Post by Yujiro Fujiwara on Sept 17, 2017 7:18:21 GMT -5
Ding Dong
Ding Dong
“My my, who could that be?”
The sound of the doorbell didn’t necessarily startle Yujiro Fujiwara, but it did surprise him. He and Cammy were moderately social people (her more so than him); nevertheless, the two rarely if ever recieved company at home. Perhaps it was due to the fact that either of them were at home for long periods of time. If Yujiro wasn’t at the gym training, then he was training. And if he wasn't training, he was traveling overseas to compete in DIVINE Pro. His sparse free time was often devoted to a bit of relaxation or bonding with his wife. This left little room for visitors.
Regardless, Yujiro pushed himself off the couch and made his way towards the door. As he looked through the peephole, a large smile crossed his face. He quickly opened the door and held out his arms.
“Dad, what a joyous occasion,” Yujiro said.
Montaro Fujiwara—he was the man who birthed and raised Yujiro. He was the one who inspired and sparked Yujiro’s interest in the sport of professional wrestling. He was the man who had motivated Yujiro to push himself to new heights.
Yujiro and Montaro’s relationship hadn’t always been roses and sunshine, especially not when Yujiro first began wrestling. The two of them had grown close and settled their differences within the past four to five years, however.
“How are you son?” Montaro asked as he gave Yujiro a massive hug.
“I am doing quite well,” Yujiro replied. “You caught me by surprise actually. I was expecting Cammy to walk through the door any moment.”
“Aye, and where is my lovely daughter-in-law.”
“I believe she had to work a bit later tonight. That is what she texted me a hour ago. We were going to go out to dinner and relax.” He ushered his father into the house. “But now that dinner shall be even more special now that you are here.”
Montaro let out a small laugh. “You flatterer.”
“Yujiro, may I ask you something?” Montaro paused for a moment or two. “It is something I’ve been meaning to ask you for a while. Ever since you’ve captured the Redemption Heavyweight Championship actually.”
“Hmm,” Yujiro said. “Sure. Please speak your mind, father.”
“Are you happy?”
It was a starch question. It was a question that also caught his son off guard a bit.
“You know, I have seen a great deal of your matches son. I’ve seen enough to be able to study you and your style. And I’ve seen enough matches to know when you are enjoying yourself out there. You exhibit a certain demeanor out in the ring when you are having a ball. You’re serious and poised, of course. However, there’s also a certain looseness that you show as well.” Mr. Fujiwara paused for a moment. “But I haven’t seen that loose or tranquil demeanor ever since you captured that belt. Instead, I see stress and tension plastered all over you.”
Yujiro cracked his knuckles as he leaned back a bit. He let out a small sigh.
“My time as the Redemption Heavyweight Champion has been mixed in my mind.” He paused. “The night I won it was truly something special. I’d been on this path, this quest for so long. And every time it seemed like things were in my favor, shit went left. I could have given up, but yet I endured. So when I won at WrestleForce, it was like I finally completed that quest—and the whole world was there to watch me do it.” Yujiro nodded his head. “That is something that I shall never, ever forget as long as I live…
“But as they say, climbing the mountain is the easiest part—staying on top is what’s truly taxing.”
Yujiro let out another sigh.
“I have proven myself to be a man of the people. They have held me and lifted me up. I shall always appreciated that. But a man that is held up by the fans is not always a man that is held up by his peers.” He nodded. “I have taken everything that’s been thrown at me. I have overcome insurmountable odds. And yet, certain peers act as if I haven’t earned my place within Redemption. Certain people act as if my struggles were all for nothing.
“It gets frustrating father, it really does. I give all of myself each time I step out there into the wrestling ring. I have tussled and defeated juggernauts of the promotion—and it still isn’t enough to garner me respect.”
Yujiro leaned back even more. “So to answer your question, no, not really.”
