Best Submission Finishers In WWE History Ranked

cullenjmc
Jul 9, 2025
2 min read

Submissions are the key to putting on a technical classic. Unfortunately, some wrestlers waste submission moves. They use it like a headlock. But, there are those who protect their finisher like a hawk. These are the top five finishers ever.

#5 The Walls Of Jericho

Chris Jericho used this move to perfection. The move is already PAINFUL, and Chris added to the prestige of this legendary move. He used it on bitter rivals like Shawn Michaels and Kevin Owens. He also protected his finisher from being an overused move that wrestlers knew it was coming. If he hit the Walls Of Jericho the match was usually OVER.

#4 Kurt Angle’s Anckle Lock

Unlike most submission finishers, the anckle lock looks like it could break a bone or two. It HURTS. MMA fighters sometimes use it to break the opponent’s ankle so they will tap out! Kurt used it perfectly. He could counter almost every move with it.

#3 Daniel Bryan’s YES! Lock

Daneil was small for a wrestler. He was only 5’9. Yet, how did he win 4 WWE championships? He put the right moves in his arsenal. The yes lock was one of them. Here you can see a near 300 pound Brock Lesnar getting DESTROYED by Bryan just because Bryan was the better wrestler. The crowd would chant yes, yes, yes because they were hoping that the opposing wrestler would tap and it was VERY effective.

#2 Ric Flair’s Figure Four Leg Lock

Ric Flair is a technical everything. He has put on countless classic performances even when he was old. Flair is considered by many to be pro wrestling’s GOAT. But, what was is main move to win all those 16 world championships? It was THE FIGURE FOUR LEG LOCK! He has executed it on countless wrestlers and made them tap out. The crowd would say woooo whenever Flair hit his main move. Also, this move was a real knee cap breaker.

#1 Bret Hart and Owen Hart’s Sharpshooter

This move is the definition of a perfect submission move. Hart has had many famous moments using it, most notably Steve Austin at Wrestlemania 13. Hart protects his finishing move so that when he hits it the match is DONE. He makes it even more special is when the wrestler breaks the hold it is a special moment. The GOAT submission move is AWESOME.