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Professional Wrestling HoldsProfessional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents. This article covers the various pins, stretches and transition holds used in the ring. = Pins = The purpose of a pinning maneuver is to hold the victim's shoulders against the mat for a count of three. The count is broken up if the victim manages to raise one or both of his shoulders off of the mat, usually by kicking out. If a wrestler is close enough to the ring ropes, he may aid a pin by propping his legs up on the ropes to gain additional leverage and put more of his weight on the victim. This is illegal according to the supposed rules of professional wrestling, since a wrestler is required to break a hold if he or his opponent is touching the ropes, but is frequently attempted by heels when they think that the referee won't catch them. This tactic is very frequently employed by Ric Flair, almost to the point of cliche. Back slide The wrestler stands back-to-back with his opponent and hooks both of the opponent's arms. He then leans forward and drops to his knees, sliding the victim down his back so that their shoulders are against the mat and their chin is against their chest. The attacker holds the victim's arms down with his own arms for the pin. Bridge Cover The basic pin. With his opponent lying face-up on the mat, the wrestler lies face-down across his opponent's chest to hold him down. Sometimes, when both wrestlers are supposed to be exhausted or badly hurt (usually in a long, drawn-out match), a wrestler will cover just with his arm. This is also known as a lateral press. Cradle The wrestler lies across his opponent's chest and hooks a leg with the arm on the opposite side (the left leg with the right arm or the right leg with the left arm). Holding the leg supposedly gives the wrestler greater leverage and makes it harder for his opponent to kick out. La Casita/La Majistral With his opponent on hands and knees, the wrestler stands next to the victim's hip, grabs one arm and applies an armbar. He then steps over the arm with his inside leg so that he is facing away from the victim. The wrestler continues his turning motion and dives forward over the victim, rolling onto his side. The barred arm acts as a lever, flipping the victim over the attacker and onto the back. The attacker hooks a leg as the victim goes over and holds for the pin. Oklahoma roll The wrestler stands to the side of his opponent, who is on hands and knees. The attacker hooks one arm around the victim's neck and one between the legs, and rolls over the victim. The attacker lands on his back or side, and the victim is flipped so that his shoulders are pressed against the mat. Roll-up The wrestler rolls his opponent back so that the victim's legs are above the head. The attacker wraps his/her arms around the legs and presses down to pin the shoulders. Small package The wrestler lies face-down across his opponent, who is face-up. The wrestler uses one arm to hook the victim's closer leg, uses the leg on the same side of his body to hook the victim's other leg, and uses his other arm to put his opponent in a front face lock. Sunset flip The wrestler and his opponent face each other, with the attacker on higher ground (such as the top turnbuckle). The attacker dives over the victim, catches him in a waistlock from behind, and rolls into a sitting position as he hits the mat. As the attacker rolls over, he pulls the victim over backwards so that he lands on his back. Victory roll The wrestler jumps onto his opponent's shoulders from behind and rolls forward. As the attacker flips over, he hooks his opponent's shoulders with his legs, flipping the victim over onto his shoulders. The attacker hooks both of the victim's legs to hold him in place for the pin. Rana The technical term for the pinning position which results from a sunset flip or a hurricanrana. It is executed with the victim laying shoulders down on the mat, almost completely flat on their back, the wrestler who is performing the move places his legs on the victims shoulders or arms and sits behind them and hooks both legs around the thighs to force their weight down to the mat. Another variation which usually results from hurricanranas sees the one performing the move sit on the victims chest and hook the victims legs behind them whilst hooking their arms with their legs. Prawn Hold Similar to a Rana, except that the one performing the pin is standing, bent over the victim with both legs hooked pressing his weight down. This pin is typically the result of a powerbomb. = Stretches = Head, face, and chin locks Anaconda vice The Anaconda vice is done from a position in which the attacker and the opponent are seated on the mat. The attacker sits on the opponent's right side (the attacker's