[1995-04-28-RINGS] Volk Han vs Masayuki Naruse

[superkix]

Is this the best Masayuki Naruse match ever? Certainly in RINGS up to this point but it's also against Volk Han, which means the bar is already set high. love that Han is now busting out these rolling armbar suplexes - like he goes for his standing armbar and then suplexes Naruse. He drags him back to the middle and tries for his standing leglock but Naruse counters with a kneebar like "nuh-uh-uh". I like that Naruse establishes that the kneebar is THE counter for Volk Han throughout the match. He also puts Han in a nasty facelock hold. But when he tries for a high kick, Han catches it and takes him down with the leglock. Han is the master at this - at one point, he's got Naruse in a hammerlock, Naruse tries to counter with a leg trip but Han holds on to the arm and takes him to the ropes. Good dynamic, good struggle on the mat, with Naruse looking his best yet. He pops Han with some big slaps and kicks but the veteran perseveres, keeps using the hammerlock>double wristlock combo to control Naruse. Naruse's able to take him down with the Fujiwara armbar but Han traps him with the headscissors and snags the leg for the awesome submission. Great match!

[Superstar Sleeze]

Volk Han vs Masayuki Naruse - RINGS 4/28/95

Volk Han looks like a giant compared to Naruse, who I don’t think I have ever seen. This is a very entertaining Volk Han match who is basically able to throw Naruse around at will even drawing laughs from the Japanese as he drags Naruse on his ass to the middle of the Ring. But Han ever the showman gives Naruse just enough to make you think he has a shot. My favorite moment is at the beginning of the match. After manhandling Naruse with Double Wristlock Rips and basically hogtie picking up the little man, Han goes for a single leg crab but he is a bit sloppy and Naruse wriggles into a heel hook. The way Han crumples to the mat he sells both pain and embarrassment how he fucked that up. Volk Han is on another level. There are couple other cool moments. I liked Han catching the Axe Kick and dropping into a legbar. Han’s own Axe Kick clipping Naruse’s head was nasty. Han pays off the Single Leg Crab down the stretch where he pays extra care to trap the free leg and rotate safely into position. Naruse at one point unloads with strikes but Han stifles that with a Double Wristlock. Classic Han Finish….Han sells like he is going to tap to the flash submission, wriggles for the ropes, can’t find them instead finds his own submission a half crab with a head scissors. The Soviet Wizard strikes again with a magical performance what a joy to watch. *** 1/2