[1995-12-19-RINGS] Tsuyoshi Kohsaka vs Grom Zaza

[superkix]

The most exciting match on the show, in my opinion, with terrific pacing and both guys giving 100%. Grom has gone from mild-mannered Georgian with a pleasant smile to an uber-aggressive slappy Georgian with the same pleasant smile. He opens with a hard slaps, a beautiful wristlock takedown and some big knees to the head to down TK. TK's able to retaliate with a nice armwhip of his own into the neck crank and a few knees to Grom's dome. When Zaza grabs the ankle, TK tries and misses with an enziguri attempt and so Zaza puts him in a seated single leg crab hold. There's a bunch of takedowns>holds toward the end, more stiff strikes from Zaza, and a dope finish, which consists of a beautiful armwhip by Grom into the reverse armbar for the submission victory. The post-match kip up by Grom is the cherry on the cake.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Tsuyoshi Kohsaka vs Grom Zaza RINGS 12/19/95

Zaza is a Georgian badass who represented Georgia in the Olympics the next year. Watched this because it got hyped pretty hard. I love Shoot-Style and I did enjoy this a lot but didn’t quite knock my socks off. It mostly stood out in the back drop of all the 2025 wrestling I watch. Seeing how competitive wrestling can be and how organic. It felt sporting. I am a fan of the points system in Shoot-Style but the confusing is depending on the year and which promotion it is hard to say what is going on. This is two rope breaks equals one knockdown. You have five knock downs before the match ends dont quote me on that though Kohsaka was at four and there were no more circles left so I believe if he got knocked down again he would have lost. A good amount of stand up in this RINGS match. Some wicked knees that lead to knockdowns. I would say every pass led to a point. Pretty much each grappling exchange ended in a rope break or before they got to the mat there was a knock down by knee. The wrist lock takedowns looked great. I loved some of the comebacks by Zaza who looked trapped a couple times but came out with some wicked leg locks especially that Arm Figure-4 on Koshaka’s legs. Kohsaka always has great energy and they really keep this one moving. Pretty definitive Zaza win as he gets a wrist lock takedown into the Rings of Saturn plus he was up 3.5 Downs to Kohsaka’s 4 so pretty clear cut victory for the Georgian. Very breezy, engaging shoot-style match but not a classic in my opinion. *** 1/2