User:TrueCRaysball/sandbox/Pin (professional wrestling)

A pinfall, (also called a pin, or a fall) is a way someone can win in different forms of professional wrestling. It is performed by holding the opponent's shoulders on the wrestling mat for a length of time. In professional wrestling, a pinfall is a common way to win a match and must usually be held for a count of three by the referee.

The purpose of a pinning move is to hold the opponent's shoulders against the mat for a count of three. The count is broken (a "near-fall") if the opponent manages to raise one or both of his shoulders off of the mat, usually by kicking out (throwing their legs up to cause their shoulders to rise from the mat). In some positions, a wrestler may bridge (arching their back so that only their feet and the top of their head are touching the ground) to put more of their weight on the pinned opponent or to prop themselves up from being pinned. Sometimes, an attacking wrestler may hook the opponent's tights for extra leverage, but this is usually against the rules. Another popular tactic of heel wrestlers, which is also against the rules, is to attempt a pin close to the ring ropes so they can prop their legs up on the ropes to gain more leverage, putting more weight on the opponent.

Types

Back slide

The attacking wrestler stands back-to-back with their opponent and hooks both of the opponent's arms. They then lean forward and drop to their knees, sliding the opponent down their back so that their shoulders are against the mat and their chin is against their chest. The attacker holds the opponents arms down with their own arms for the pin.

Cover

Also known as a lateral press, cross press or simply as the basic pin. With an opponent lying face-up on the mat, the attacking wrestler lies face-down across the opponent's chest to hold them down. Sometimes, when both wrestlers are exhausted or badly hurt the attacking wrestler will cover with just an arm or lie down face up rather than face down. The term floatover (when in reference to a pin) refers to an attacking wrestler using the momentum of a throw or slam they are performing to propel themselves over the opponent into the lateral press position.

Cradle

The attacking wrestler lies across the opponents chest and hooks a leg with the arm on the opposite side (left leg with right arm or right leg with left arm). Holding the leg gives the attacker greater leverage and makes it harder for the opponent to kick out. This was derived from the inside cradle and outside cradle in amateur wrestling.

Roll-up

Mr. Kennedy using a roll-up to pin Hardcore Holly, using common heel tactics of illegally holding the ropes

The attacking wrestler rolls their opponent back so that the opponent's legs are above their head. The attacker wraps his/her arms around the legs and presses down to pin the shoulders. The roll-up is often used to pick up sneaky wins due to it being performed from behind an opponent at any time. The roll-up is also a popular pinfall move for heel wrestlers, who often secure the hold by using the ropes, or pull on the opponent's tights, for leverage.

Schoolboy

The most common type of roll up is the schoolboy where the attacking wrestler drops down behind the opponent and puts one arm up between the opponent's legs to pull the opponent over the attacking wrestler so that they fall flat on their back. At this point, the attacking wrestler would stack the fallen opponent on their shoulders for the pin. Often when female wrestlers use this move, commentators will refer to it as a schoolgirl.

Sitout pin

The attacking wrestler sits down with the legs of the opponent hooked over their shoulders so that the legs and lower body of the opponent are elevated while their shoulders and upper back are in contact with the mat. The arms of the opponent are sometimes pinned beneath the legs of the attacker.

Small package

The small package—or inside cradle—is a pinning maneuver where the attacking wrestler hooks the opponent's far leg with their legs and the opponent's other leg with their free arm, ending up on top of the opponent, pinning their shoulders against the mat.

References

• The Professional Wrestlers' Workout & Instructional Guide - Harley Race, Ricky Steamboat, Les Thatcher, and Alex Marvez pg. 76