texas cloverleaf

A spine-targeting submission hold where the wrestler performing the move stands at the feet of the supine opponent, grabs the opponent's legs, and lifts them up. The wrestler then bends one leg so that the shin is behind the knee of the straight leg and places the ankle of the straight leg in their armpit. With the same arm, they reach around the ankle and through the opening formed by the legs, and lock their hands together. The wrestler then steps over his opponent, turning the opponent over as in a scorpion deathlock or a boston crab and proceeds to squat and lean back.

It is also known as just the Cloverleaf, or Texas Cloverhold in Japan. Famous users include wrestling legend Dory Funk Jr (who is the innovator of the hold), WCW & WWE alumnus Dean Malenko, New Japan Pro Wrestling wrestler Tanahashi Hiroshi, WWE wrestler Sheamus, and Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling wrestler Itou Maki. The late wrestling legend Eddie Guerrero has a variation of the Texas Cloverleaf where he performs the maneuver from a standing position, which enabled him to pull the opponent's legs up high enough to where he could add pressure to the hold by sticking one of his knees into the other wrestler's back. Guerrero referred to the move as the Lasso from El Paso, making reference to his hometown of El Paso, Texas.