Herbie Murray
The sleeper hold is a classic wrestling move, used by many wrestlers as a finisher. Wrestlers such as Roddy Piper, Ted DiBiase, and Samoa Joe have used the sleeper hold to great effect, with Piper even beating Hulk Hogan with it. The move involves the wrestler darting their hand under the opponent's chin and grabbing a pressure point above the throat, cutting off their air supply. In the past, referees would check a wrestler's arm three times if they were in a sleeper hold, and if their arm fell on the third time, they would be declared unconscious. However, this practice appears to have been discontinued, with some fans expressing disappointment and nostalgia for the old three-count. The sleeper hold remains a dangerous and effective move, with variations such as the Cobra Clutch and Tazmission adding an even more lethal element to the hold.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wrestler | Roddy Piper, Dolph Ziggler, Taz, Sgt. Slaughter, Stan Hansen, Ted DiBiase, Shibata, Steve Austin, Dusty, Minoru Suzuki, William Regal, Bob Backlund, Samoa Joe, Shayna Baszler, Karrion Kross, Melina Perez, Emma, Triple H, Tyrus, The Iron Sheik, Jinder Mahal, Miro, Butch |
| Move | Cobra Clutch, Tazzmission, Weaver Lock, Regal Stretch, Muta Lock, Chickenwing, Crossface Chickenwing, Coquina Clutch, Kirifuda Clutch, Kross Jacket, Headscissors Crucifix Choke, G-Grip, T-Slam, Chokeslam, Punjabi Clutch, Game Over, The Accolade |
| Opponent | Spike Dudley, Jeff Hardy, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, Kofi, Kane, The Mountie, Kurt Angle, Adrian Adonis, Mark Lewin, Mr. Wrestling |
| Outcome | Loss of consciousness, submission, pinfall, finisher |
| Referee | 3-count check |
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What You'll Learn
The sleeper hold's evolution: from Roddy Piper to Dolph Ziggler
The sleeper hold is an essential move for any wrestler to have in their arsenal. While some wrestlers are better known for their use of the sleeper hold than others, one of the most famous wrestlers to use the sleeper hold is Roddy Piper. Piper, whose sleeper hold may not have been the most dangerous, was able to create many magical moments with it. Notably, he beat The Mountie with the sleeper hold to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship, and even put arch-rival Hulk Hogan to sleep. Piper's use of the sleeper hold was so effective that he became a WWE Hall of Famer.
Adrian Street, a flamboyant and tough Welsh wrestler, was another veteran who made the sleeper hold a move to be feared. Street's strength and knack for grappling, coupled with his flamboyant gimmick, made him a tremendous heel and prominent master of the sleeper hold.
Dolph Ziggler is a more recent example of a wrestler who has prominently used the sleeper hold. Ziggler's quickness, agility, and vice-like grip allowed him to apply the sleeper hold out of nowhere, surprising many of his opponents. Ziggler's prominent use of the sleeper hold has helped restore its reputation, and it remains one of Nic Nemeth's most feared moves. One of Ziggler's most notable uses of the sleeper hold was when he defeated Kingston via a sleeper hold submission to earn his first WWE United States Championship.
Over time, the sleeper hold has evolved, with wrestlers creating numerous variations to make the move even better. For example, Sgt. Slaughter popularized the Cobra Clutch, a variation of the sleeper hold where the wrestler traps their opponent's arm in a half-nelson and uses their free arm to pull the opponent's trapped arm across the face to force them into unconsciousness. Taz, another skilled wrestler, used a variation called The Tazzmission (or the katahajime), which is essentially a half-nelson choke.
While the sleeper hold used to be a common finisher, with wrestlers like Roddy Piper and Dolph Ziggler showcasing its effectiveness, it seems to have fallen out of favour in recent years. Today, it is more commonly used as a setup move for a face wrestler's comeback rather than a match-ending finisher. Years ago, referees would check a wrestler's arm three times if they were in a sleeper hold, and if their arm fell on the third time, it signalled the end of the match.
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The Cobra Clutch: Sgt Slaughter's sleeper hold variation
The Cobra Clutch is a variation of the sleeper hold, which is considered an essential move for any wrestler. Sgt. Slaughter is credited with popularising the Cobra Clutch, using it throughout his career to achieve a Hall of Fame career.
To apply the Cobra Clutch, a wrestler stands behind their opponent and uses one arm to place them in a half nelson. They then use their free arm to pull the opponent's arm (the same arm to which the wrestler is applying the half nelson) across the opponent's face. The wrestler then locks their hand to their wrist behind the opponent's neck, cutting off the circulation of the carotid artery, which can lead to the opponent losing consciousness. Slaughter maintained a ninety-degree angle on his opponent's arm, holding it tightly.
The Cobra Clutch was an effective sleeper hold, and Slaughter's use of the move is considered superior to that of Ted DiBiase, who performed the Million Dollar Dream, another iconic Cobra Clutch execution. Slaughter's version lacked tightness, but he more than made up for it with his tough brawling style and work ethic.
The sleeper hold is a classic wrestling move that has been used by many wrestlers, including WWE Hall of Famer 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, who is renowned for his use of the hold. Over time, wrestlers have created numerous variations of the sleeper hold, such as The Tazzmission, a half-nelson choke used by Taz, which is considered one of the most lethal and successful sleeper holds.
The sleeper hold has evolved in WWE, with referees now checking a wrestler's arm three times if they are in a sleeper hold. If the arm falls on the third time, it indicates that the wrestler has lost consciousness.
