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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe Sharpshooter has a serious case as one of professional wrestling’s most iconic submission finishers—but there is no objective evidence that it is the greatest of all time. Its strongest argument is the combination of Bret Hart’s identity, a clear and recognizable silhouette, and the unforgettable drama it created in matches such as WrestleMania 13. Whether it comes out on top depends on what “greatest” means.
What the Sharpshooter is—and how Hart says he learned it
WWE describes the Sharpshooter as a finishing hold that combines elements of the Boston Crab and the Figure-Four Leglock. The wrestler traps the opponent’s legs and leans back, creating a distinctive visual threat that audiences can recognize quickly. That is a description of the move as presented in professional wrestling, not evidence that it causes a particular real-world injury or cannot be escaped.
The hold’s familiar name and its underlying technique have different histories. In a 2020 reported interview, Hart said he had first seen the Scorpion Deathlock in Japan. When Vince McMahon and Pat Patterson asked him to develop a submission finish for his WWE singles run, Konnan showed him how to apply the hold; Hart recalled coming up with the name “Sharpshooter.” Hart explicitly rejected the common story that his father taught him this move: “He taught us a lot of stuff, but he didn’t teach me The Sharpshooter.” That is Hart’s recollection of how he came to use and name it, not proof that he invented the underlying hold. Wrestling Inc.’s account of Hart’s explanation.
Why it became so closely associated with Bret Hart
WWE’s profile presents the Sharpshooter as the endpoint of Hart’s systematic ring style: a signature finish that made technical control and persistence part of his presentation. WWE also notes that other performers, including The Rock and Natalya, adopted the hold. That reuse broadened its visibility, but Hart remains its defining association for many viewers. WWE’s Bret Hart profile and WWE’s feature on the Sharpshooter.
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The move works especially well on screen because its threat is legible: the opponent is caught, the pressure appears to build, and the audience can watch for a counter, a reach toward the ropes, or a collapse. It can make a match feel as if the escape itself is the contest. That clarity, paired with Hart’s association, gives the hold a stronger cultural claim than a move judged solely by how technically intricate it looks.
WrestleMania 13 shows its storytelling power
The Sharpshooter’s most persuasive case may be dramatic rather than statistical. In the WrestleMania 13 match against “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, the hold became the center of a famous struggle. Hart later recalled proposing a moment in which Austin appeared to push out before Hart regained control: “I remember telling him, ‘This would be iconic when you’re in the Sharpshooter and you try to push out,’” Bret says. The Ringer’s interview with Hart.
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Austin did not tap out. The match ended when he could no longer respond, turning the hold into an image of resistance and collapse rather than a simple submission. That sequence demonstrates how effectively the Sharpshooter can carry a story; it does not establish that the move wins more often than other finishers.
How it compares with other famous finishers
There is no neutral, comprehensive ranking in the available evidence that settles the question. WWE’s own features recognize several plausible alternatives, while its comparisons and rankings remain editorial judgments—not a cross-promotion study or representative fan poll. A useful comparison instead asks what each move does best.
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| Move | Strongest case for comparison | What the comparison cannot prove |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpshooter | Distinctive visual shape, strong association with Hart, and the WrestleMania 13 example of sustained match drama. | That it is objectively superior or more effective than other finishers. |
| Sweet Chin Music | WWE has directly framed it against the Sharpshooter in coverage of Hart and Shawn Michaels, making it a useful rival in performer association and memorable match storytelling. | That either move is the consensus winner; individual preferences differ. WWE’s Hart–Michaels feature. |
| Walls of Jericho, Texas Cloverleaf, Sleeper Hold, Tazzmission, and Anaconda Vise | WWE includes these among recognizable submission holds, offering alternatives for comparing style, presentation, and performer identity. | A definitive all-time ordering; inclusion on a WWE list is recognition, not a neutral ranking. WWE’s submission-move feature. |
WWE’s discussion of wrestler preferences includes different views: some performers favored the Sharpshooter for its technical demands or perceived difficulty to counter, while others preferred Michaels’s kick. Those are attributed opinions, not the results of a poll. The distinction matters: a move can be a personal favorite, an iconic image, or a convincing match finish without being a measurable “best.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What “greatest” should mean
A fair verdict depends on the criteria. For a documentary-minded judgment, separate the qualities that fans often bundle together:
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- Association and recognizability: Is the move immediately linked to a performer or era? The Sharpshooter scores strongly through its connection to Hart.
- Visual clarity: Can the audience understand the predicament and follow the struggle? The hold’s recognizable shape gives it an advantage.
- Execution: Does the performer apply it distinctively and convincingly? This depends on the wrestler and performance, not the name of the move alone.
- Storytelling range: Can it create suspense, reversals, or a memorable character moment? The WrestleMania 13 sequence is a particularly strong example.
- Effectiveness in the fictional match: Is it presented as a decisive finish? Professional wrestling outcomes are scripted, so a supposed win rate would not be an objective measure of real competitive effectiveness.
- Cultural staying power: Is it remembered, reused, or referenced by later performers? WWE’s account of other wrestlers adopting the Sharpshooter supports its lasting visibility.
On association, visual identity, and storytelling, the Sharpshooter has a compelling case. On technical execution, the answer can vary by performer; on comparative effectiveness, there is no reliable named statistic here that ranks submission finishers. The strongest claim is therefore specific rather than absolute: it is among wrestling’s most iconic submission moves, not demonstrably the single greatest.
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