoit seemed to be able to pull this move out of anywhere, at anytime. I dont remember too many wrestlers getting to the ropes, let alone break it.

4. STF- When applied properly, with the arm barred, this would be a near impossible move to get out of. When Cena first started doing it, he did it correctly, barring the arm so the oppenent couldnt reach the ropes and causing more pressure. See Cena vs HHH WM 22.

3. The ankle lock- Its a move that kurt has been able to pull out of nowhere on so many occasions. the only reason i dont rate this higher is because he rarely gets a submission from it anymore.

2. Figure Four Leglock- Flair won how many titles and successfully defended his titles with what move? This one!

1. The Sharpshooter- still to me the best submission move of all time. Vivid images of SCSA passing out from blood will never leave my head, as this moves looks so excruciatingly painful. The fact that so many wrestlers such as Edge will pull it out from time to time shows what a classic, unbreakable hold this is.

 

[LSN80]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBVfoB18yjY[/url])

I forgot about this move until I saw him use this on JTG about 3 weeks ago on smackdown when he teamed with the hart dynasty! Made my neck hurt!

 

[Calderownz]

1. Texas Cloverleaf. I enjoy the move and it's rarely used. Dean Malenko made it famous in the 90's I also like the Armlock Cloverleaf, mainly based on the fact that the move requires a lot of knowledge on how to apply it properly, and looks painful.

2. Bridging Cobra Clutch. In general, I think the Cobra clutch can be an interesting move, but this makes it a bit more exciting.

3. Bite Of The Dragon. Move invented by Low Ki, who's one of my favorite workers. Just like how it can be done like the figure four, both legally and illegally and that always adds to the story of the match. The diversity of the moves used to tell the story.

4. Tiger feint Crucifix Armbar. This move impresses me so much that I learned about it after the first time I saw it on a youtube highlight reel. I'd suggest youtubing for it if you've never seen it. It's pretty innovative and very fun to see applied properly.

5. Scorpion Death Lock. I like any variation of this move. It just allows for reversals and can also be fun in that the one with it locked on, is vulnerable, which can add to a run in or in a tag match, an illegal break.

No particular order, just my top five.

 

[Terry'sGordy]

5) The Swinging Full Nelson. Ken Patera used this move and I loved it ! Once he locked those fingers it was over !

4) The Dragon Sleeper. A favorite hold by the master of it Tatsumi"The Dragon" Fujinami" Great hold by a very underrated wrestler !

3) The Scorpion Deathlock. A move mastered by the great Riki Choshu(not Sting or Hart) who used it to win many a match in Japan lo-o-o-o-o-o-o-g before it was stolen and cheapend by Bret.

2) The Figure-Four Leglock. The favorite move of the great, and late Jack Brisco. Jack was so smooth and unlike Flair, who put the hold on the knee he wasn't working on Jack always did !

1) The Cross-face. A move that Benoit mastered and it just looked so painfull !

 

[Straight Edge Loyalist]

1. Crippler Crossface - Chris Benoit was INTENSE while pulling this move off that you were convinced it was real.
2. Hell's Gate - This submission comes out of nowhere when used by the Undertaker. It's also a moved used in MMA.
3. STF - Been a fan of this move since the early 90's when IRS used it.
4. Lion Tamer
5. The Tarantula - In old school ECW, Tajiri would lock on this move for minutes at a time and I would mark out like crazy.

 

[HBK619]

5.Crippler Crossface-Chris Benoit made it look like it was easy to pull it off and sometimes he just pulled it off from nowhere.
4.Sleeper-Roddy Piper used this and so did Brutus Beefcake.Its just so awesome and can really make someone unconscious in real life.
3.Figure Four Leglock-Ric Flair.Need i say more.
2.Cloverleaf-I love this move.The only submission that beats it,is my favourite one of all time.
1.The Sharpshooter-Legendary.This move hurts a hell when applied correctly on someone.And remember what happened to one certain man at WM13.He was in so much pain he passed out.I give credit for austin for not tapping.I also give HBK credit for not tapping.Remember WM Iron Man Match.Hart vs HBK.HBK lasted the last 30 seconds in the sharpshooter to keep the score nil all.

