Professional wrestling’s most iconic moments are often defined by the finishing moves that bring crowds to their feet. In women’s wrestling, a well-executed finisher can transcend generations – becoming as legendary as the athletes themselves. These moves blend popularity among fans, in-ring effectiveness, historical significance, and pure visual impact. From high-flying spectacles to bone-crunching submissions, each has left an indelible mark on the sport. In true Sports Illustrated fashion, we count down the top 10 female wrestler finishing moves of all time, spanning WWE, AEW, TNA/Impact, NJPW/Stardom, and the independent circuit. Each entry highlights the wrestler, the move, and why it deserves its spot among the elite.
10. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. – Lockjaw
In All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Britt Baker’s Lockjaw has quickly become one of the most notorious modern finishers, perfectly marrying character and craft. A real-life dentist turned wrestling star, Baker employs a vicious combination of a double arm-trap Rings of Saturn and the Mandible Claw, clamping her gloved hand over an opponent’s mouth. The result is a gruesomely effective submission hold that has felled many foes in AEW’s fledgling women’s division. Baker’s persona as the cocky, resilient “Role Model” was solidified when she famously applied the Lockjaw with her face streaked in blood – an image that became an instant modern classic.
What makes the Lockjaw stand out is its mix of psychology and showmanship. The move’s origin even stemmed from Baker’s dental background and a brainstorming session with AEW’s owner Tony Khan, who loved the idea of a dentist using a Mandible Claw as a finisher. By adding her own twist – literally bridging into a Rings of Saturn – Baker created something unique to her style. Fans quickly learned that when the doctor locked in her submission, it usually meant game over for her opponent. In fact, the Lockjaw is considered one of the most protected finishing moves in AEW today, rarely escaped once fully applied. Its popularity soared as Baker headlined events; she memorably used Lockjaw to clinch the AEW Women’s World Championship, underscoring its in-ring effectiveness. With her mix of grit and grin, Dr. Britt Baker’s Lockjaw has established itself as a defining maneuver of the current era, proving that even a newer promotion’s stars can deliver a finishing move with lasting legacy potential.
9. Kairi Sane – Insane Elbow
When the “Pirate Princess” Kairi Sane ascends the ropes and salutes the sky, every fan in the arena rises in anticipation. Her Insane Elbow drop is a breathtaking blend of beauty and brutality. With theatrical flair, Kairi stands atop the turnbuckle as if balancing on a ship’s mast, then leaps high and bows her body in mid-air, driving her elbow straight into the heart of her opponent. The impact is thunderous – a move so powerful it often seals a pinfall on the spot. The visual impact is unmistakable: Sane seemingly hangs in the air for a split second before plummeting down, making the audience gasp and her opponent writhe.
Kairi Sane’s Insane Elbow has drawn comparisons to the legendary “Macho Man” Randy Savage’s elbow drop, with many fans and pundits arguing that Sane’s version is among the best ever. It became her calling card during a decorated run in WWE’s NXT, where she won the inaugural Mae Young Classic tournament and later the NXT Women’s Championship – both times sealing victory with that top-rope elbow. The maneuver’s popularity among fans was evident each time the crowd shouted “Ahoy!” along with her pirate war cry. Historically, Kairi helped bring the high-flying joshi style from Japan’s Stardom promotion to a global audience, even returning to Japan in 2022 to debut the Insane Elbow in front of her home crowd. In a crowning achievement, Sane became the first-ever IWGP Women’s Champion in NJPW/Stardom, again with her elbow drop as the exclamation point of her matches. The Insane Elbow’s legacy is one of awe – a move that encapsulates Kairi Sane’s adventurous spirit and shows how a single spectacular finisher can capture the imagination of fans worldwide.
