6/29/1996
Vs Mitsuya Nagai (4th match)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GyKId3kUjo
They both go for strikes and kicks until Han catches Nagai’s leg and gets a single-leg crab. Nagai rolls through it but Han holds onto an ankle-lock and gets the crab again. Nagai pushes Han off and grabs an ankle-lock but Han manages to keep control and they both have each other’s ankles. The referee stands them up. Nagai throws punches, kicks and knees but Han toughs it out and grabs a rear naked choke. Nagai survives it and manages to grab a leg-lock and Han does a rope escape. This match sure does feel worked compared to the last few I’ve watches. Nagai throws strikes and gets a double-leg takedown and does the leg crucifix. Han grabs his arm and has a crucifix and armlock on before moving to a full nelson and then a headscissors. Nagai rolls over into a rope escape. Nagai throws some body-kicks and does a jumping knee-strike to Han’s head before giving him a belly-to-belly suplex. Nagai has Han’s back but Han grabs a wristlock and Nagai uses a rope escape. Nagai throws a strike and a kick but Han takes him to the mat. Nagai manages an ankle-lock but Han gets a figure four and everybody’s working for the weekend. Nagai transitions out into a step-over toehold and Han uses a rope escape. They trade punches and Nagai hits a big kick to the ribs and Han is down for a count of nine. Nagai throws quick punches but Han throws him off. Nagai tries to control him but Han takes him down and gets a cross armbreaker with Nagai reaching for the rope escape. Nagai then throws some strikes and rolls into a leg-lock. Han stays on his feet and twists into a single-leg crab and is starting to sink it in as Nagai gets the rope escape. Han then shoots on Nagai but Nagai rolls through into an arnbreaker and Han uses a rope escape. They trade leg-kicks and Nagai throws in a head-kick. Han slides to his knees and takes Nagai down and grabs an ankle-lock. Nagai rolls through it and they jockey for position with Nagai coming out with an ankle-lock. Unfortunately for Nagai this allows Han to reach back and grab a choke, throwing him over and getting the submission win. Whether this was worked or not, it was a lot of fun and I should catch up on more Nagai since he is still going in pro wrestling today.
7/26/1996
Vs Tsuyoshi Kohsaka
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urAIzqR1WWY
This is from Maelstrom V, another show available for your youtubing pleasure. Kohsaka tries to get some kicks in but Han goes after his head and his arm. Kohsaka manages to get a belly-to-belly suplex on Han and then hold onto his arm. Han gets to his feet and holds Kohsaka’s ankle and lays down in a figure four. Kohsaka gets out and has a toe-hold but Han rolls through and they’re in the ropes for a break. They stand and trade kicks with Han hitting a kick and then a knee to the gut. Kohsaka takes Han down, gets his back and applies a choke. Han gets out and applies an armbar for a rope escape. They’re standing and Han grabs a wristlock and flips Kohsaka to the mat. Kohsaka gets a leg-lock but Han manages to grab one of his own. Han grabs in an ankle-lock but Kohsaka takes over and sinks in his own ankle-lock. Kohsaka rolls into a half-mount and then a cross armbreaker with Han using a rope escape. Kohsaka plays to the crowd. They both try some punches and then Kohsaka grabs a guillotine choke. They’re on the mat and Han gets out to grab an armbar. Kohsaka really has to stretch for the ropes but gets the escape. Kohsaka starts throwing palm-strikes and knees and Han has to tie him up in the ropes for a break. Han then takes him to the mat and grabs an ankle-lock. Kohsaka again struggles his way to the rope escape. They both vie for position and fall to the mat with Han working into the leg crucifix but Kohsaka managing to work it into an ankle-lock and Han uses a rope escape. Kohsaka throws some strikes before shooting on Han and getting a choke on the mat with Han rolling into a rope escape. Han then grabs a hammerlock and choke and suplexes Kohsaka to the mat. Kohsaka grabs a cross armbreaker, Han comes close to a rope escape but Kohsaka keeps working the armbreaker and then gets a triangle choke for the rope escape. Han then starts slapping Kohsaka like you’d rarely see and gets a down. Kohsaka is on his back and being attended to by his corner and isn’t getting up so Han is declared the winner. That was a really cool and dramatic finish.
