Pro Wrestling Digest » Blog Archive » Stratoti — Has the Figure Four Leg Lock Been Broken?

Paul Stratoti returns with a photo essay on the feared wrestling hold.

All photos by Paul Stratoti.

Has the Figure Four Leg Lock Been Broken?

It has been a very critical hold for as long as it has been around. When applied properly it can crush a man’s legs into submission and nearly cripple him.

The list of world championship victories resulting from that near career-ending hold continues on almost a nightly basis somewhere in the world where a pro wrestling or sports entertainment match is taking place.

There are those that think that the hold should be banned and a wrestler should be fined for using it. …and then there are those who claim to have broken the hold.

This is what I’ve personally seen that leads me to believe it, but it hasn’t officially been declared:

Early to mid 70s – Johnny Powers has the Power-Lock (a unique version of the hold) secured on a screaming Ernie Ladd at Cleveland Arena. Ernie is about to break the hold which Powers had a $15,000 bounty on for anyone capable of breaking the hold. Ox Baker makes his Cleveland Arena debut by entering the ring, and then stomping on Ladd so as to break Ernie’s advantage of having turned Powers on his side as he tries to maintain the hold’s grip. Powers was disqualified and thus retained the NWF North American championship.

Mid-80s: Ric Flair also twisted on his side screams in agony as “Rugged” Ronnie Garden seems imminent of reversing the Figure Four (See photo below - Click the photo to see the full size image).

Figure Four Memories:

Karen Belcher, editor www.ProWrestlingDigest.com: “When I think of the Figure Four Grapevine, as the Leglock was originally called by “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers, the man credited with inventing the move, I think of 1979’s historic “Battle of the Nature Boys.” Rogers passed on his torch to the new “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (MidAtlantic Territory).”

Angel Dust: ” Yes, I had Sassy Stephie put it on me once or twice but I’ll tell you what, I now know how to counter that hold if I can see it coming!”

Tracy Smothers: “Having Ric Flair and Greg Valentine both put that hold on me in different matches. Boy, I’ll tell you one thing; it hurts just as bad by having Greg put that on me as it does Flair.”

Rebecca Lynn; Promoter – Triton Championship Wrestling: “Yes, I’ve had it put on me before and I use it often in my matches on my opponents.”

Click the photos to see the full size images.