8. Gail Kim – Eat Defeat
A pioneer of the TNA/Impact Knockouts division, Gail Kim introduced a finisher so innovative and popular that it has been borrowed by wrestlers across the globe. Her Eat Defeat – cheekily also spelled “Eat Da Feet” – is a masterstroke of athletic ingenuity. With an opponent dazed, Gail raises one leg high, almost into a vertical split, pressing her boot against the opponent’s face. In a flash, she grabs their arm and falls backward, snapping the opponent’s jaw across her foot. The sudden impact looks as devastating as its punny name implies, as if forcing the opponent to “eat” her foot. The move’s visual impact and uniqueness made it an immediate fan favorite in the late 2000s, when Gail was leading a renaissance of women’s wrestling in TNA.
Beyond its flashy appearance, Eat Defeat was highly effective in-ring – it earned Gail multiple championships. In fact, she capped off her Hall of Fame career by winning a record-setting seventh Knockouts Championship with a top-rope variation of Eat Defeat in her final match. The ability to execute the move on anyone – from smaller high-flyers to powerhouse opponents – made it a reliable match-ender. Historically, Gail Kim’s success with Eat Defeat helped establish the credibility of the Knockouts division as equal to the men, proving women could have iconic finishers too. It became so well-known that younger wrestlers (from WWE’s Mia Yim to independent stars) asked Gail for permission to use it, a testament to the move’s fame. Gail has noted she doesn’t mind others adopting it “as long as it is used as a finisher”, underscoring the respect the move commands. Popularity among fansremains high – the crisp, out-of-nowhere execution of Eat Defeat always elicits a roar. To this day, when a wrestler lands this face-breaking maneuver, it pays homage to Gail Kim’s trailblazing legacy and the idea that a great finisher can define an era of women’s wrestling.
7. Asuka – Asuka Lock
Dubbed “The Empress of Tomorrow,” Asuka brought an aura of invincibility to WWE – and her signature Asuka Lockwas a major reason why no one was ready for Asuka. The Asuka Lock is a fearsome submission hold, essentially a rear naked choke combined with a shoulder-wrenching arm trap (a variation of the crossface chickenwing). Once Asuka snakes her arms around an opponent’s neck and traps one arm, she grapevines her legs around their waist, constricting like a python. The result? Opponents either tap out within seconds or risk taking an involuntary nap on the mat. This move was so effective that it underpinned Asuka’s historic undefeated streak. During her time in NXT, Asuka amassed the longest winning streak in modern WWE history – surpassing even Goldberg’s famous 173-0 run – with the Asuka Lock often dealing the final blow.
The in-ring effectiveness of the Asuka Lock is further exemplified by Asuka achieving the fastest submission win in WWE history. In a 2017 Raw match, her opponent charged recklessly at the bell; Asuka instantly applied an armbar/Asuka Lock hybrid and earned a tap-out in just three seconds, the fastest clean submission ever recorded in WWE. That jaw-dropping feat (achieved without any weapons or interference) showcased how dangerous Asuka’s finisher truly is. Popularity among fans grew with each triumph – the sight of Asuka locking in her hold became a signal for frenzied applause, as audiences knew they were witnessing dominance. Historically, the Asuka Lock continued the legacy of deadly submission finishers in women’s wrestling, echoing moves from legends like Chyna or Jazz but taken to a new level of intensity and credibility. Its legacy is cemented by Asuka’s championship resume: NXT Women’s Champion, multiple-time Raw and SmackDown Women’s Champion, and even Royal Rumble winner – all achieved while rarely ever being defeated or having her finisher countered. The Asuka Lock’s combination of technical precision and brute force reflects Asuka’s blend of Japanese strong style and WWE polish. It remains a move that evokes both admiration and fear – a true mark of a legendary finisher shaping a wrestler’s enduring legacy.
