Wrestle with the Notion of Eating a Boston Crab

We all know what Boston is. We all know what crab is. What's a Boston Crab?

Definition of Boston Crab:

Boston Crab also known as the Texas Cloverleaf and The Sharpshoot is a professional wrestling term for a move made in the ring. Usually one wrestler, we'll call him Ted, is laying on his (or her) back with, we'll call him Frank facing Ted. Frank hooks each of Ted's legs in one of his arms and then turns Ted on his belly stepping over him. The end of this move has Frank partially sitting and facing away from Ted with Ted's back and legs bent toward his face.

Once upon a time the Boston Crab was a finishing move used by the wrestler Rick Martel and Dean Malenko. This is also known as the Half Boston Crab, the Half Crab or the Single Leg Boston Crab.

Other kinds of Boston Crab:

Wrestler Chris Jericho originally did the Elevated Boston Crab by putting his knee in the small of Ted's back. It is now just an upgraded version of the original Boston Crab.

An Inverted Boston Crab is the same move as the Boston Crab except Frank faces in the same direction as Ted. Frank squats over Ted with Ted's legs pinned under his arms. Wrestler Chuck Palumbo used this move.

The Single Leg Boston Crab with an arm lock has Frank approaching Ted while Ted is lying down. Frank takes one of Ted's arms and walks around his head to the other side. This forces Ted to roll onto his belly. Frank then kneels on Ted's back clinching Ted's arm behind his knee and then does the Single Leg Boston Crab move. This was used by the wrestler Konnan.

The Rope Hung Boston Crab has Frank hooking each of Ted's legs in one of his arm and draping him over the top rope of the ring. Frank hooks Ted's arms with his legs securing this move.

Where Else We See The Boston Crab:

The Boston Crab is seen as a very effective wrestling move. It is used in Ju-Jitsu as well. Frank would drive a clenched fist into Ted's calf muscle. Ted would then raise his shoulders to escape pain but Frank now twists Ted onto his front. This rather than stopping the pain puts Ted into harm's way.

Where Did the Name Come From?