left), and with his right arm, goes around the left side of the victim's head and grabs their right wrist, bending the arm upwards. Then, the attacker manuevers his left arm through the "hole" created by the opponent's bent right wirst, and locks his hand upon his own right wrist, then pulls the opponent forward, causing pressure on the opponent's arm and neck. The hold was invented by New Japan Pro Wrestling star Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and is used frequently in the United States by independent wrestler CM Punk. Camel clutch The wrestler sits on the back of his opponent, who is face down on the mat, and reaches under his opponent's arms to apply a chinlock. The wrestler then leans back and pulls the opponent's head and arms back (and as a result, pulling the torso back as well). In its early years, this was thought of as a potentially match ending submission but these days it enjoys only limited use and effectiveness. It was innovated by Salvador Gory Guerrero (father of WWE superstar Eddie Guerrero), who gave the move to his tag team partner, El Santo, who then popularised its use. It was first known as the El Cabello. Iranian wrestler The Iron Sheik used the camel clutch as his finisher. Later, Scott Steiner would use the camel clutch as a finisher starting in the nWo era of WCW; WCW announcers called it the "Steiner Recliner". Chinlock The victim is on the ground, and the wrestler is up. The wrestler sits the victim up and places his/her knee in the opponent's back. He/she she grasps the opponent's chin and wrenches the chin either to the side, or straight back. This is an actual effective technique, that if not done carefully could strain, or even snap the tendons in the opponents neck. Also called a rear chin-lock. Cobra clutch Also known as a cross-arm lock or cross-arm choke. This move has the wrestler behind the opponent. It has two variations; single hand, and double hand. The wrestler then pulls one, or both, of the opponent's arms across their neck, using the opponents own arms to choke themselves. This can be set up as a bomb technique as well; after setting the clutch, sitting down and dropping the opponent on the back, using their hands and handles. This was the finishing technique of the wrestling legend Sgt. Slaughter. Crossface wrestler locks one of his opponent's arms in between his legs, locks his hands around the victim's chin (or lower face), and pulls back, stretching the victim's neck and shoulder. The opponent is orginally found belly first on the ground with the wrestler on top and to the side of the opponent. It is currently used as a finishing technique by "The Crippler" Chris Benoit, who calls it the Crippler Crossface. Front Chancery The wrestler faces his opponent, and both are in same position (prone or standing). The attacker then places his forearm under opponent's chin and armpit on top of it. The attacker may also underhook his opponent's arm with his free arm. Front facelock The wrestler faces his opponent, who is bent forward. The attacker tucks the victim's head in his armpit and wraps his arm around the head so that the forearm is pressed against the face. The wrestler then grabs the arm with his free hand to lock in the hold and compress the victim's face. Full nelson From behind his opponent, the wrestler slips both arms underneath the victim's armpits and locks his hands behind his neck, pushing the victim's head forward against his chest Half nelson Standing behind his opponent, the wrestler wraps one arm under the opponent's armpit (on the same side) and places the hand behind the victim's head. The attacker then pulls back with that side of his body while pushing forward with the hand, bending the victim's shoulder back and pressing the chin against the chest. Inverted facelock The wrestler stands behind his opponent and bends him backwards. The attacker tucks the victim's head face-up in his armpit and wraps his arm around the head so that the forearm is pressed against the back of the head. The wrestler then grabs the arm with his free hand to lock in the hold and compress the victim's face against the bicep. Three-quarters face lock Three-quarters nelson The three-quarter nelson hold is halfway between the full and half nelsons. One shoulder of the opponent is put in a nelson hold, the other is put in a hammer lock, or chicken wing arm bar. Sleeper hold See Sleeper hold Dragon sleeper STF a Step-over Toe-hold Facelock. This move takes a bit of work to set up, but is difficult to break. The victim is lying face down on the ground. The attacker takes the victim's legs, bends them at the knees, and crosses the feet. The attacker then turns around so that they are facing away from the opponent and hooks their one foot into the gap of the victim's feet. The attacker then does a backwards bridge to reach