6. Sasha Banks (Mercedes Moné) – Bank Statement
Flashy yet fundamentally sound, Sasha Banks’s Bank Statement is the perfect embodiment of “The Boss” herself – stylish, innovative, and absolutely punishing. The move starts with a lunging backstabber, as Sasha drives both knees into her opponent’s back from behind. But she doesn’t stop there. In one fluid motion, Banks transitions mid-roll into a tight crossface, wrenching back on her opponent’s neck and shoulders. This seamless combination of high-impact strike into submission is unique to Sasha Banks and proved to be a giant-slayer in both NXT and WWE main roster competition. With the Bank Statement locked in, Banks has made everyone from champions to larger foes tap out – it’s a move she can apply to virtually anyone, male or female, thanks to her leverage and technique.
The Bank Statement’s popularity stems from both its creativity and the big-match moments it delivered. Sasha captured multiple Women’s Championships with this finisher, often in show-stealing bouts. Fans learned to pop the moment she hit the backstabber, knowing the crippling crossface was coming next – a combination that often meant instant victory. Sasha herself has spoken about designing the move: early in her WWE career she wanted a new finisher that wasn’t “basic,” something that would stand out. With a coach’s help, she flipped her beloved backstabber into a submission, quipping it was “money, like a bank statement” – thus giving it a memorable name and personal branding. The move’s effectiveness is matched by its flair; Banks prides herself on how quickly and in how many variations she can apply it, saying, “I can get that sucker on anybody, really fast, and in any variation”. Historically, the Bank Statement was central to the acclaimed matches of the WWE “Women’s Evolution.” Who can forget Sasha using it to make Charlotte Flair tap out in their 2016 Raw main event, or applying it in the first women’s Hell in a Cell match? Now competing as Mercedes Moné in Japan’s Stardom/NJPW, she carries the move’s legacy overseas (even as she experiments with new finishers like the Moné Maker). The legacy of the Bank Statement is secure: it’s a finisher that not only won championships, but also symbolized the modern era of women’s wrestling – technical excellence fused with crowd-pleasing style, courtesy of “The Boss.”
5. Awesome Kong (Kharma) – Awesome Bomb
Pure power personified – that’s the only way to describe Awesome Kong’s Awesome Bomb. In an era when women’s wrestling often lacked dominant heavyweights, Kong (also known as Kharma in WWE) broke the mold with her imposing size and strength, and her finishing move drove the point home emphatically. The Awesome Bomb is Kong’s take on the classic sit-out powerbomb, delivered with extra ferocity. Very few women (or men, for that matter) can deliver a powerbomb with the impact and sheer force that Kong can. When this monster of a woman hoists an opponent onto her shoulders, the crowd knows a brutal end is near. Kong then swings them down as she sits out, cratering her foe into the mat. The ring rattles, the audience winces, and more often than not, the referee counts to three. In storyline terms, it’s nearly impossible to kick out once Kong delivers this maneuver.
The Awesome Bomb became the calling card of Kong’s dominance across multiple promotions. In TNA/Impact Wrestling, she wielded it to steamroll the competition and capture the Knockouts Championship, proving a powerful finisher could propel a woman to the top of the card. The move’s in-ring effectiveness was demonstrated in streaks of victories and an aura of invincibility; it was a finisher so intimidating that fans believed no one could stand up from it. Historically, Kong brought a new level of respect to women’s power wrestling – her wars with Gail Kim (featuring ring-shaking Awesome Bombs) were the backbone of TNA’s Knockouts revolution in the late 2000s. Even on the independent circuit and in Japan, where she toured as “Amazing Kong,” the Awesome Bomb was feared and revered. Popularity among fans soared because the move was both believable and spectacular; it wasn’t about finesse, it was about raw destructive power, and Kong delivered it in spades. Though her WWE run as Kharma was brief, she made an impact (famously Awesome Bombing divas and even entering the Royal Rumble). The legacy of the Awesome Bomb endures as a symbol that women’s finishers can be every bit as hard-hitting as the men’s. Kong’s career blazed a trail for larger-than-life athletes in women’s wrestling, and her Awesome Bomb was the hammer that shattered many a glass ceiling – and many opponents’ hopes – along the way.
