I suppose the stomach claw can be used as a submission hold, and due to its nature (the attacker inflicting static pain to the victim) it has to be categorized as one. Most female wrestlers do not use the stomach claw to wring a submission out of their opponent though. The stomach claw is used to break out of holds (it works excellently when the defender tries to break a body scissors), or to torture a fallen wrestlerette who is no longer able to defend herself. As such, the stomach claw is usually the mark of a heel, a villainess causing as much distress as she can to the damsel in her grasp.

The victim lies face up on the mat and the attacker reaches out, sinking her fingers into the victim’s abdominal region. The attacker can use both her hands or only one of them.

Possible escape: just rolling to the side should be enough to break the stomach claw, as the attacker won’t be able to exert the same amount of pressure once the victim’s position is altered. Most often though the stricken victim seems to be paralyzed by pain thus unable to break out of her tormentor’s clutches.

Rating: I suppose it’s theoretically possible to attain a submission through a stomach claw, though – as I said above – this hold is seldom used towards that end. It is one hell of a painful hold though so I’ll have to say it is a very efficient one too.

Courtesy of sleeperkidsworld.com