Top 15 Submission Holds in WWE History

Wrestling's Ultimate Equilizer

15- Ronda Rousey's Armbar

Ronda Rousey's Armbar is the most legitimate submission in WWE history, directly transferring from her Olympic Judo and dominant UFC career. The rapid, seamless transition from a throw or takedown into the hold is its most terrifying aspect. The move is highly protected and instantly credible, often resulting in immediate taps due to the real-life threat of hyperextension, lending unparalleled authenticity to her character.

14- "Rowdy" Roddy Piper's Sleeper Hold

The Sleeper Hold perfectly matched "Rowdy" Roddy Piper’s unpredictable, aggressive persona. Unlike technical submissions, this rear choke was a simple yet effective way to render an opponent unconscious, fitting his brawling style. Piper would dramatically cinch in the hold, often using the ropes for leverage, presenting it as a dangerous, no-nonsense maneuver that demonstrated the pure malice and tenacity of the legendary heel.

13- Tazz's Tazzmission

The Tazzmission is a half-nelson choke, based on the legitimate judo submission called the Kata-Ha-Jime. As the "Human Suplex Machine," Taz used this hold to instantly finish opponents, forcing them to either tap out or pass out from the lack of oxygen. It was a highly protected move that gained notoriety in ECW, and he famously used it in his surprise WWE debut to defeat the previously unbeaten Kurt Angle.

12- Bob Backlund's Crossface Chickenwing

Bob Backlund utilized the Crossface Chickenwing as his signature hold, which perfectly suited his intense, amateur wrestling background. The move is an excruciating half-nelson applied with a facelock, used to compress the opponent's neck and jaw. During his heel run, he applied the hold with maniacal intensity, making it look genuinely painful and presenting it as a devastating hold from which escape was nearly impossible.

11- Dean Malenko's Texas Cloverleaf

The Texas Cloverleaf is Dean Malenko's most famous submission, a deep, standing variation of the Cloverleaf/Leg-Trap Sharpshooter. Known as "The Man of 1,000 Holds," Malenko utilized his incredible technical skill to transition seamlessly into this painful back and leg compression hold. He applied the move with intense, grinding pressure, making it a highly protected and believable finisher during his time as a celebrated Cruiserweight and technical specialist.

10- The Iron Sheik's Camel Clutch

The Camel Clutch is The Iron Sheik’s iconic submission, applied to a prone opponent by kneeling on their back and pulling back on their chin and head. It became famous as the finishing move used to defeat Bob Backlund for the WWF Championship in 1983. The move perfectly fit his anti-American, traditional heel gimmick, as he would often boast about breaking the opponent’s back and making them "humble."

9- Mankind’s Mandible Claw

Of all the maneuvers on this list, none is as bizarre as Mankind's Mandible Claw. Targeting the vulnerable flesh under the tongue, the former WWE Champion would drive his fingers into his opponent's mouth and push down until they convulsed. To add to the insanity of this unique hold, The Hardcore Legend often applied the Mandible Claw while wearing a filthy tube sock named Mr. Socko over his hand. It's hard to say what was worse, the agony of the pain or the taste of the maniac's toe fungus.

8- Daniel Bryan's "Yes!" Lock

The "Yes!" Lock is a deep, modified omoplata/cross-face chicken wing combination, perfectly suited for Daniel Bryan’s aggressive, technical style. He often used the opponent's own arm to crank the facelock, creating maximum pressure on the neck and shoulder. The move became synonymous with his improbable rise to stardom, with the crowd chanting "Yes!" every time he applied the painful, match-ending submission hold.

7- John Cena’s STF

The STF (Stepover Toehold Facelock) became John Cena's signature submission after debuting in late 2005. The move involves twisting the opponent's leg with a toehold while applying a facelock to the head. Originally nicknamed the "STF-U" during his more aggressive era, it served as the secondary finisher to his Attitude Adjustment, making him a credible threat against larger, power-based opponents throughout his record-setting championship career.

6- Brock Lesnar's Kimura Lock

Brock Lesnar's Kimura Lock is a devastating double wrist-lock aimed at fracturing the opponent's shoulder and arm. Borrowed directly from his MMA expertise, Lesnar introduced it to target injured opponents like Triple H and Shawn Michaels, adding a frightening, legitimate edge to his matches. It is presented as a brutal, sudden threat capable of forcing instantaneous submission, making his already dominant offense even more dangerous.

5- Ric Flair’s Figure-Four Leglock

The root of any Superstar's power is in their legs. Take away that base and the competitor ultimately topples. This is why the Figure-Four Leglock has been such an effective maneuver for decades. First made famous by the great Buddy Rogers, the hold does leave the performer open for various reversals, but it is fully destructive when properly applied. Synonymous with WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, the hold was also a favorite of greats like Shawn Michaels and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.

4- Chris Jericho's Walls of Jericho

The Walls of Jericho is a variation of the Elevated Boston Crab, expertly utilized by Chris Jericho throughout his career. Jericho elevates his opponent's legs high off the mat and dramatically wrenches back, applying intense pressure to the lower back and hamstrings. This maneuver became synonymous with his main event run, proving to be a highly effective and signature finish capable of forcing champions to tap out consistently.

3- Kurt Angle's Ankle Lock

Kurt Angle's Ankle Lock was a staple of the Ruthless Aggression Era, giving his character instant legitimacy due to his Olympic background. He employed it as a sudden, high-impact maneuver, often transitioning into a painful grapevine for maximum effect. Angle sold the submission as excruciating, utilizing his technical genius to apply the hold quickly and dramatically, forcing numerous main event stars to frantically tap out.

2- The Undertaker's Hell's Gate

The Hell's Gate is a deadly variation of the Gogoplata, a legitimate MMA submission hold. The Undertaker introduced it in 2008 as a brutal counter-move, often used when exhausted. Applied from the ground, he traps the opponent's head with his legs and uses his shin bone to crush the throat and choke them out. The move was briefly kayfabe-banned due to its perceived lethality, instantly establishing it as one of his most feared, devastating, and believable weapons.

1- Bret Hart's Sharpshooter

The Sharpshooter is arguably the most famous submission in WWE history, synonymous with Bret "The Hitman" Hart. A variation of a leg-lock, Hart applied it with textbook precision, crossing the opponent's legs and flipping them over to wrench the lower back and hamstrings. It was presented as an absolutely final, match-ending move from which escape was rare, cementing its legacy as the defining submission of the Golden and Attitude Eras.