4. Becky Lynch – Dis-Arm-Her
When Becky Lynch transformed into “The Man,” she needed a finisher as straightforward and devastating as her no-nonsense attitude. Enter the Dis-Arm-Her, a pun-tinged name for a punishing move. Lynch’s Dis-Arm-Her is essentially a seated Fujiwara armbar, a hold that sees her wrenching an opponent’s arm back at a gruesome angle while trapping their shoulder under her armpit. It’s a move born from technical wrestling tradition but executed with modern aggression. What makes the Dis-Arm-Her so potent is Becky’s ability to apply it from almost any position – a true out-of-nowhere submission. “It’s a move I can get on from anywhere,” Becky once explained, emphasizing its versatility. And once she’s got it locked in, the Irish Lass Kicker isn’t shy about what comes next: “If they don’t tap out, it will literally rip their shoulder out of their socket… If you don’t tap out, game over,” Lynch has said, half-joking and half deadly serious.
The in-ring effectiveness of the Dis-Arm-Her cannot be overstated. Becky used this armbar to submit some of the biggest names in WWE on her way to the top. It was integral to her rise in 2018-2019, when she caught fire with the audience and rode that momentum to the main event of WrestleMania. In that historic WrestleMania 35 headliner – the first-ever women’s match to close WWE’s biggest show – Lynch used a modified version of the Dis-Arm-Her (combined with a crucifix pin) to vanquish Ronda Rousey and claim the Raw and SmackDown Women’s titles. The move’s popularitysoared as Becky’s popularity did; fans would chant “Becky!” in anticipation whenever she started manipulating an opponent’s arm, knowing the end could be seconds away. Its historical significance is tied to Lynch’s status as one of the faces of WWE’s women’s evolution – a submission finisher that is credible in any era, but especially poignant in the reality-based, MMA-influenced landscape of modern wrestling (fittingly, Rousey herself fell prey to Lynch’s armbar). Visually, the Dis-Arm-Her might not have the flash of a top-rope move, but it sends a clear message: this is a hold that hurts. Watching Lynch arch her hips and her opponent’s anguished face as their arm is torqued is drama in itself. The legacy of the Dis-Arm-Her is intertwined with Becky Lynch’s own legacy – a symbol of her technical skill and relentless determination. Just like “The Man” herself, the move is efficient, crowd-pleasing, and leaves anyone who challenges her with no choice but to tap out or suffer the consequences.
3. Charlotte Flair – Figure Eight Leglock
How do you take one of the most famous finishers in history and make it your own? If you’re Charlotte Flair, you add a dash of athleticism and a big nod to your legendary lineage. Charlotte’s Figure Eight Leglock is an evolution of her father Ric Flair’s iconic Figure Four – with a literal twist. She begins by applying the classic Figure Four leglock, pain coursing through her opponent’s knees. But then comes the flair: Charlotte bridges up on her hands, arching her body high off the mat. This not only makes for a fantastic visual (her flexibility and core strength on display), but it also increases the pressure on her opponent’s legs exponentially. Charlotte confidently touts it as “twice as good” as the original, and even the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair had to agree that his daughter took his signature hold to a higher level. By bridging into the Figure Eight, Charlotte claims to double the pain – hence the name, as if to say this is the Figure Four cranked up to an eight (out of ten, or maybe out of Flair, who knows).
