[1993-08-29-PWFG] Duane Kozlowski vs Yuki Ishikawa

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Graham Crackers]

This is a lot like Ishikawa's match against Bart Vale except Kozlowski uses wrestling and big throws instead of striking and Kozlowski is a little closer to Ishikawa's level. The throws look incredible and Kozlowski's knowledge of "real" wrestling is put to fantastic use. This the only match of his that didn't seem like an exhibition. Kozlowski struggles for those takedowns and Ishikawa puts up a big fight.

[Phil Schneider]

This was a really great show, and this was the best match on the show. This is Ishikawa's first main event, and he is fully in the top young native role previously held by Takada in UWF and Funaki earlier in PWFG. The young native v. top outsider match is a staple match in these promotions and Ishikawa is really better at it then either of his predecessors. The match opens with a really great stare down, and you get a big match buzz even before the bell, Koslowki dominates most of the match with beautiful throws, but each of Ishikawa's comebacks is really milked for the most effect. I bought all the near falls, and Koslowki's backslide into a choke was totally awesome. Just a total blast, and Ishikawa feels like a made guy.

[Loss]

Good match. I like Kozlowski here, he does some cool stuff.

[Zenjo]

I would never have guessed this was a main event. It had a midcard kind of feel. This further reinforces my opinion that PWFG was a poor relation to UWFI and RINGS.

[PeteF3]

Koslowski was an Olympian with a great look and some killer suplexes--had he come along some years earlier, I think Verne Gagne could have made him a star. He controls the majority of this match before putting Ishikawa away with sort of a combination hammerlock/chicken wing, after casually murdering him with a German suplex. I need to see more of this guy and of his brother Dennis.

[Jetlag]

This was a hell of a little match. Duane is a beast and the story of the match is Ishikawa coming into his own and really stepping up the fight. Big crowd reactions to basic spots and they really emphasize the struggling over the basic holds and throws. Ishikawa really wants the win here. Killer finish.

[garretta]

Did this make the actual Yearbook? I can't find it on Discs 20 or 21.

[PeteF3]

Disc 22. Looks like they had the date wrong when they made the set.

 

Edit: The Koslowski match opens 23.

[garretta]

Not much to comment on, really. Kozlowski eats Ishikawa's lunch on the mat, then slaps on some sort of armbar to force a tapout. He looked really good here, and I hope to see more of him.

 

Incidentally, this is one of the few shoot-style matches I've seen that didn't have at least one knockdown.