Pro wrestling depicts the relative Strength and the Weakness of the two competitors, the sapping of one man’s strength due to the actions of another. The fans get to see the many ways a man can be destroyed, hurt, crushed, or knocked out. In classic pro wrestling, the Bearhug was often used to depict either a Strong Man crushing a Weakling, or a Strong Man crushing another Strong Man to prove his superiority. The intent of the hold is to make the Bearhugger’s strength advantage painfully obvious.
Below are images from a classic match between Terry Gibbs (231 lbs.) and Jerry Allen (241 lbs.) which included two long Bearhugs in the second half of the match. Neither wrestler was especially successful or dominant in the ring — both of them spent many of their matches on their backs looking up at the lights. The essential difference between them is the impressive physique on muscle-jobber Jerry Allen.
An unusual twist on this Bearhug, is that it’s the weaker man, Terry Gibbs, using the Bearhug to weaken the Strong Man. Jerry Allen is (ironically) the ideal male being crushed in the Hug, gasping for air as his huge muscles are rendered useless and he collapses in his smaller opponent’s arms.
You can see the Bearhugs used by Terry Gibbs to torture big Jerry Allen in Part 2 of the match on YouTube.
YouTube: Jerry Allen vs. Terry Gibbs, Part 1
YouTube: Jerry Allen vs. Terry Gibbs, Part 2
The Luche Libre holds are soooo hot. They know how to really tie up a guy and then torture him when he can’t escape. Do more of Luche Libre – viva la Mexico!