Post by Yujiro Fujiwara on Oct 12, 2016 22:57:25 GMT -5
The City of Angels Wrestling Dojo—it was where Yujiro Fujiwara spent the majority of his days. A few years back, one of his trainers, Flex Johnson, offered him a job there. After fighting a brief moment of hesitation, Yujiro jumped at the chance. He saw it as a chance to “give back,” to help instill something special into the next generation of wrestlers. However, he also saw it as an opportunity to sharpen his own skills.
He was tasked with teaching the beginners class, in addition to a portion of the intermediate class. Ultimately it meant that he was tasked with arriving early and relaying the basics to both classes for hours. All the practice and repetition was good for him; it kept his mind focused, and it had allowed his body to re-learn and retain his original teaching. In fact, it was probably the only reason that he was able to seamlessly jump into Redemption Wrestling and perform at the level that he did.
It didn’t stop there though. After training, Yujiro would often stay a couple of hours after the majority of the students had left. Pick a goal, focus, and improve—that’s what he imparted in his students. Therefore, he’d stay late and work on things that were bothersome to him. Sometimes he’d be joined by a couple of students, but more often than not, he worked alone.
However, the level that Yujiro exhibited during his Redemption debut weren’t high enough...at least not to him. Sure, maybe he caught the eyes of a few. However, he did not win. And, while he knew that wins and loses weren’t everything, he also knew that a win would have gone a long way.
For a couple of hours, he was angry, furious. In that point in time, any joe-blow could have bested him. Then, a little while later, he mellowed out, enough for him to plan a course of action anyway. That’s when he became a danger. Instead of simply sulking, he knew what he had to do—get to work.
All those instances and thoughts ran through Yujiro’s head as he sat in the corner of one of the training school's rings. Classes had been over for nearly three hours, but it didn’t matter to him. Sweat steadily poured and rained down from his face, drenching his light gray hoodie. His feet ached inside of his broken in ASICS. His body and muscles were still tense from the workout they had just endured. There was also a slight soreness in his right arm.
Nonetheless, none of it bothered Yujiro. They were signs that he had been making progress, signs that his body was getting stronger.
He rested the back of his head against the middle turnbuckle pad and leaned back just a bit.
“October Eighth” he began. “Until the end of my days, that is a date that I’ll always remember. That was the day I made my grand re-debut into the wild world of professional wrestling…
“It was also the day that some silly young man let his anger and jealousy get the best of him—it was the day I was robbed.” Yujiro stopped speaking, but his words lingered in the air. Even though he’d come up with a game plan to advance, you could still hear the mild anger, the frustration in his voice. “The actions of that young fool cost me something of great importance.” He lets out a small grunt. “However, let’s come back to that a little later.”
He cracked his neck lightly. “A lot of my friends and family asked me if I was nervous to step back into competitive action after being away for a couple of years. I decided to be honest them—the answer was yes. However, it may not be for the reasons you all are imagining.
“You see, five days a week, I am right here.” Yujiro pointed to the wrestling ring. “This is my home away from home.” His demeanor switched for a moment as he let out a small laugh. “My wife calls this ring my mistresses, for most nights, it prevents me coming home and spending time with her.” His expression went back to its normal intensity. “Because that, I did not doubt my skills. The fact that people don’t know who I am, the fact that people can’t be bothered to conduct a simple Google search...well, that’s pretty irrelevant. I know who am. I know how hard I work. I know my limits, and I know what it to breakthrough and surpass said limits.
“No—my fear was that all my hard work would be nullified. My fear was that I’d work my ass off, only for it to be swept away. My fear was that I’d simply blend in, instead of standout.”
He stretched out his legs just a bit. “After speaking to my wife, I learned that those fears were irrelevant as well. So, she gave me her blessing; and, she told me to just go out and do what I love—wrestle.
“And, while I was hot there, my God did it feel amazing.
“Unlike some people in the company, I actually do try pay attention to what’s going around around me. I know your names, and I know what you’ve done in this industry. Therefore, I know the talent and skill that’s in this promotion. Therefore, to be able to simply walk in there and go toe-to-toe with some of the company’s best, so of the Business’ best—the feeling was indescribable.
“For a moment, I was on Cloud Nine...until the unthinkable happened.”
Yujiro’s blood began to boil at the thought of the incident. He quickly took in a deep breath. “Jeremy Starling, it’s time to address you.