over their head and grasp the victim's neck. The victim is thus being stretched backwards from the neck and legs. A variation of this was used for awhile by Trish Stratus, who instead of bridging backwards, would simply turn her torso and perform a facelock on her opponent from behind. Arm locks Armbar The attacker grabs the opponents arm and wrenches it backward. This puts pressure on the shoulder and elbow. It is mostly forced out of by the down opponent. Crucifix Armbar The attacker holds an opponent's arm with his, pulling the arm across his chest. He is situated perpendicular to and behind the opponent. The attacker then holds the other arm with his legs, stretching the shoulders back in a crucifying position and hyperextending the elbow. This technique is also called a jujigatame, a term borrowed from Judo. Chickenwing The attacker grabs his opponent's arm, pulling it over the shoulder and behind the upper back so that the elbow is fully bent and sticks up next to the head. This stretches the tricep, lats, and shoulder joint, and immobilizes the arm. A modification of the move, involving locking the opponent's arm with the attacker's arm brought across the face, serving to bend the neck back as well, is called the crossface chickenwing. It was used by Bob Backlund in the mid-1990s. Hammerlock The attacker grabs his opponent's arm, pulling it around behind the opponent's back. This stretches the pectorals and shoulder joint, and immobilizes the arm. Wakigatame More widely known as an arm wrench. this is an arm bar technique used in Judo and Aikido, the wakigatame is a commonly used technique. The wrestler takes the opponents arm and twists it counter clockwise putting pressure of the shoulder and elbow. Fujiwara Armbar A grounded armbar with the victim laying on their belly, the aggressor lays on their back, on a 90 angle to the victim, putting some or all of their weight on the victim to prevent them from moving. The opponents arm is then hooked and pulled back into their body, stretching the forearms, biceps and pectoral muscles. Variations of this can include clasping the victims hand instead of hooking the upper arm for extra leverage and bridging out whilst performing the move to increase leverage and immobilise the victim. Wrist lock Chokes Claw Mandible claw The wrestler darts their middle and ring fingers into soft tissue under the victim's tongue. used by Mankind, who often put a sock on his hand before using the move. Double choke The wrestler grabs his opponent's throat with both hands and throttles him. Guillotine choke Half nelson choke The wrestler puts his opponent in a half nelson with one arm and grabs the victim's neck with the other. This hold is very similar to the judo choke hold known as a katahajime, frequently used as a finisher by Tazz and dubbed the "Tazzmission" when he used it. Rear naked choke Single arm choke The wrestler grabs his opponent's throat with one hand and squeezes. Tongan death grip The wrestler darts their hand under an opponent's chin. The wrestler grabs a hold on the pressure point above the throat. The wrestler squeezes on the nerve. Triangle choke The wrestler grabs hold of one his opponents arm and wraps his legs around the opponent's throat. Although it is a choke hold, it is still considered a legal hold. Commonly used in UFC and by WWE superstar The Undertaker as a submission hold. Body locks Bear hug A wrestler stands in front of an opponent and locks his hands around the victim, squeezing him. Gutwrench This is basically a bearhug from behind. A wrestler stands behind an opponent and locks his hands around the victim's stomach, pulling up and squeezing it. Back and torso stretches Abdominal stretch Facing his opponent's side, the wrestler straddles one of the victim's legs. The attacker reaches over the victim's near arm with the arm close to the victim's back and locks it. He then squats and twists to the side, flexing the victim's back and stretching their abdomen. Also known as the Cobra Twist. Argentine backbreaker rack The attacker places his opponent face-up across his shoulders, hooks the head with one hand and a leg with the other, and pulls down on both ends to flex the victim's back. This hold is also called the backbreaker rack, the Argentine backbreaker, and the human torture rack. The last name was used by Lex Luger, who used the move as his finisher. Backbreaker This move involves the wrestler to lay his opponent's back across one of his knees, then while placing one hand on his opponent's chin and the other on thier knee the wrestler would push down to bend the victim around his/her knee. This move is usally performed at the end of a pendulum backbreaker, a move which sees a wrestler drop an opponent down on the wrestler's knee, thus weakening the back before the hold is applied. Boston Crab This