8/24/1996
vs Tsuyoshi Kohsaka
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dc7qqSGhZE
This rematch starts off with kicks as per norm and Han does another wondrous wristlock to take Kohsaka to the mat. Han works the leg and gets an ankle-lock but Kohsaka also gets one. Han gets a version of a figure four but pushes out on Kohsaka’s leg in an unnatural manner. They roll through it and Kohsaka escapes and they stand up. They trade kicks and Kohsaka takes Han down. Han gets a nasty cross armbreaker and Kohsaka escapes only to land in Han’s ankle-lock. Kohsaka maneuvers his way out and gets a cross armbreaker for a rope escape by Han. Kohsaka ten his a knee-lift and rolls to the mat with Han in a choke. Han gets out and works on Kohsaka’s arm, forcing a rope escape with an armbar. They stand and trade kicks. They tie up and Han grabs an armlock but Kohsaka takes him to the mat and goes after the ankle. Han gets an armbar to force a rope escape. Kohsaka manages to take Han down and grabs the ankle-lock. Han goes for the ankle but Kohsaka avoids it and tries for a cross armbreaker. Han manages to hold onto Kohsaka’s arm but Kohsaka works out of it and they both try for an ankle-lock. They both get one but roll out of it. Kohsaka goes after the arm and then gets an ankle-lock, with Han rolling under the ropes for a break. One of the commentators laughs joyously around this time. They stand and Han quickly takes Kohsaka’s back and falls to the mat in a choke. Kohsaka does an awesome roll-through into an Indian Deathlock forcing a rope escape by Han. The fans are chanting for Kohsaka. Han and Kohsaka trade slaps and Kohsaka takes him down and gets his back for a choke. Han uses another rope escape. Han then furiously wristlocks Kohsaka to the mat and goes for a cross armbreaker and then a kimura. Kohsaka tries to get out and then uses a rope escape. Han then uses his mighty slaps and takes Kohsaka to the mat in an armbar. Kohsaka gets half-mount and switches to a cross armbreaker attempt. Kohsaka gets a triangle choke and it’s another Han rope escape. Kohsaka then rolls Han to the mat and grabs an ankle-lock. Han is struggling but then twists the bejeezus out of Kohsaka’s arm in an arnbar for the submission win. Another great match, right on par with their first one.
9/25/1996
Volk Han vs Kiyoshi Tamura
Unfortunately there was a copyright claim on part 1 of this match
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXTscoyw8aM
This is the first match between these two. Tamura checks a kick from Han to start. Tamura tries some kicks but Han gets a hammerlock, lifts Tamura and carries him in it and drops to the mat. They then both work on each other’s legs with Han grabbing an ankle-lock. Han goes for a cross armbreaker but Tamura rolls into a rope escape. Tamura throws some leg-kicks but Han catches his foot and goes to the mat. Tamura goes the cross armbreaker twice but Han grabs a kimura and then an armbar to force a rope escape. They stand and Tamura throws kicks and takes Han down. They struggle for position with Tamura going for an ankle and then taking Han’s back. Han tries to work Tamura’s leg but Tamura grabs an ankle-lock and forces a rope escape. Tamura throws kicks to the body and head. Han grabs a choke and goes to the mat but Tamura grabs his ankle. Han gets the choke again and Tamura rolls into a rope escape. Tamura then grabs a single-leg crab and transitions into an armbar. Han manages to transition into a leg-lock but Tamura gets out and puts Han in a front facelock. They roll over and Han grabs a cross armbreaker. Tamura tries desperately to get out and succeeds, applying his own cross armbreaker. Han gets out and applies a headscissors. Tamura gets out and takes Han’s back but Han applies a wristlock and Tamura uses a rope escape. They’re on their feet and Tamura kicks Han in the chest for a nine-count and a down. Tamura then swoops in with punches and gets Han to the mat and has his back. Han gets to his feet and gets an ankle-lock and steps over briefly into a single-leg crab. Tamura stops him and tries to get control but Han fights him off. Tamura gets Han’s back and applies a headlock. Han gets out but Tamura gets an armbar for a rope escape. Han then starts throwing slaps and gets a knee to Tamura’s head to knock him to the mat for a nine-count and a down. They stand and Tamura gets Han’s back and applies a sleeper. They fall to the mat and Han applies a sweet armbar for the submission win. Nice stuff from two famous opponents.
11/22/1996
Vs Tsuyoshi Kohsaka
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BxWc-AqgFA
It’s another match in this series and Kohsaka starts throwing kicks again to start. Han fights him off with slaps. Han manages to take Kohsaka’s back and apply a choke that seems to be putting Kohsaka out when he gets out and rolls into an ankle-lock. They roll into the ropes and are stood up. Kohsaka connects with leg-kicks. Han grabs his arm but Kohsaka does what is almost an exploder suplex and they roll into the ropes for a break. Kohsaka throws more kicks and gets a knee-lift but Han takes him to the mat in ankle-lock. Kohsaka struggles toward the ropes and grabs them for the escape. More leg-kicks from Kohsaka and a back suplex. Kohsaka grabs a choke and Han rolls into a rope escape. Han throws some slaps and goes for the arm but they’re in the ropes and are broken up. Kohsaka kicks Han in the chest to knock him to the mat and then grabs an ankle-lock. Han keeps it together and they both have ankles. Kohsaka wins out and Han grabs a rope escape. Kohsaka does some more leg-kicks but Han grabs his foot and drops him to the mat in an ankle-lock. Han grabs an armbar but Kohsaka escapes and goes for a cross armbreaker. Han keeps control and they trade ankle-locks until Han goes after a cross armbreaker with Kohsaka using a rope escape. Kohsaka then hits a really hard punch to Han’s stomach for an eight-count and a down. Kohsaka stays on him with kicks and knees and gets a seven-count and another down. Kohsaka goes after Han again but Han grabs a kimura and takes him to the mat. Kohsaka stands up Kohsaka Han tries a spinning backfist. They got the mat and Kohsaka is on top and grabs an armbar for another rope escape by Han. Kohsaka throws more kicks and takes Han the mat with a choke. Han gets out and rolls over into a great armbar for the submission. These two are a great match-up with Kohsaka being the young lion going after the older Russian lion, throwing everything he has at him but always getting caught just at the end.