“Sir, apparently they did not teach you grace and humility when you went to wrestling school. If that is the case, then I’d suggest to you go beg for your retainer back, swiftly.” He sighed. “However, there is a great possibility that you were indeed taught that lesson, but were just too dim-witted to absorb the knowledge.” He paused for a few seconds. “It is fine to be upset over getting eliminated. The match for a title belt, therefore, emotions always run high. Nevertheless, the act of getting back into the ring and hitting me with silver knuckles...well, that’s where you went wrong.
“You should have sucked it up, swallowed your pride, and taken steps to improve. That is a reputable person would do; that is what a wrestler would do. Instead, you took the pansy’s way out.” Yujiro shook his head lightly. “It is no matter. Very soon, you will receive what is owed to you, Mr. Sterling.
“I am a man of talent. I am a man of honor. And, in most cases, I’m slow to anger. However, the next time I see you, it will be in the center of that ring. And will look me in the eye, and you will see that there is no mercy, not for you.”
Silence persisted for a few moments. In that time, Yujiro was merely trying to wash his mind of anger. Anger clouds the mind, and ensnares the tongue. Once he composed himself, he began again.
“All that being said, I sincerely hope you all don’t believe that a simple loss will deter me. If so, then I must break your hearts. Yujiro Fujiwara will rebound from this minor setback, and any other that is thrown my way—that you can count on.” He nodded his head in affirmation.
“Also, let me say this—congratulations, Anton Chase. And, I mean that with the utmost sincerity. You profited off of Mr. Sterling shenanigans, even though you’ll likely try to sweep it under the rug. However, you yourself didn’t do anything heinous. Therefore, I can’t direct any anger towards you.
“Nonetheless, I will say this—it would be wise for you not to gloat. You now have a massive target on your back. Everyone will have you in their sights. That is something I don’t envy you for.”
He stretched his arms out and rested them on the ropes for a bit. “You know, back when I was training in Japan, I developed a relationship with one of the trainers. After hours of grueling work, and after wiping the dojo down until it was spotless, he and I would often sit and talk. We’d discuss life, politics, and of course, wrestling. And, one day, he say something that I’ll never forget.
“He told me that professional wrestling is an everlasting lesson.” Yujiro nodded. “You see, many people think that once they’ve made it big, everything is over. People believe that their legacies are set in stone. People that once you are great, you’ll always be great.
“However, that’s not the case. Champions are not immortal; one’s skills are not frozen in time. If you are truly a professional, then you can always do better...you can always do more. You never stop learning; you never stop building.” He nodded once more. “That is the motto I live by, in terms of wrestling. While my body may have wanted to sulk and be depressed, my mind implored my to get off my ass and get back to work—and I listened whole-heartedly.
“It’s that very determination, that drive, that mindset that will carry me pass a lot of people in this Business. That, is a fact!” He quickly ran his fingers through his sweat-laden hair. “Which, I suppose, brings me to you, Chris Maverick.
“You see, it’s pretty unfortunate that you’ve got to face me at a time like this. As you can probably tell by my words thus far, I’m not in the greatest of moods. Chris, I’ll let it be known, clearly and plainly—I am frustrated.
“However, am also steadfast and resolute.
“I realize that you suffered a loss a Glory as well. You’re probably looking to try and correct your wrongs. But, I can’t let you do that, not in this match.
“Sir, I’m not going to mince words with you. I’m going to hit you like a brick-house of fire. They say it is detriment to one’s health to bottle up aggression. Therefore, I’m going to release that aggression at the next Glory—and it just so happens that you will be standing across the ring from me.
“As self-centered, selfish, and self-indulgent as the following statement may be, I’m going to say it anyway. I’m going to use you, Mr. Maverick. We are going to have a wonderful match, one that everyone will be talking about for a couple of weeks. That is a testament to our respective talents. Nevertheless, I will be looking to put a hurting on you; I will be looking to punish you.
“I’m going to follow my wife’s advice—I’m going to go out there and wrestle. However, I’m going to show everyone in Redemption why I was hired in the first placed. I am not an illusion; I am not hype.
“I am Yujiro Fujiwara. I’ve been forged and fortified by the fires of this industry, and I’ve walked out a diamond. When we meet on October Twenty-Third, you and the rest of Redemption will understand that this is not a game.”
A burning look passion lingers on his face and in his eyes.
“Good luck to you.”
Fin