typically starts with the victim on his back, and the attacker standing and facing him. The attacker hooks each of the victim's legs in one of his arms, and then turns the victim face-down, stepping over him in the process. The final position has the attacker in a semi-sitting position and facing away from his victim, with the victim's back and legs bent back toward his face. In modern wrestling, the Boston crab isn't treated as a lethal submission manuever, even though it was considered a finishing hold in the past, used by such wrestlers as Rick "The Model" Martel. Many different variations are used today, including the Elevated Boston Crab used by WWE wrestler Chris Jericho, who calls it the "Walls of Jericho". Jericho's original version while in WCW (known then as the "Liontamer") involved placing his knee in the small of his victim's back, thus (supposedly) further wrenching the neck and causing more pain. Jericho altered the move upon arriving to WWF/E, however, and now the move is nothing more than a higher version of the Boston Crab. Single leg boston crab This typically starts with the victim on his back, and the attacker standing and facing him. The attacker hooks one of the victim's legs in one of his arms, and then turns the victim face-down, stepping over him in the process. The final position has the attacker in a semi-sitting position and facing away from his victim, with the victim's back and leg bent back toward his face, sometimes the attcker will place his leg so that his knee digs into the back of the victim. Lance Storm's "Canadian Maple Leaf" is a variation of this in which he performs a back somersault roll on the mat, catching a running opponent into a single leg crab Bow and arrow hold The attacker kneels on his opponent's back with both knees, hooking the head with one arm and the legs with the other. He then rolls back so that his opponent is suspended on his knees above him, facing up. The attacker pulls down with both arms while pushing up with the knees to bend the victim's back. Canadian backbreaker rack The attacker places his opponent face-up across one of his shoulders, then links his arms around the victim's torso and presses down, squeezing the victim's spine against the attacker's shoulder. Gory Special Back-to-back backbreaker submission, invented by Gory Guerrero. Surfboard The attacker grasps both of his opponent's wrists, places his foot on his opponent's upper back, and pulls back on the arms while pushing with his foot to compress the victim's shoulder blades. It is most often applied by a standing wrestler against a prone opponent, but may also be applied by a seated wrestler, or against a seated or kneeling victim. Leg locks Ankle Lock A wrestler using both arms takes hold of one of the opponents legs and lifts the victim's lower leg from the base of the foot to the shin and wraps both arms around the foot, placing one arm around the ankle tightly and resting his other on the tip of the foot where the toes are, in a butterfly lock position. He then applies pressure on both areas of the foot forcing the ankle to bend unnaturally. This submission move was first popularized in the WWF/WWE by mixed martial arts fighter Ken Shamrock, and later became the signature move of Olympic gold medalist and WWE superstar Kurt Angle. This move can also see the wrestler fall to the mat and Scissor the leg of the victim. This stops the opponent from rolling out of the move and makes it harder for them to crawl to the ropes. Figure Four Leglock The wrestler using this move stands over the opponent who is laying on the mat, face up and grasps a leg of the victim. The wrestler then turns 180 degrees and grasps the other leg, crossing them as he does so and falls to the mat, applying pressure to the opponent's crossed legs with his own. This move was made popular as the finishing move of all of the Nature Boys (Ric Flair, Buddy Rogers etc.) It was also used by Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. Reverse Figure Four Leglock The wrestler using this move stands over the opponent with the opponent face down and grasps a leg of the opponent. The wrestler then turns 180 degrees and grasps the other leg, crossing them as he does so and falls to the mat, applying pressure to the opponent's crossed legs with his own. This move is used by New Japan Pro Wrestling's superstar Yuji Nagata, and is known as the "Nagata Lock II". Damascus head-leglock The attacker forces the opponent to the ground and opens up the legs of the opponent, stepping in with both legs. The attacker then wraps his legs around the head of the opponent and crosses the opponent's legs, applying pressure on them with his hands. The attacker next turns 180 degrees and leans back, compressing the spine. This hold applies pressure on the temples, the calves, and compresses the