“I see. I see. Your frustrations are valid.” Montaro folded his arms across his chest as his brain attempted to forge the correct words. “Yujiro, you have been in this sport a long time. It is a occupation filled with much deceit and treachery, more so than any other sport.
“You’ve sacrificed. You’ve struggled. You’ve given your all. But the harsh reality is that some people will never give a fuck. Some people are always going to be jealous of you, jealous of your talent, and jealous of your journey. That is something that can’t be helped, my son. Allow them to wallow in their jealousy, Yujiro.”
There was a stillness in the room.
“Son, you are an amazing wrestler. Better than me, and better than your grandfather. It is a joy to see you out there, doing what you love…
“You’ve got to get back to loving it. Don’t let the feeling and opinions of fools distort you. But your boot on their necks and stand tall—”
The front door flew open as Montaro finished his sentence. “Yujiro! I’m home!” shouted Cammy. “There was some gray SUV outside. Do we have company?” She laid eyes on Montaro as she entered the living room. “Dad!”
Are you well? I truly hope that you are. It is a marvelous evening here in L.A. It just so happens that I’ve finished up a riveting session in the gym—Convergence beckons, as I’m sure you are all aware. Therefore, I decided I’d record this audio log for you while I’m feeling amped up.
Sound good?
And as always, please give me a moment to introduce myself. Redemption is a prosperous company with an ever-growing fan base, so I’m sure there are people out there who do not know me. So, I shall rectify that situation.
For those of you all who don’t know me or the sound of my voice, my name is Yujiro Fujiwara. I am a man of honor. I am a man of valor. I am a man who has poured his heart and soul into this promotion. And lastly, I am your Redemption Heavyweight Champion.
Now, let’s get down to business.
Convergence is shaping up to be one massive event, yes indeed it is. Aiden Morrow will go on to face Anton Chase. I sincerely hope that Mr. Morrow kicks a large amount of ass in that match. Another high profile match happens to be Adrien Cochrane versus Matthew Shields. Is there really a question as to who I’d “root” for in that bout? And of course there is the Young Lions Championship match featuring Coda and Scotty Latimer…
And yet, that entire night will be capped off as I defend the Redemption Heavyweight Championship against Kayla Richards.
Hmm.
I shall be honest, as always. I have been racking my brain over the past couple of weeks, past couple of months, to truly figure out what this match is about. Every match has an underlying narrative, whether we chose to accept it or not.
This match is not about honor. If it were, Ms. Richards would not have needed to stoop to the levels of sheer disrespect that she has…
This match is not about determining who the better wrestler is. That could have been handled in the tag team match a while back. Or, the topic could have been broached, at the very least…
I also this next point very curious. Even though the Redemption Heavyweight Championship is on the line, it still doesn’t feel like the match is centered upon that grand prize, does it?
No—the central focal point in this match is respect. Or more accurately, an uber lack thereof.
Ms. Richards, let’s be clear about a few things, yes?
You don’t respect the journey I have been on here in Redemption Wrestling. My start in the company was rocky at best. I fought with all of my might, but came up short on many occasions. I was beginning to reach my limit, my breaking point. And yet, I still stood firm. I still stood tall. Instead of quitting, I pressed on. And in pressing on, I captured the Redemption Heavyweight Championship. That is an impressive journey; one that people should aspire to have. But your hate will not allow you to do so.
You don’t respect that I have worked my way up from the bottom of the promotion. It is easy to quit; it is difficult to grit your teeth and fight on. I chose to do the latter. However, I am aware that this trait doesn’t simply belong to you, Ms. Richards. I am no fool; I have heard the way people talk about me. Many people have defeated me in the past. I can assure you that they will claim they are superior to me, regardless of if I possess the greatest prize in this company or not. They stubbornly refuse to acknowledge my growth. They stubbornly refuse to acknowledge that things are no longer the same.
