Man’s Best Friend

The NWA Classics website continues to show rare old-school pro wrestling matches, making me feel the $10 per month is well worth the price.  Recently they posted this 1986 match between fan-favorite Terry Taylor and the crazy, vicious “Mad Dog” — Buzz Sawyer.

Trying to actually wrestle with a savage will get your hair pulled.

This match presents the classing wrestling trope of “Man vs. Wild Beast” — the presentation of a Regular Guy (in this case Taylor) forced to tangle with a wild animal such as a bear, or in this case “Mad Dog” Buzz Sawyer.

The Regular Guy is always at a disadvantage, first because he is usually smaller (and cuter) than the Beast.  And second because he must try to win by using actual wrestling holds like the Harmless Arm Bar, but the Beast may cheat at will, including pulling hair which Sawyer does like 8 or 10 times.

The most unusual but erotic images of Taylor’s torture were these rare Laying-Down Bearhugs that Sawyer applied repeatedly.

Taylor is flat on the mat, and Sawyer crawls over (like a dog) and wraps his arms around the prone victim’s waist, hugging against him as if they’re spooning in bed.

Aww, not so rough, you Beast!

The appeal of the Man vs. Beast gimmick is the open accessibility of the Man’s body.  Normally a gorgeous fan-favorite with blond flowing locks would avoid a bald aging troll like the Mad Dog.

But the bookers have thrown Taylor’s body to the Mad Dog, to use and abuse as he wishes.  They have given Sawyer license to put his paws all over Taylor’s clean flesh, to hug, squeeze, and/or rape the stud.  Of course Sawyer enjoys getting chest t0 chest with his gorgeous victim, so he does it repeatedly.

Each time Taylor escapes, Sawyer just hugs him again.

We, the viewers, can easily see ourselves also doing this to Taylor (which is what makes the match exciting to think about.)  We can picture ourselves hugging or hurting Terry Taylor, because after all, we are more desirable than this Dog, more human, civilized, and likeable, so if Sawyer gets to have a turn with Taylor, maybe so can we.

Taylor meanwhile adds to the implied sexuality of the Bearhug, reaching out his arms in pleading agony after each thrust, tossing back his hair, and twisting his face in orgasmic expressions of ravaged ecstasy.

One result of a Man vs. Beast match is that it increases our sympathy for the Man, who does not deserve to be mauled by some wild animal.  The audience is red hot for Taylor, shrieking with delight like cats in heat when he avoids an Elbow Smash or applies a hold.  And the crowd’s excitement definitely fuels the excitement of the fans watching from home.

NOW we see why Sawyer brought a dog collar and leash to the ring!

And we are treated to some hot post-match humiliation to further increase our compassion for Taylor and fear/hatred of Sawyer.  The Mad Dog straps his kinky dog collar around Taylor’s neck (in effect trading power with Taylor, putting the Man in the degrading, submissive role of the Beast).  Sawyer then tosses that compliant body over the ropes, hanging Taylor by the neck!

We are led to understand that this thick, horny beast in his skimpy black briefs must like it rough, using his leather collar and chain to inflict pain on his victim.

Wow, pro wrestling sure was entertaining back in the day.  What evening of wholesome family entertainment would be complete without some shirtless Man-on-Man hugging, implied bestiality, and a kinky collar-and-chain bondage demonstration?

And people wonder why men who grew up during this era, watching this graphic sexually-suggestive violence, get turned on by pro wrestling…