pinfall

A pinfall is a win condition in professional wrestling in which one competitor pins the opponent’s shoulders to the mat for a three-count delivered by the referee. The pin is legal when the referee can clearly see both of the pinned wrestler’s shoulders pressed to the mat. If the opponent kicks out before the count of three, the pin is broken and the match continues.

How a pinfall is achieved varies with the contest but typically follows a legal combination or finishing maneuver that leaves the opponent unable to immediately kick out. Pins can occur anywhere inside the ring, and the referee begins the three-count once the shoulders are down. A successful three-count ends the match; any interruption such as interference can alter the outcome through disqualification or restart rules, depending on the promotion.

In many match formats, pinfalls are the primary or one of several ways to determine a winner. In standard singles and tag matches, the first wrestler to score the requisite number of pinfalls (or the sole pin in a simple bout) wins. In multi-fall matches, each successful pin counts as a fall toward an overall victory. Pin attempts are a frequent element of storytelling in wrestling, often following a dramatic sequence or a “false finish” before a decisive pin.

Historically, the concept of a “fall” and the three-count arc originated in early professional wrestling as a standard method to declare a winner, distinct from submissions or disqualifications. Pinfall remains one of the most common and widely recognized methods to conclude a bout.