The popularity among fans of the Figure Eight grew in tandem with Charlotte’s ascent as the queen of WWE’s women’s division. A multi-time Women’s Champion (racking up a tally of reigns rivaling her dad’s famous 16 world titles), Charlotte has won countless big matches with the Figure Eight. Notably, she used it to break Asuka’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania 34, a hugely significant moment that affirmed Charlotte’s top-tier status. The in-ring effectiveness of the hold is rarely questioned – once bridged, few opponents ever find an escape. Often, the drama comes in whether Charlotte can bridge before someone reverses the base Figure Four; if she does, tapping out is almost inevitable. Historically, Charlotte’s use of the Figure Eight ties the legacy of the Four Horsemen era to today’s performers, symbolizing the bridge (quite literally) between generations. It’s a tribute and an upgrade. As one publication noted, “while Ric made a name making opponents tap to the Figure Four, Charlotte has taken it one step further with her finisher, the Figure Eight”. The move also showcases Charlotte’s exceptional athleticism – not every wrestler (male or female) can execute that full bridge with pressure. In terms of visual impact, the image of Charlotte, face twisted in effort, arms planted as she forms a perfect arch, with her opponent writhing below, has become one of this era’s defining pictures. The Figure Eight has proven to be as much a part of the Flair family legacy as “Wooo!” – a finishing move that honors tradition while forging its own greatness.
2. Lita – Litasault (Moonsault)
Long before women’s wrestling featured TLC matches and main-evented pay-per-views, Lita was daring to be different – and nothing exemplified her fearless style quite like her Litasault. A classic moonsault (back flip off the top rope) adopted as her finishing maneuver, the Litasault was the high-flying highlight of WWE’s early 2000s women’s division. In an era where her contemporaries mostly stuck to the mat, Lita would climb to the top turnbuckle, give a quick devil-may-care glance over her shoulder, and launch herself backward into the void. She’d rotate gracefully, body stretched out, and crash onto her opponent chest-to-chest in a perfect arc. Fans erupted every time – partly out of excitement, partly out of sheer amazement that she would risk it all. As one wrestling publication put it, the Litasault was the move that “helped put Lita on the map”, featuring in highlight reels with Lita landing on everyone from Trish Stratus to even male wrestlers. Indeed, WWE themselves highlighted her moonsault in a special celebrating Women’s History Month, cementing its iconic status.
The visual impact of the Litasault is undeniable. Unlike a standard moonsault, Lita’s version always had a whip of the neck and a snap that made it look both beautiful and just a touch reckless – which was Lita’s persona to a tee. She wasn’t the polished acrobat; she was the punk-rock daredevil, and her finisher reflected that. Fans of the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression eras have endless fond memories of Lita pulling off this move in chunky boots and baggy pants, often as the jaw-dropping climax to mixed-tag team battles alongside the Hardy Boyz. Popularity among fans? Just listen to the crowds. There was often a louder pop for Lita climbing the ropes than for some of the men’s finishers at the time. Her willingness to put her body on the line earned massive respect and adoration. In terms of effectiveness, the Litasault won Lita multiple Women’s Championships and decided historic matches (her 2006 retirement match saw her attempt a Litasault, though ironically she lost that night). But more than wins and losses, the historical significance of the Litasault lies in how it expanded the horizons for female talent. Lita proved women could galvanize an audience with high-risk, high-reward moves just like the guys. Every subsequent generation’s daredevil – from Eve Torres’s moonsault to Io Shirai’s aerial artistry – carries a bit of Lita’s legacy. The Litasault was pioneering, the first true high-flyer finisher for a WWE woman in a mainstream era, and it remains one of the most fondly remembered finishing moves of all time.
1. Trish Stratus – Stratusfaction
Topping this list is a move that combines a little bit of everything – athleticism, showmanship, and a whole lot of Stratusfaction. Trish Stratus’s Stratusfaction is as fun to watch as it is effective, and it became the perfect exclamation point to the career of one of WWE’s most celebrated female superstars. At its core, Stratusfaction is a springboard bulldog: Trish secures her opponent in a front facelock, takes a few running steps to the ropes, then springs off the middle rope, using the momentum to swing herself around and plant her opponent face-first into the mat. In Trish’s hands, this move was more than a textbook maneuver – it was a statement. She’d often signal with her index finger in the air before takeoff, a nod to the audience that the end was near. And inevitably, when she nailed it, the three-count followed, sending the crowd into delirium.
