July 1993

My other favorite match of the first six months of 1993 RINGS, and hey, it's my favorite match-up of 1992 RINGS! Volk is much more strike-focused and aggressive in 1993 then he has been, and here, he immediately punches Vrij in the face, kicks him down, and goes after the arm, trying to pin him down with the submission attempt. Vrij is vulnerable on the mat but he doesn't struggle often and Han made him squirm. Han is willing to absorb Vrij's big kicks and knees in order to get close enough for a takedown, knowing full well that he's not going to outstrike Vrij...although he'll try with his spinning backhands. There were times in the match where Vrij looked legitimately f…

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Not as good as their last match, which isn't saying much, but Allen gets his usual takedowns, throws some decent elbows, but there's like zero effort on his part -- I guess he does punch Takayaka in the EYEBROW, so that ruled, but he picks up the win with the armbar as always. Meh.

Silver doesn't stand a chance but gives zero fucks and starts smacking Gary and Gary slams him down hard. When Silver gets a foot on the ropes during a dragon suplex attempt, Albright's pissed and KOs him after back-to-back German suplexes. Like possibly legit KO'd him. Albright is a wrecking ball.

Boring groundwork aside, this is actually a pretty fun draw when it's Kanehara kicking and slapping, and Lydick suplexing. Lydick keeps throwing suplexes, looking for the German, but Kanehara is able to block it, and in the final few moments of the match, they let loose on each other but Lydick can't get off anymore suplexes before the time expires. Lydick continues to improve and Kanehara's spirit brought out more of a fight in him.

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A weird match and again, not as good as their first encounter. Nakano dominates most of this match, controlling Tamura early on - he gets a nice front neck chancery takedown, counters with his best snap suplex, and keeps sending Tamura to the ropes. When Tamura finally gets a front mount, his nose is mysteriously busted open. Nakano comes at him with some big open hands and knees but Tamura powers him up and over with a waterwheel slam, but Nakano keeps coming with the strikes. The finish was funny, as Tamura grabs a leglock, Nakano can't escape it and starts tapping...and keeps tapping...slowly...and the ref is confused but eventually calls it. Some cool moments but not …

This was actually a lot of fun. Steve Day's not bad but he has the worst look. Unlike Dan Severn, Day can't rock the mustache. He hits a pretty sweet leg transfer German suplex. and he and Kaki slapping it out was a blast. Of course, Kaki is slappy and kicky, the Americans throw suplexes and try armbars, and Sano is a pro and very giving with the white boys, although at times, some of the exchanges are clunky or slow motion. Kaki takes out Day with a big spin kick and destroys him with strikes, and although Day looks pissed, Kaki still contineus to kick his ass. And then Koslowski comes in and hits the fucking Dennis Koslowski special -- a belly-to-belly suplex, a front n…

This is Takada's first title defense and it isn't too hot. Salman looked alright here, a little clunky and slow. He gets a nice arm whip takeover to open and tries to beat Takada at his own game with the armbar, which doesn't work, and then Takada proceeds to kick Salman until Salman takes a seat. Salman fires off a dope suplex but that's about it for him and it's business as usual for Takada. He kicks Salman in the face in the corner, judo throws him down and taps him with the classic armbar.

Hey, baby Glacier is BACK...and he still sucks. Shitty knees, a real bad suplex that probably injured Miyato's shoulder, and no clue. At least Miyato looked strong here, with his big chinlock and solebutt, picking up the win with the armbar. Not good.

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