The crippler crossface is an extremely efficient, not to mention spectacular submission hold used as a finisher by many a great female wrestler. A well applied crippler crossface will almost always lead to a submission.

With the defender lying on her stomach on the mat, the attacker traps one of her arms between her legs, and lying across the back of her victim, reaches forth with her arms and pulls back on her chin. This way, the attacker will assume a leisurely position which allows her to maintain the hold without too much effort. The victim will find the hold extremely painful especially in her neck and back. A well applied crippler crossface will also place some stress on the victim’s shoulder-socket.

Furthermore, because only one of her arms is left free (so she has something to tap with) the victim will find it extremely difficult to crawl forth on her stomach and to reach a ring-ropes this way.

Possible escape: the defender can make the most of what she has left in the hold if she’s close to the ropes. Reaching out with her free arm to grab hold of one of the ring ropes thus forcing the attacker the release the hold, makes perfect sense.  If you’re not close to the ropes though, you’ll probably only use your free arm to signal your surrender.

Rating:  A very efficient submission hold, which probably explains why many lady wrestlers like to use the crossface crippler as their finisher.