spine. Also known as the D-lock for the capital D formed. Indian deathlock The victim is on his back. The attacker folds his opponent's legs over each other as if putting him in an "Indian sitting" posture, then places his own knee on top of the victim's shins and puts his weight on them. Sharpshooter The victim starts supine. The wrestler steps between his opponent's legs with one leg and wraps the opponent's legs around that leg. Holding the victim's legs in place, the wrestler then steps over the victim, flipping him over into a prone position. Finally, the attacker leans back to compress the legs. This hold was popularized in the WWE (then WWF) by Bret "The Hitman" Hart, who used it as his finisher and called it the Sharpshooter. It is currently used by WWE wrestlers The Rock and "The Crippler" Chris Benoit, who use Hart's name for the move. It is also called the Scorpion Deathlock, the name used by WCW mainstay Sting for the same maneuver. Sting actually popularized the hold under this name in the US before Hart began using it. Other names include: - grapevine Boston crab / grapevine crab
- cloverleaf leg-lace crab
Texas cloverleaf The wrestler stands at the feet of his supine opponent, grabs the victim's legs and lifts them up. He then bends one leg so that the shin is behind the knee of the straight leg and places the ankle of the straight leg in his armpit. With the same arm, he reaches around the ankle and through the opening formed by the legs, and locks his hands together. He then steps over his opponent, turning the victim over as in a sharpshooter. Finally, the wrestler squats and leans back, similarly to a Boston crab. The hold compresses the legs, flexes the spine, and stretches the abdomen. The move was pioneered by Dory Funk, Jr. but is most closely associated with Dean Malenko, who used it as his regular finisher. Inverted cloverleaf In this variation of a Texas cloverleaf instead of turning round when turning the victim over the wrestler faces the same direction as the opponent to spuat and lean forward to apply more pressure to the legs, spine, and abdomen. Currently, a Sharpshooter variation is used by Edge who referes to it as the Edgeucator. = Transition holds = Some holds are meant neither to pin an opponent, nor weaken them or force them to submit, but are intended to set up the victim for another attack. Fireman's carry The victim is draped face-down across the wrestler's shoulders, with the wrestler's arms wrapped around from behind. It is a key component of several throws, drops and slams. Gorilla press The wrestler lifts his opponent up over his head with arms fully extended (as in the military press used in weight lifting). From here many throws, drops and slams can be performed. It is a popular technique for very large wrestlers because it emphasizes their height and power. The Ultimate Warrior would often use this move followed by a body splash as his finisher. Pumphandle The wrestler stands behind his opponent and bends him forward. One of the victim's arms is pulled back between his legs and held, while the other arm is hooked, then the wrestler lifts the opponent up over his shoulder. From here many throws, drops and slams can be performed. Scoop Facing his opponent, the wrestler reaches between his opponent's legs with one arm and reaches around their back from the same side with his other arm. The wrestler lifts his opponent up so they are horizontal across the wrestlers body. From here many throws, drops and slams can be performed. Tilt-A-Whirl This can also can be a transition hold for counter attacks that sees the wrestler (who is being tilt-a-whirled) hit many throws and drops like a DDT or head scissors (hurricanrana). Tree of woe This involves a wrestler turning a victim upside down on a turnbuckle, and placing the victim's back against the turnbuckle. The victim's legs are then hooked under the top ropes, leaving the victim facing the attacker, upside down. This is an illegal tactic used by an attacker, only to choke, kick or to stomp on a victim until the referee uses up his five count. Wheelbarrow This move is achieved when a wrestler wraps a foward facing opponent's legs around the his waist (either by stands behind an opponent who is laying face-first on the mat or by catching a charging opponent), then the wrestler would apply a gutwrentch hold and lift the opponent up off the ground into the air, then either continue lifting and fall backwards to hit a variation of a German Suplex known as a Wheelbarrow Suplex, or forcing the victim back down to the mat to hit a facebuster variation. This can also can be a transition hold for counter attacks that sees the wrestler (who is being wheelbarrowed) hit many throws and drops like a DDT or a bulldog and rolling pin combinations.
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