10 Real Wrestling Moves

The best 10 real wrestling moves are used commonly in professional and amateur wrestling. While professional wrestling is done for entertainment rather than competition, it does have its roots in real wrestling. See how many of these real wrestling moves you recognize from professional or Greco-Roman wrestling.

  1. Suplex. The suplex in professional wrestling is based on the same concept as the original Greco-Roman suplex. A wrestler gets his opponent secured around the upper body, and then snaps the opponent over on to his back. In professional wrestling, the suplex is delivered standing up. In Greco-Roman wrestling, it is usually delivered from the kneeling position.
  2. Bridge. The bridge is extremely common in Greco-Roman wrestling as a pin move, or as a way out of being pinned. To perform a bridge, the wrestler lyes on his back and then arches his back as high as he can. The move helps professional and Greco-Roman wrestlers to gain leverage over an opponent that is on top of them, or hold down an opponent that they are trying to pin.
  3. Full Nelson. A full nelson is applied to the upper body of a wrestler from behind. The wrestler puts his arms under his opponent's arms, and then locks his fingers behind the opponent's head. When the opponent is seated, this can become a very effective way to minimize the opponent's ability to move.
  4. Half Nelson. The half nelson is the full nelson performed with one arm. It is used in professional and Greco-Roman wrestling as a way to take an opponent off balance and get him to the mat.
  5. Figure-Four Leg Lock. In Greco-Roman wrestling, it can be extremely difficult to apply a figure-four leg lock because the match is not choreographed as it is in professional wrestling, and the opponent can often block its application. But when it is in place, in professional or Greco-Roman wrestling, it is used as a submission hold.
  6. Scissors Hold. The scissors hold is done when a wrestler wraps his legs around his opponent and squeezes until the opponent submits. This is one of the most common real wrestling moves used by professional and Greco-Roman wrestler. It can be countered by turning the wrestler applying the scissors on to his stomach.
  7. Sharpshooter. The sharpshooter is a name given to the professional wrestling version of this real wrestling move, but it is used in Greco-Roman wrestling as well. The wrestler gets his opponent on the stomach, places his feet under each arm, lifts each arm up past the knees and then applies pressure to the opponent's back.
  8. Leg Sweep. This is a simple yet effective real wrestling move. It is a move that professionals must master before they are allowed to join the pro wrestling ranks. When two wrestlers are locked up in a standing position, one reaches over with his leg and sweeps the opponent's legs out from under him.
  9. Headlock. A headlock is a very painful and common wrestling move. A wrestler wraps his arm around the top of his opponent's head and applies pressure. If the headlock is moved to the neck area then it becomes an illegal choke hold and must be released.
  10. Ankle Lock. An ankle lock is a submission move in professional and Greco-Roman wrestling. The wrestler grabs his opponent's ankle, and then twists it until the opponent feels the pain. A persistent ankle lock can easily break the opponent's ankle.



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