Volk Han vs Akira Maeda (RINGS - 12/7/1991)

Volk Han's debut match and what a debut it was. Even the entrance music for Volk Han lets you know you are about to get something different. Right out of the gate, Volk Han starts doing things we haven't seen in RINGS yet. Han hits a flying armbar and we aren't even three minutes into the match. The crowd pops for this and they get behind the match as soon as it happens. Maeda quickly goes for the rope escape as he probably realizes his scouting trip to Russia was well worth the money. Maeda comes back with some kicks to keep Volk at a distance, but Volk responds with another kani-basami (leg scissors) takedown. Maeda manages to roll to the ropes without forcing an escape, and they stand back up. Maeda ups the ante and hits a suplex, immediately going into an armbar but Volk weasels out and manages to lock Maeda's leg. Maeda is forced to go for another rope escape. Volk does another crisp takedown and goes for Maeda's arm this time, which turns into a leglock battle for both but of course, Han has the superior technique here. Han is pretty close to the ropes, so the referee has them stand up again. Han hits some sort of snap suplex that looks like a DDT with Maeda's arm locked in. I think the reader might understand my point now about how Volk was breaking new ground for RINGS here, even if it wasn't entirely brand new at the time (it must have looked new to a lot of people!). Maeda gets his first down deducted as has to grab the ropes again after Han attacks for a submission. Han and Maeda spend the next several minutes looking to end the match as quickly as possible because of course Han wants the debut win and Maeda knows Han is no joke now. There's some nice legwork here as they both put in some decent counterwork to keep the match compelling. About 7 minutes into the match, Han hits the first rolling kneebar of his RINGS career and the crowd of course responds very positively. Han tries to get a heel hook out of this but Maeda quickly grabs the ropes yet again. The pace slows down a bit as Maeda gets Volk Han on his back for an extended period, getting Han to go for a rope escape. There's some more counterwork on the mat as they try to get dominant positioning, and it's not bad at all. Han tries a jumping ax kick but misses. The finish comes a few minutes later as Volk Han looks visibly gassed (or he might be selling) and Maeda seizes the opportunity and gets Volk Han with a roundhouse kick. Han is knocked down but gets up at the count of 8. Han tries to fight back with a nice suplex but Maeda manages to grab Volk's leg for a calf-slicer variant for the submission victory. Han is very disappointed in himself but what a debut. The crowd chants "MA-E-DA!" as Akira Maeda's hand is raised in victory.



This wasn't a ***** match by any means, but I can see why someone would want to rank this. It's the first Volk Han match that earns him the reputation of being a super rookie and it's a glimpse of the type of shoot-style wrestling RINGS would present over the next eight years or so. I think it is also notable for the SAMBO influence in shoot-style, which might be the first time we see of that (and that will become a key feature of early RINGS). Volk Han's debut match is also pretty notable by itself. Again, this isn't a blowaway or transformative match most standards but it's an opening salvo what RINGS would become over the next seven years. In that sense, I think this has a good argument to be a nominee and a top 100 contender. Really good stuff overall. ****1/2