 

[Platypus Palsy]

5. Ankle Lock: Angle does this move so intensely that it turns a simple twisting of the ankle into something more.

4. Figure Four: It was always great to see Flair lock it in. Now, my favorite active wrestler seems to be starting to use it, that would be AJ Styles of course.

3. Sharpshooter: I like Sting's version/the real version of the sharpshooter. I've never really liked Bret Hart, but I loved that he used the sharpshooter. The move just looks cool.

2. The Million Dollar Dream: One of my favorite wrestlers, the Million Dollar Man, and the MDD looked really awesome.

1. Cloverleaf: Possibly the coolest move I've ever seen ever. It looks like a cool variation of the sharpshooter and as effective, if not more effective than the sharpshooter.

 

[Muffin Top Merkley]

5) Mandable Claw: The stunner of submissions. The mandable claw could be easily applied can be applied to an opponent out of no where.

4) Lion Tamer: Before this became a regular Boston Crab, it was always a very believable submission hold. The way the body was bent, plus the added pressure of the knee to the back made it a very real looking hold.

3) Sharpshooter: Very few man have been in the Sharpshooter and not tap out.

2) The Crippler Crossface: Chris Benoit's Crossface was another move that gave the viewer the impression that it would actually cause pain and damage. The intesity of Benoit as he locked in this hold only adds to that belief.

1) Texas Cloverleaf: This move has always been a favorite of mine. Maybe because its a mix between two submissions, the Lion Tamer & the Sharpshooter. This move is rarely used in today's wrestling ring which makes it more unique.


Honorable Mentions: Figure Four Leg Long, Ankle Lock, Indian Death Lock.

 

[LitasRevenge79]

My picks for the top 5 submissions.

5. Walls of Jericho- True to its form, VERY painful to the abdomen and VERY effective in wearing down someone and causing them to slow down their offense.

4. Sharpshooter- Tried and true to its form, 'nuff said.

3. Ankle Lock- Love it and does quite a bit of damage to anyone of any size.

2. Hell's Gate Quite possibly the coolest move when he first started using it.

1. Crippler Crossface- Can I say, this move is great. I have an old WWF/E mag that goes over ALL the submission moves and shows the zones they affect, and shows that the crippler crossface affected the most zones, and I even put my hubby in the crippler crossface once, and to this day, it still remains the GREATEST day of my life next to getting married!! RIP in Benoit!! You are awesome with that move!!

 

[Paragon of Virtue]

5: Sharpshooter: Very Painful, could be applied in a snap, and helped produce one of the most iconic images in all of Pro Wrestling: Austin's bloody face at Mania 13.

4: Figure Four Leg Lock: One Name: Ric Flair. End of story.

3: Ankle Lock: Can be locked in from anywhere, and once someone lays down into it, it is normally over.

2: Crippler Crossface: Extremely painful looking, could be locked in from truly any position (in the air, on the ground, in a hold, etc..) and always provided a great finish to a match.

1: Lion Tamer: IMO, the original Lion Tamer used by Chris Jericho in WCW is the most legit painful submission hold of all time. It wasn't that he just turned you over and put pressure on your back. it was the fact that your body was almost at a 90 degree angle while in it, your neck was wrenched at an awkward angle, and Jericho put his knee in the small of your back, and drove it in. Go back and watch this move in action, and be prepared to grimace in pain. (Not quite what I described, this is the version he used when he was forced to change the move. It is still damn painful looking though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBVfoB18yjY)

This is almost EXACTLY what I would have put, and I can't stress the exactly enough. I would keep the same order, but change #5, the Sharpshooter, to the Haas of Pain. The Texas Cloverleaf and the Sharpshooter would follow close behind.