Best Pro Wrestling Submissions

The Top Ten
1 Sharpshooter

The best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be. No one pulls off this submission hold like Bret "The Hitman" Hart!

2 Hell's Gate

It is the deadliest hold in WWE, having made some people spit blood.

3 Figure 4 Leglock

The greatest submission hold in the history of pro wrestling.

4 Walls of Jericho
5 Sleeper Hold

If you apply enough pressure, the Sleeper Hold looks brutal! Look at the variations by Suzuki, Joe, and Okada's cobra variation. If applied correctly, there's virtually no escape.

In my league, everyone taps out when you apply pressure with the sleeper hold.

6 Crippler Crossface
7 Arm Bar

I use the arm bar to win 14 of my 30 matches in my wrestling league, the UWE. We've been together for three months, and I'm the only undefeated wrestler.

An armlock used in martial arts as well, this can also be known as a cross armbreaker or straight armlock.

8 STF

Sometimes you forget that John Cena didn't actually invent this Crossface variation. A wrestler called Lou Thesz was the first to utilize this submission. If the name sounds familiar, you're likely thinking of the Lou Thesz Press, famously used by legends such as Stone Cold Steve Austin and Randy Orton. Lou Thesz also invented other influential moves like the German Suplex and the DDT, which have been used effectively by wrestlers like Jake Roberts, Brock Lesnar, and even The Rock.

9 Anaconda Vise

Within seconds, a person passes out once the Anaconda Vise is locked in. It's better to be by the ropes.

10 Khali Vise Grip
The Contenders
11 Ankle Lock

Kurt Angle's Ankle Lock was one of the first submissions that kids who started watching WWF/WWE around that time would see, and they found it brutal! However, the wrestling world now favors moves like Roman Reigns' guillotine or Gunther's sleeper. It's still cool to see Chad Gable execute it on every other episode of RAW.

Moves don't have to be complicated to be painful, and this move is a perfect example of that.

12 Kimura Lock

The Kimura Lock is a brutal MMA hold used effectively in WWE by former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar. He has used this deadly submission to win many important matches, including his Royal Rumble 2019 Universal Title match against Finn Balor. It is both visually devastating and effective, helping Lesnar bulldoze through WWE's locker room with ease.

I don't know why more people don't use this move in WWE. Someone is guaranteed to tap out in ten seconds or less. It's that painful.

13 Calf Killer

One of the most dangerous submission moves, used by the number one wrestler, The Phenomenal AJ Styles. This submission move deserves the number one spot.

Randy Orton has the RKO out of nowhere. AJ has the Calf Killer out of nowhere. Plus, it's called the Calf Crusher.

14 The Hart Lock

Come on! This hold is a mix of the Sharpshooter and Hell's Gate! It's amazing!

15 Lion Tamer

The Lion Tamer is superior to both the Sharpshooter and the Walls of Jericho. Just watch Chris Jericho use the Lion Tamer on Rey Mysterio. It's incredible! It deserves to be ranked number three.

16 LeBell/Yes/No Lock

Daniel Bryan is one of the most technical wrestlers of all time because he perfected this painful submission.

If someone gets caught in the Yes Lock, I don't think they would escape.

17 The Muta Lock

The way Muta bridges with it is amazing. It looks like it could snap your neck.

18 Figure Eight Leglock
19 Cocina Glitch
20 Brock Lock
21 The Rings of Saturn
22 Inverted Sharpshooter
23 Mandible Claw

You take your middle and ring fingers and push down on the soft tissue under the tongue. Just describing it sounds painful.

24 The Tazmission
25 Bank Statement
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