Akira Maeda
Kopylov debuted in pro wrestling in 1992, obtaining a great submission win over Volk Han. Han retaliated eliminating Kopylov from the "Mega Battle Tournament 1995", in which Andrei had taken part after submitting Grom Zaza, but he remained as an important figure in RINGS, having matches with promotion chairman Akira Maeda and his apprentice Tsuyoshi Kohsaka. Kopylov became popular among the Japanese for his anodine looks, featuring moustache, a receding hairline and an unathletic looking build, but those weren't obstacle for his grappling prowess.