In addition to grappling, submissions are also an integral part of pro wrestling, especially WWE. And, the superstars require a wide arsenal of moves in order to stay relevant to the audience for a long time. However, only a few wrestlers prefer using submission moves to defeat their opponents. So, in this list, we’ll take a look at the 10 best submission moves in the history of WWE.
The 10 Best Submission Moves in the History of WWE
10. Mandible Claw
The WWE universe has a mixed opinion about the Mandible Claw. Some of the fans think that the move is highly effective. However, for some, it doesn’t deserve the hype. It was Mick Foley, who adopted the move from Sam Shepard and made it popular. Consequently, hunching down a wrestler’s mouth with the hand is not possible for all the stars. The move was later used by the Fiend a number of times.
9. Hurt Lock
The move initially made its debut in the promotion as “Master Lock”, the signature move of Chris Masters. But now, the move has been adapted by “The Almighty” Bobby Lashley as the Hurt lock. In 2021, Lashley even used the move to capture his maiden WWE Championship. The Hurt Lock is a military-inspired manoeuvre, which is also known as the “Nelson Lock”.
8. Figure Eight
In simple words, Charlotte Flair’s Figure Eight is a modified and more spectacular version of her father, Ric Flair’s Figure Four. The Queen has made numerous superstars tap out against her submission manoeuvre. With the submission move, Charlotte is also taking forward her family’s wrestling legacy.
7. Ankle Lock
The move was initially made famous by Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle. The move is designed to apply excessive pressure on the opponent’s ankle by twisting it into the opposite side. Kurt Angle has won numerous matches with his brilliant submission tactics. Currently, the move is used by Chad Gable, who’s also an Olympian.
6. The Hell’s Gate
The name of the Undertaker finds a place for itself in all the top lists of promotion. The Deadman was a huge fan of mixed martial arts and watching that, he picked up the Gogoplata submission from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that he called the Hell’s Gate.
5. Kimura Lock
The Kimura Lock is an MMA-inspired manoeuvre that can cause a lot of damage if done seriously. According to fans, UFC’s rise is a prominent reason why WWE has added more submission moves to their arsenal. “The Beast Incarnate” Brock Lesnar has been using a new and modified version of the move over the years.
4. Asuka Lock
Since making her debut in WWE, Asuka has been nothing less than an unstoppable force. She has won almost every time in addition to her Royal Rumble trimuph. Whenever Asuka is in the ring, she is really strong, agile and mindful. The Japanese Sensation is also well-versed with submission moves as she uses a Cross Face Chicken Wing she calls the “Asuka Lock.”
3. Walls of Jericho
Chris Jericho’s charismatic persona was a perfect match for his submission move Walls of Jericho. Y2J made his own variation of the much-known Boston Crab. The way Jericho elevated the bodies of the superstars, that moved made his place in the heart of fans.
2. The Sharpshooter
Bret The Hitman Hart ended numerous matches with his lethal-looking Sharpshooter. Walking on the steps of the Hitman, the Rock also picked up the submission move. He never won a match with the manoeuvre but he always received a huge pop from the audience because of that.
1. The Stamp Puller
The move has always been given to the heels of the promotion. Popularized by Matt Borne as well at Doink The Clown, the submission manoeuvre made his superstars look like a bully. As the name suggests, the move required a lot of pulling to make it gruesome. To imply the move, the wrestler sits on his opponent’s shoulders keeping their arms at bay and then grabs their leg and then does exactly what the name of the move implies.
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