Claw Torture

Most holds in pro wrestling serve the purpose of scoring a victory.  They may be used to force a submission (like the Figure 4 Leglock, Torture Rack, or Boston Crab); or they may weaken and exhaust the opponent (like the Body Slam, Bearhug, and Headscissors); or they may cause the victim to pass out (like the Sleeper Hold, Cobra Clutch, or Iron Claw.)

The interesting thing about Claw Holds when applied to the face or body is that the hold is never presented as a means to eventual victory.  Nobody ever passes out or submits to the Claw, and it’s effects are not lasting (once released, the victim is fine.)  The Claw is interesting (and fairly kinky) because it serves only one purpose: to torture the victim while we all watch.

When the Claw is applied, the victim is held still and paralyzed, his motion taken away from him like a prisoner.  The fingers sink into his flesh like a medieval torture device, and we observe his agony as he screams, winces, or otherwise suffers.  He is held in pain until the torturer decides to stop the session.

Most wrestling matches present a series of waypoints along the path to victory — a chain of cumulative attacks which incrementally weaken the opponent (his arm, his leg, his back), chipping away at his strength until he eventually can be defeated.  The Claw, on the other hand, is not part of the Journey to Victory.  It is a detour into a place of sadistic punishment purely for our viewing pleasure.

Speaking of medieval torture devices, there were once sharp instruments designed to tear into the flesh of the unfortunate sinner or criminal being tortured at the time.  This historical concept of mutilation of the flesh to punish has been carried over into the pro wrestling ring, acted out through the application of the dreaded Claw Holds.

Of course in pro wrestling, the torture of the victim has been watered down since the middle ages (fingers used instead of metal spikes, no unsightly flesh ripping) but the concept and intent is the same: to systematically punish the victim and present suffering to the viewing audience.  In a previous article, I compared Heel’s Corner to a torture chamber, and the Claw Hold is in the same class of tactics — an opportunity to inflict pain instead of an effort to achieve victory.

Of course the Claw Hold begs the question of why the attacker is bothering to apply it, knowing it never results in a victory.   A hold with the sole purpose of inflicting pain makes the wrestler who uses it nothing but a sadist, a man who derives pleasure by hurting and humiliating others.

When the savage cannibal, Kamala, would apply the Pectoral Claw, the implication was that he wanted to tear off and consume the flesh of his prey (especially if the victim was buff, muscular and therefore good to eat).  For more on Kamala as hungry cannibal, check out the Project Doughboy article on this subject.

In the middle ages, going to watch a criminal or heretic being punished was a form of entertainment.  People would pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the show of some poor sucker screaming in pain.  We may think we’ve come a long way since those dark days, but the spectacle of suffering in pro wrestling, the application of Torture Holds that do not result in victory like the Claw, are just a watered-down, acted out version of Torture for entertainment.