The figure 4 headlock is positively among the most vicious women’s wrestling holds. The whole setup is quite paradoxical: one would think that getting those smooth, silky pantyhose-covered thighs around your neck is pleasant, but obviously it’s everything but, especially when your opponent starts to jerk her lower body around threatening to rip your head clean off your shoulders. The victim is in a very vulnerable position in this hold and the attacker is able to pour a lot of power into it, virtually unopposed. This makes the Figure four headlock a very efficient hold.

The attacker gets the victim onto her back on the mat. A snap mare is great for this purpose because it will leave the attacker in the best position: behind the victim. The attacker then wraps her legs around the victim’s neck and closing the noose with one of her lower legs in a figure 4 fashion, starts squeezing. She can then tighten the hold or she can lean back using her arms to prop her upper body up and she can jerk her bottom around to add to the misery of the victim.

Efficiency: the figure 4 headlock is extremely efficient and though in theory it is an excellent submission hold, in professional women’s matches wrestlerettes rarely submit to this move. It is rather used as an overall wear-down move.

Possible escape: a properly locked on figure 4 headlock is quite impossible to escape while staying within the confines of the rules of women’s professional wrestling. Some girls will bite their way out of the hold though, while others will thrust around until they manage to loosen it enough to escape. If the attacker decides not to relinquish the hold though, be prepared that you’ll probably have to give it up.