You do not respect or accept the fact that I have defeated Mr. Shields on multiple occasions. Hmm. There was this foolish notion that I “got lucky” winning the championship from Mr. Shields. And yet, I have proven time and time again that I can match up to him and defeat him. The Global Cup, once under a mask, the two-out-of-three falls match, and his rematch at Glory. One win may be a stroke of luck—four separate wins is a stroke of skill and talent. I am certain watching him fall time and time again ate you alive.
Lastly, you do not respect that the company has champion that they can believe in. The key to being a good champion is not an iron grip or world domination. That tactic doesn’t work for dictators; therefore, it shouldn’t work for a championship holder either. A good champion is one that inspires others. A good champion is one that people can look up to. A good champion is one that pushes others to their limits and beyond. I inspired folks when I captured the Redemption Heavyweight belt, the cheers and shouts from the crowd are mighty evidence of that. And on many occasions fans and peers have told me I handle myself and my title reign with poise; that speaks to people looking up to me. And the video footage from my title defense proves that I have taken people to the limit.
I realize that I am not the most vocal champion. That is because I truly believe that actions speak louder than words. And my actions here within Redemption have been exemplary.
Ms. Richards, you lack lack of respect is noted. And to be honest, it is completely fine. I am not a man who must beg, cry, and plead for respect. Never that…
But your disrespect has also been noted. And that? Well, that cannot be tolerated; not one bit. You are an adult, Ms. Richards. Therefore, you must know that every word you speak, every action you take, every move you make, has consequences. And if you took you could simply disrespect me and not catch any hell, well, then you are quite foolish. Quite foolish indeed.
This match shall serves a mighty lesson for you, love. A mighty, mighty lesson.
Hmm…
Before I close out and end this audio log, I must touch upon something very crucial. It will also serve as another example of how your hate is irrational and makes you delusional.
Ms. Richards, you have referred to me both as a transitional and paper champion in the past. I assume those jabs were meant to rile me up, yes? Wonderful try. And if those notions were true, perhaps I would be a bit flustered. Nevertheless, since they are baseless notions, I find it difficult to become heated.
By the time you and I are face to face in the ring, I will have held the Redemption Heavyweight Championship for one hundred and five days. I will have also secured two separate successful defenses.
One hundred days is awfully long for transition period, even you must agree. Therefore, that notion is thwarted. And the fact that I successfully retained twice, including once against the former champion, well, your words are once again proven to be false.
My time with the Redemption Heavyweight Championship tis merely a solid start
to superb reign that I plan on continuing—as simple as that.
You, Ms. Richards? You have the honor and privilege of being attached to that reign. Consider yourself blessed and fortunate.
Ding Dong
“My my, who could that be?”
The sound of the doorbell didn’t necessarily startle Yujiro Fujiwara, but it did surprise him. He and Cammy were moderately social people (her more so than him); nevertheless, the two rarely if ever recieved company at home. Perhaps it was due to the fact that either of them were at home for long periods of time. If Yujiro wasn’t at the gym training, then he was training. And if he wasn't training, he was traveling overseas to compete in DIVINE Pro. His sparse free time was often devoted to a bit of relaxation or bonding with his wife. This left little room for visitors.
Regardless, Yujiro pushed himself off the couch and made his way towards the door. As he looked through the peephole, a large smile crossed his face. He quickly opened the door and held out his arms.
“Dad, what a joyous occasion,” Yujiro said.
Montaro Fujiwara—he was the man who birthed and raised Yujiro. He was the one who inspired and sparked Yujiro’s interest in the sport of professional wrestling. He was the man who had motivated Yujiro to push himself to new heights.
Yujiro and Montaro’s relationship hadn’t always been roses and sunshine, especially not when Yujiro first began wrestling. The two of them had grown close and settled their differences within the past four to five years, however.
“How are you son?” Montaro asked as he gave Yujiro a massive hug.
“I am doing quite well,” Yujiro replied. “You caught me by surprise actually. I was expecting Cammy to walk through the door any moment.”