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Tazmission: ECW's most dominant champion cements his legacy
The sleeper hold is an essential move for any wrestler, but some have perfected it more than others. One of the most famous wrestlers to use the sleeper hold was 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper. Piper's sleeper hold may not have been the most dangerous, but it was tried and tested, perfectly applied, and created many memorable moments.
Another famous wrestler who used a variation of the sleeper hold was Sgt. Slaughter, who popularized the Cobra Clutch. The Cobra-Clutch is performed by trapping the opponent's arm in a half-nelson and then using the free arm to pull the trapped arm across the face, forcing them into unconsciousness. Sgt. Slaughter's use of the Cobra Clutch helped him achieve a Hall of Fame career.
Dolph Ziggler also used the sleeper hold in his matches, and his quickness and agility made it a very effective move. Ziggler's prominent use of the sleeper hold has helped restore its reputation, and it remains one of Nic Nemeth's most feared moves.
However, one of the most lethal and successful sleeper holds is undoubtedly The Tazzmission, or the katahajime, performed by ECW World Heavyweight Champion, Taz. Taz used his sleeper hold to cement his reputation as one of the most fearsome and skilled wrestlers in history. Taz was the most dominant ECW World Heavyweight Champion, and he proved the deadliness of his sleeper hold by choking out Kurt Angle in his first WWE match at the Royal Rumble in 2000. Taz's Tazzmission was a sleeper hold like no other, and it remains one of the most iconic moves in wrestling history.
While the sleeper hold has evolved and taken on new variations, the impact of Taz's Tazzmission is undeniable. ECW's most dominant champion cemented his legacy with this move, and it continues to be remembered as one of the most effective and feared submissions in wrestling.
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The 3-count: WWE's arm check for sleeper holds
The sleeper hold is a classic wrestling move, and several famous wrestlers have used it as their primary finisher. The move involves cutting off the opponent's air supply, causing them to lose consciousness. While it is not considered an air choke, as it does not squeeze the windpipe, it is still a dangerous and effective manoeuvre.
Previously, when a wrestler applied a sleeper hold, the referee would check the opponent's arm three times to see if they had lost consciousness. If the arm fell on the third time, it indicated that the opponent was unconscious, and the referee would call for the match to end. This was known as the "3-count" and added a layer of drama and excitement to the match.
Wrestlers like Roddy Piper, Sgt. Slaughter, and Dolph Ziggler have all used the sleeper hold to great effect. Piper's sleeper hold was not the most dangerous, but it was well-executed and created many memorable moments. Slaughter, on the other hand, popularised the Cobra Clutch, a variation of the sleeper hold that involved trapping the opponent's arm and forcing them into unconsciousness. Ziggler's agility and quickness also made his sleeper hold particularly effective and helped restore the move's reputation.
Over time, the 3-count arm check for sleeper holds fell out of use in WWE. One possible reason, as jokingly suggested by a fan, is the implausibility of a wrestler regaining consciousness immediately after being released from a hold. Today, matches are more likely to end with a submission or a 3-count after a finisher, with the occasional roll-up or small package finisher.
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Sleeper hold's variations: the Regal Stretch, the Kross Jacket, and more
The sleeper hold is an essential move for any wrestler to master. Wrestlers have created numerous variations to improve on the classic sleeper hold. One such variation is the Regal Stretch, invented by WWE wrestler William Regal. The Regal Stretch is an arm-trap variation where the wrestler bends the opponent's knees, crosses their legs, and places one ankle in the other leg's knee pit. The wrestler then turns around and places their foot into the triangle created by the opponent's crossed legs, before locking their arms around the opponent's head.
Another variation is the Kross Jacket, used by Karrion Kross. This is a bar-arm sleeper, where the wrestler applies a normal sleeper to the opponent and uses their opposite arm close to the opponent's face to add pressure. The Kross Jacket is also known as a headscissors crucifix choke, where the opponent is sitting, and the wrestler is behind them, holding their wrists.
The Cobra Clutch is another variation, where the wrestler traps their opponent's arm in a half-nelson and uses their free arm to pull the opponent's trapped arm across their face to force them into unconsciousness. Sgt. Slaughter popularized this move and achieved a Hall of Fame career. Taz also used a variation of the sleeper hold, known as the Tazzmission or the katahajime, a half-nelson choke that cemented his reputation as one of the most skilled wrestlers in history.
Other variations of the sleeper hold include the bridging reverse chinlock, where the wrestler wraps one arm under the opponent's chin and locks their hands before applying a bridge to add pressure. The Iron Claw is a similar move, where the attacker grips the top of the opponent's head and squeezes their fingers into the opponent's skull. The double-handed version is sometimes known as a head vise.
The chickenwing is another variation, where the wrestler applies a chickenwing to one of the opponent's arms and uses their free arm to wrap around the opponent's neck. The wrestler may also pull the opponent's head to the side to increase pressure. Notable users of this variation include Bob Backlund and Beth Phoenix.
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Frequently asked questions
The sleeper hold is a move in which the wrestler darts their hand under the opponent's chin and grabs a hold of a pressure point above the throat, squeezing the nerve and cutting off the air supply.
Some famous wrestlers who have used the sleeper hold include Roddy Piper, Sgt Slaughter, Dolph Ziggler, Taz, Ted DiBiase, Stan Hansen, and Shibata.
Years ago, the referee would check a wrestler's arm three times if they were in a sleeper hold. If their arm fell on the third time, it would result in a knockout. This practice has seemingly been discontinued.
Some variations of the sleeper hold include the Cobra Clutch, the Tazzmission, the Regal Stretch, the Kross Jacket, and the Coquina Clutch.
