There are gym videos that make people stop scrolling for a second.
Then there are the ones that leave viewers genuinely questioning whether what they just watched was physically possible.
That’s exactly what happened after footage of Mark Rosenberg — known online as Deadliestlift — began circulating online, showing him performing one of the most absurd-looking feats of strength the internet has seen in a long time.
And somehow, the lift itself wasn’t even the craziest part.
The clip shows Rosenberg attempting a brutal neck deadlift setup involving a rope wrapped around his neck and attached directly to a loaded barbell. With no conventional grip involved, the entire movement relies on neck strength, body positioning, and an alarming willingness to ignore every survival instinct most people possess.
As the weight leaves the floor, the strain instantly becomes obvious.
Rosenberg manages to complete the pull, but within seconds it’s clear the effort has pushed him dangerously close to the limit. After setting the weight down, he remains standing motionless, visibly struggling to regain composure as his body appears to flirt with a complete blackout.
For a moment, it genuinely looks like he may collapse.
Instead, somehow, he fights it off.
The combination of the lift itself and the aftermath has left viewers stunned across social media, with many admitting they couldn’t stop replaying the footage despite how uncomfortable it was to watch.
And honestly, it’s not difficult to understand why.
One person wrote: “I’ve never seen someone succeed in fighting a black out. Bro got too much aura.”
A second said: “Did bro just fight a f*cking blackout and win?!!?!?”
While a third added: “Bro fought a blackout and won, this is what ‘built different’ actually looks like.”
Strongman culture has always existed slightly outside the boundaries of normal gym logic. Atlas stones, truck pulls, finger lifts, and circus-style feats have long been part of the sport’s history. But neck lifting remains one of the most visually brutal displays imaginable because there’s no disguising where the pressure is going.
Every second of the movement looks painful.
The clip has also reminded many viewers of another viral feat associated with Rosenberg, where he previously stunned the internet by deadlifting 270lbs using only his teeth.
Yes, literally his teeth.
That footage showed Rosenberg attached to a standard deadlift bar through a strap clenched between his teeth before lifting the entire weight clean off the floor.
No machines. No trick angles. Just jaw strength, neck power, and a level of commitment most gym-goers probably cannot even comprehend.
At first glance, the setup looked almost impossible. The weight alone was heavy enough to challenge experienced lifters using belts, straps, and proper deadlift mechanics. Rosenberg somehow managed to pull the bar from the floor while biting down on the strap, putting enormous strain through his jaw, neck, and upper body.
It was the kind of video that made people instinctively wince before immediately replaying it again.
While unconventional strength feats have always existed within strongman culture, lifting through the teeth or neck remains especially shocking because the load appears concentrated through areas most people wouldn’t even want to test with a shopping bag.
That’s a huge reason why reactions online have been so dramatic.
Some viewers were convinced the stunt had to be fake after seeing the amount of weight involved, while others admitted the footage physically hurt to watch.
Plenty of gym fans also pointed out the sheer neck strength required simply to stabilise the movement, never mind complete it without serious injury.
One person wrote: “How the actual f*ck do you train for this?”
A second added: “If bro became a zombie it will be over for us all.”
While a third said: “Haters will say this is dangerous.”
One thing almost everybody seemed to agree on, though, was that the footage looked completely insane.
The latest neck deadlift clip has only added to that growing reputation.
Because while the lift itself is already difficult to process, the moment afterwards is what really leaves people unsettled. Rosenberg stands frozen for several seconds, appearing dangerously close to blacking out entirely before eventually recovering.
Featured image credit: Deadliestlift / Instagram
