The Samoan Drop is a highly spectacular, high amplitude female wrestling move which is often used as a finisher. The move starts out as a torture rack, but when she has her opponent hoisted up, the attacker falls backwards instead of keeping the victim in the hold and applying pressure.

The attacker crouches down and pulls her victim over her shoulders. When she’s hoisted up in a torture-rack like position, the attacker stands up with her. She pauses for a second then falls backwards, letting the victim hit the mat/ring-floor  with all her weight. The impact of the move is supposed to knock the victim out briefly, so she’s left an easy mark for the pin. The move does take a certain amount of strength on the part of the attacker, after all, she has to support the entire weight of her victim before driving her into the mat.

Possible escape: not letting yourself be hoisted up is a good idea. Once you’re up on your opponent’s shoulders though, try wiggling, maybe you’ll manage to unbalance her. Try rolling down her back: you may even end up in a position where you’ll be able to roll her up. If you can get your legs free, you may even be able to reverse the hold into a dragon sleeper.

Rating: a high impact house-rocking move, the Samoan drop is considered a very efficient women’s wrestling hold. As such, it is often used as a finisher.