100 Best Wrestling Moves EVER
67. Bull Nakano | Scorpion Crosslock
A fusion of technical expertise and theatrical brutality, the Scorpion Crosslock managed to stand out as a particularly brutal submission hold even within the futuristically dangerous world of 1990s Joshi wrestling. When Bull Nakano locked it in, it wasn’t just about winning; it was about making a statement.
The hold starts as a Scorpion Deathlock/Sharpshooter, but Nakano was one of the first to upgrade it to a new kind of sadistic masterpiece. After securing her opponent’s legs, she’d yank their arms backward, arching them into a grotesque crescent of pain. The visual was stunning - Nakano simultaneously crouching and standing tall with her opponent bent unnaturally beneath her, screaming in agony.
Even when it wasn’t a match-winner, it was as if she was breaking them physically and mentally, positioning herself in such a way that she could mock and deride them for their weakness at the same time. Never had submission wrestling looked so cruelly personal.