The matchbook pin is one of the most dominant ways to win a girls’ wrestling match. It’s also a very spectacular move which has the defeated girl bottoms up, completely at the mercy of her victor, folded up into one tight little package which is unable to exert any sort of resistance.

The attacker folds the defender up by pulling her legs over next to her head (sometimes even over her head) and locking them there. There are several varieties of matchbooks pins, all of them extremely humiliating and impossible to get out of. The side matchbook is a spladle-like move. The reverse and the front matchbook pins can be augmented with the addition of a facesit. The combo hold which results from this is a truly annihilating one.

The matchbook is usually reached from a grappling position, although one of its most spectacular versions, the bridging matchbook pin is obtained from a standing position. The defender is on her back with her attacker holding her legs up and apart. The attacker then folds the defender up and flips over her into a bridge, while keeping her in the matchbook position.

Possible escape: try to roll to your side when the matchbook pin is snapped on you. If your opponent is savvy enough though, she’ll probably prevent you from doing that.  If you can’t roll to your side, all you can do is to wait for the 1-2-3.

Rating:  a very efficient ladies’ wrestling hold. Extremely spectacular as well.