One of my loyal readers emailed me a special request:
“Maybe you can do screen shots of claw holds?? Those are my favorite moves.”
He then provided a list of matches from the NWA Classics On Demand website that feature the claw hold.
So let me start with the first match on his list, which features this powerhouse of masculine strength, Tony Atlas. What a muscle-stud — surely his skinny Asian opponent, Pak Song, can never bring down that amazing hugeness!
Oh shit — it’s not just a Claw, it’s a Korean Claw!!
Not long into the bout, Mr. Song slaps on a tight Iron Claw (aka “Korean Claw”) and Atlas is suddenly helpless, his mouth opening and closing like a fish you just tossed in the cooler.
Atlas sticks out his arm like a stiff board, utterly helpless and disabled by this mysterious Oriental nerve hold.
Not sure what Song is doing but apparently it hurts like hell.
When Song tires of crushing his opponent’s temples, he switches to a pectoral claw and thing really get erotic. Check out Atlas on his knees, selling the fuck out of his pain.
He arches his back, flexes every muscle, and begins twitching like he’s either being electrocuted or he’s orgasming.
That powerul arm suddenly deflated like a leaky balloon.
The ref emphasizes the muscle-man’s helpless state, lifting and dropping his limp arm over and over to reveal Atlas as a complete weakling.
I must say Tony Atlas did a great job playing the deflated He-Man — here letting both of arms drop, his body sagging forward as the Korean digs deeper into his chest meat.
You gotta love a muscle-man who accepts the degrading, ego-crushing role of the Muscle Jobber. He spends hours in the gym strengthening his physique only to be presented as limp and submissive, over-powered by every Tom, Pak, and Harry for our viewing pleasure.
Thanks for posting!!!
I miss watching the great Khali and his vice grip. Since he did it from behind, I could enjoy the slack jawed face of his victim as he faded toward dreamland. Batista, Triple H, Ted Dibiase, and Trent Baretta were especially great at that.
I think the pectoral claw was so effective because there was so much pec to claw
I always associate the claw with the Von Erichs. I’ve seen Kevin’s sons Marshall and Ross, currently the active two remaining Von Erichs, use it. Why aren’t they bigger stars. I know they both live in Hawaii with dad and make rare appearances in Texas and Oklahoma, most recently both with that long flowing vonErich hair and finally wearing dad’s trademark swimming speedos as ring gear. FI-nally.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8lpwimXoAATbtj.jpg
I love Tony Atlas!
This was a great post Arsenal! If I search the recesses of my memory I can remember “Pak Song the Giant Korean” as a heel on Championship Wrestling from Florida … his claw took on Mike and Eddie Grahman, the Brisco brothers and more all suffered greatly(!) … these Tony Atlas pics are awesome!
The Great Kamala and his big droopy pecs with warpaint on them for emphasis would pec claw studs all the time and force them to their knees in agony as they presented their defeated manly chests for destruction. Kerry Von Erich was my favorite of his victims. Sweet memories!
Yeah Jedda, I loved watching the Great Khali vice grip handsome studs into unconsciousness. Batista and Ted Dibiase Jr. were my favorites. I couldn’t find any good quality Batista clips, but I did get a pretty nice video of Dibiase falling victim to Khali’s skull-crushing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XMa6hnlQKQ