Gallery 689
Classic Lullabies




It's time once again to check out those beefy, manly wrestlers of yester-year as they knock each other out with the good old Sleeper Hold.

Here is a cute young Baby Face on his knees, scowling in pain as the bully clamps on a very tight Sleeper Hold.  Don't you miss vintage action like this?
The caption says this hold is "barred in the U.S.", although I've seen the hold used many times in the ring.  Apparently it's been legalized here in the states as well as in those Latin countries.

The ref can clearly see the victim is out cold and in danger of serious injury, so he frantically tries to break the hold, but the man applying the Sleeper refuses to let go.  This usually gets the fans in an uproar.


Does anyone remember Brad Rheingans?  He was an Olympic wrestler who went on to wrestle in the Pro Ring. He was proud of his tight singlets that made him look like a "real" wrestler, but he was still no match for deadly pro holds like the Sleeper.

The attacker grits his teeth and pours on the pressure, determined to put this hairy brute away before the monster breaks free and attacks him.
The ref leans in to see whether he has an illegal Choke Hold on the cute jobber in white gear.  His forearm should not be locked under the victim's chin!  Make him break it, ref!!

The caption says this stud has "mastered every hold in the book," but he sure has an odd looking Sleeper Hold applied in the bottom photo.  He has his arms clamped up around the victim's face instead of his neck, so I'm not sure he has "mastered" the Sleeper yet.


Here is Flair jobbing to Magnum TA's tight Sleeper Hold.  Flair's greatest talent was knowing when to let the young super-stars work him over and punish him, and knowing when to beat them down and destroy them in his deadly Figure 4 Leglock.

Now Flair finds himself trapped in big Harley Race's intense Sleeper Hold.  Sweat pours down Flair's body as the brute presses his forehead to slow down the blood flow to his brain.

I think Flair is busted open, since his face seems to match his scarlet red trunks.  He continues to suffer in Race's Sleeper, his arm nearly as limp as a rag doll.
Shawn Michaels -- the "best WWF champ ever" -- flexes his bicep to punish this stud, holding the man's head against his hairy chest.

Here is the great Mark Lewin, another hairy-chested hunk and Master of the Sleeper, putting out some chubby jobber.  You can see more of Lewin's hot sleepers in Gallery 135.

Here is a cute young jobber in white gear, helpless trapped in the bully's Sleeper.  It's always nice to watch the stud in control rock his victim from side to side, tossing him around like a rag doll.


Soon the cute kid is as limp as a wet noodle, his arms loose at his sides as his face relaxes.  This makes it easy for the stud to pin him in a very humiliating position.



Kerry von Erich looks buff with sweat glistening on his muscular body as he struggles to escape ruthless Paul Orndorf's Sleeper.

There is no escape for sexy young Kerry as the stronger man puts him to sleep.  Kerry's powerful arm is made limp and worthless, draped over Orndorf's knee as he falls into a deep sleep.

Kerry liked that powerful Sleeper Hold. Later he mounts his weaker opponent and flexes his rock-solid bicep to put the helpless man away.
Jerry Lawler is in great danger as this fire-plug dude tightens those stocky arms around his neck like a vise. Lawler's eyes are closed as his struggling slows down.

Lawler is in Dreamland, but manages to raise his arm, showing he isn't beaten yet.  Will he be able to escape this vicious brute's relentless Sleeper?


Check out Rick Martel from his Baby Face days, his perfect white teeth showing as he drops to one knee thanks to the deadly effects of Bockwinkle's Sleeper.  

This dude jumps on his beefy opponent's back and rides the animal around the ring, like he's trying to tame a wild horse.  If he holds on tight enough, will he be able to put this big beast away?
This stud in trunks and boots clamps a rare Sleeper variation on his blond opponent.  He seems to be clawing the man's face while also locking his arms around the man's carotid artery.

The caption describes this as a "head-lock", but I'd say it's more of a classic Sleeper Hold, judging from the agony of the suffering victim.

Barry Windham wasn't the most powerful wrestler, but his daddy was the promoter in Florida.  Therefore, he was often able to defeat much stronger men, such as muscular Lex Luger, suffering here in Windham's powerful Sleeper.


The ref is frantically calling for the bell, but that doesn't mean this cruel American will release his deadly hold on handsome Inouki's neck.  I'm sure the Japanese fans are about ready to riot at this point.

Another ref appears very concerned as the stud continues to pour on the pressure, long after the bell has sounded.  The fans seem to go wild when a wrestler refuses to release his deadly hold.
Dusty Rhodes was even fat back in his rookie days.  Here is chubby body is sagging in defeat, thanks to the stud's relentless Sleeper around Dusty's throat.

The victim is nearly out cold, but still finds the strength to reach for the ropes.  Damn, they sure had some ruggedly handsome, masculine wrestlers back in those days!