Popularity among fans came easy for a move as flashy and satisfying as this. By the mid-2000s, Trish was arguably the most beloved figure in WWE’s women’s division (a record seven Women’s Championship reigns attest to that), and Stratusfaction was her trusty clincher in big matches. As WWE’s official write-up on greatest finishers noted, Trish’s ascent to seven-time champion status “was built on her sweat and tears in the ring, and capped off by her finisher – Stratusfaction.” Once Trish grabbed that headlock and flipped off the ropes, “fans alike knew the end was near”. The in-ring effectiveness of Stratusfaction is well-documented: it led Trish to victory in her farewell match (Unforgiven 2006 in her hometown Toronto), and it was integral to her winning matches during WWE’s transition from the Divas era to a more competitive women’s era. The move’s visual appeal – Trish arching gracefully off the ropes before delivering the bulldog – made it a favorite in highlight reels and video games alike. It struck the perfect balance between looking realistically impactful and crowd-pleasingly acrobatic.
The historical significance of Stratusfaction is intertwined with Trish’s legacy as a trailblazer. Coming from a fitness-model background, Trish worked tirelessly to earn respect in the ring, and by developing a flashy finisher of her own, she showed she was more than just a pretty face – she was a true competitor and entertainer. Stratusfaction as a move even outlived Trish’s full-time career; variations of the springboard bulldog have been used by other wrestlers as an homage, but none quite capture that original magic. When fans think of Trish Stratus, they think of confidence, creativity, and the moment she kicks off the ropes to seal another win. In the pantheon of wrestling finishers, Stratusfaction has earned its lofty spot by delivering, well, stratus-fying results – time and time again, for arguably the greatest to ever do it.
In the world of professional wrestling, a finishing move is more than just a means to victory – it’s a superstar’s fingerprint on the sport. As we’ve seen with these ten iconic finishers, each maneuver helped shape a wrestler’s legacy. The women’s wrestling revolution over the past decades has been powered not only by larger opportunities and headlining matches, but also by these distinctive sign-offs that encapsulate a performer’s style and character. A great finisher can become shorthand for a wrestler’s persona: think of Lita’s daredevil moonsault or Charlotte’s nod to family tradition with the Figure Eight. These moves ignite crowd reactions and are replayed for years, etching the moment a match is won into memory. They also push the industry forward – inspiring peers and future generations to innovate and dream bigger. The diversity of the moves on this list (from high-flying theatrics to technical submissions to raw power slams) mirrors the diversity in women’s wrestling itself, which now spans every style and size on a truly global scale.
Finishing moves also carry an almost mythic significance. Fans recall how Trish’s Stratusfaction or Becky’s Dis-Arm-Her symbolized a changing of the guard, or how a devastating finisher like Awesome Kong’s Awesome Bomb proved women could hit just as hard. On the independent circuit, in Japan, and in major promotions alike, these moves create a common language of excitement – a surefire signal for the climax of a story told between the ropes. In the end, the legacy of a wrestler is inseparable from the impact of her finishing move. Each time one of these finishers lands, it punctuates a chapter in wrestling history. And as women’s wrestling continues to reach new heights, you can be sure that the next generation of stars will craft their own legendary finishers, adding to the rich tapestry of moves that captivate fans and carry on the tradition of excellence. From past to present, these finishing moves prove that in sports entertainment, sometimes a single spectacular moment – a final strike or submission – can cement a legend for all time.
TRISH STRATUS – https://ringsiderampage.com/the-return-of-a-blonde-hurricane-wwe-eyes-trish-stratus-for-evolution-comeback/
CHARLOTTE FLAIR – https://ringsiderampage.com/queen-of-the-ring-how-charlotte-flair-became-wrestlings-royal-pain/
BRITT BAKER – https://ringsiderampage.com/dr-pain-the-bruised-smile-of-britt-baker/
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