Boston crab The Boston crab is a wrestling hold that typically starts with the opponent laying supine on the mat , with the wrestler standing and facing them . It is a type of spinal lock where the wrestler hooks each of the opponent ’ s legs in one of his arms , and then turns the opponent face - down , stepping over him in the process . The final position has the wrestler in a semi - sitting position and facing away from his opponent , with the opponent ’ s back and legs bent back toward his face . This often sees the attacking wrestler perform double leg takedown while remaining upright with the opponent ' s legs hook so they can be turned into the Boston crab . The original name for the maneuver was the backbreaker , before that term became known for its current usage . In modern wrestling , the Boston crab isn ' t treated as a lethal submission maneuver , even though it was considered a match - ending hold in the past , used by such wrestlers as Rick Martel in the AWA and WWF and Nobuhiko Takada in the original Japanese UWF . Many different variations are used today , including the " Elevated Boston Crab " used by Chris Jericho , who calls it the Walls of Jericho . Jericho ' s original version while in WCW ( known then as the Liontamer ) involved placing his knee in the small of his opponent ’ s back , thus further wrenching the neck and delivering more pain . Jericho would later alter the move not long after arriving to WWF / E , however , and now the move is a higher version of the Boston Crab . Variations . Cross - legged Boston crab . This variation of a normal Boston crab sees the attacking wrestler get a hold of both of the opponent ' s feet , then crossing both legs over before tucking both legs under its opposite armpit ( i . e . left leg under wrestler ’ s right armpit ) . After completing this , the attacking wrestler turns the opponent face - down , stepping over him / her in the process to secure the hold . Grapevined Boston Crab . See : Sharpshooter Inverted Boston crab . Identical to a Boston crab , but with the wrestler facing in the same direction as the opponent . The wrestler squats over the opponent with the opponent ’ s legs positioned under their arms . Rocking horse . This Boston crab variation sees the wrestler lock the opponent in a standard version of the hold before lifting them off the ground by their arms ( while still in the hold ) , and rocking them back and forth , putting additional pressure on their back . Single leg Boston crab . Also known as a Half Boston crab or a Half crab , a move that typically starts with the opponent on his back , and the attacking wrestler standing and facing them . The attacking wrestler hooks one of the opponent ' s legs in one of his / her arms , and then turns the opponent face - down , stepping over him in the process . The final position has the wrestler in a semi - sitting position and facing away from his / her opponent , with the opponent ' s back and leg bent back toward his / her face , sometimes the attacking wrestler will place their leg so that his / her knee digs into the back of the opponent . A variation with the attacking wrestler kneeling side - ways while having the leg hooked can be performed . Lance Storm ' s Canadian Maple Leaf is a variation of this in which he performs a back somersault roll on the mat , catching a charging opponent into the single leg Boston crab . Single leg Boston crab with armlock . The attacking wrestler approaches a supine opponent and seizes one of their arms before walking around the opponent ' s head to their other side , thus forcing the opponent to roll onto their stomach . The wrestler then kneels on the back of the opponent , clinching the opponent ' s arm behind their knee , and applies a single leg Boston crab . This move is used and was popularized by Konnan , who dubbed it the Tequila Sunrise . Over the shoulder Single leg Boston crab . See Argentine leglock Single leg Boston crab with knee . Similar to a normal half Boston crab , this move sees the wrestler use a single knee to add additional pressure by pressing it into the opponent ' s back . Rope hung Boston crab . This move involves a wrestler hooking each of an opponent ' s legs in one of his / her arms , and draping the opponent over the top rope , at this point the wrestler would hook the arms of the opponent with his / her legs securing the hold . As this move involves the use of the ropes , and allows the opponent to touch the ropes ( which forces a wrestler to break a submission hold ) , this hold must usually be broken before the referee completes a five - count The Tarantula variation of this move ( mainly used by Yoshihiro Tajiri ) involves the wrestler hooking an opponent ' s arms around the top rope and legs around the bottom rope , so the move is performed upside down .