In amateur wrestling a strong quarter nelson can be used to secure a pin, or to control the opponent and advance into a more dominant position.

The half nelson is referred to by most coaches as being the easiest pinning hold in folkstyle wrestling, and is very commonly used.

When the opponent has been turned over onto their back, the aggressor attempts to pin them by tightening the grip on the neck, putting the nelson in more deeply so that the aggressor's elbow is hooking the opponent's neck.

The aggressor's free hand is used to minimize struggling by hooking the opponent's near or far leg or crotch.

The three-quarter nelson can be used in amateur wrestling to pin the opponent and is more secure than a half-nelson.

[2] Because it can be used as a limited neck crank, it is considered dangerous in some grappling arts, and is banned, for instance, in amateur wrestling.

Catch wrestling allows the full nelson and generally uses it as an immobilization technique and form of neck crank submission.

It has been a staple in professional wrestling from its early legitimately competitive days to current time.

Ruffy Silverstein popularised the move during professional wrestling's early television exposure.