“Aye, and where is my lovely daughter-in-law.”
“I believe she had to work a bit later tonight. That is what she texted me a hour ago. We were going to go out to dinner and relax.” He ushered his father into the house. “But now that dinner shall be even more special now that you are here.”
Montaro let out a small laugh. “You flatterer.”
. . .
“Yujiro, may I ask you something?” Montaro paused for a moment or two. “It is something I’ve been meaning to ask you for a while. Ever since you’ve captured the Redemption Heavyweight Championship actually.”
“Hmm,” Yujiro said. “Sure. Please speak your mind, father.”
“Are you happy?”
It was a starch question. It was a question that also caught his son off guard a bit.
“You know, I have seen a great deal of your matches son. I’ve seen enough to be able to study you and your style. And I’ve seen enough matches to know when you are enjoying yourself out there. You exhibit a certain demeanor out in the ring when you are having a ball. You’re serious and poised, of course. However, there’s also a certain looseness that you show as well.” Mr. Fujiwara paused for a moment. “But I haven’t seen that loose or tranquil demeanor ever since you captured that belt. Instead, I see stress and tension plastered all over you.”
Yujiro cracked his knuckles as he leaned back a bit. He let out a small sigh.
“My time as the Redemption Heavyweight Champion has been mixed in my mind.” He paused. “The night I won it was truly something special. I’d been on this path, this quest for so long. And every time it seemed like things were in my favor, shit went left. I could have given up, but yet I endured. So when I won at WrestleForce, it was like I finally completed that quest—and the whole world was there to watch me do it.” Yujiro nodded his head. “That is something that I shall never, ever forget as long as I live…
“But as they say, climbing the mountain is the easiest part—staying on top is what’s truly taxing.”
Yujiro let out another sigh.
“I have proven myself to be a man of the people. They have held me and lifted me up. I shall always appreciated that. But a man that is held up by the fans is not always a man that is held up by his peers.” He nodded. “I have taken everything that’s been thrown at me. I have overcome insurmountable odds. And yet, certain peers act as if I haven’t earned my place within Redemption. Certain people act as if my struggles were all for nothing.
“It gets frustrating father, it really does. I give all of myself each time I step out there into the wrestling ring. I have tussled and defeated juggernauts of the promotion—and it still isn’t enough to garner me respect.”
Yujiro leaned back even more. “So to answer your question, no, not really.”
“I see. I see. Your frustrations are valid.” Montaro folded his arms across his chest as his brain attempted to forge the correct words. “Yujiro, you have been in this sport a long time. It is a occupation filled with much deceit and treachery, more so than any other sport.
“You’ve sacrificed. You’ve struggled. You’ve given your all. But the harsh reality is that some people will never give a fuck. Some people are always going to be jealous of you, jealous of your talent, and jealous of your journey. That is something that can’t be helped, my son. Allow them to wallow in their jealousy, Yujiro.”
There was a stillness in the room.
“Son, you are an amazing wrestler. Better than me, and better than your grandfather. It is a joy to see you out there, doing what you love…
“You’ve got to get back to loving it. Don’t let the feeling and opinions of fools distort you. But your boot on their necks and stand tall—”
The front door flew open as Montaro finished his sentence. “Yujiro! I’m home!” shouted Cammy. “There was some gray SUV outside. Do we have company?” She laid eyes on Montaro as she entered the living room. “Dad!”
―――――
Are you well? I truly hope that you are. It is a marvelous evening here in L.A. It just so happens that I’ve finished up a riveting session in the gym—Convergence beckons, as I’m sure you are all aware. Therefore, I decided I’d record this audio log for you while I’m feeling amped up.
Sound good?
And as always, please give me a moment to introduce myself. Redemption is a prosperous company with an ever-growing fan base, so I’m sure there are people out there who do not know me. So, I shall rectify that situation.
For those of you all who don’t know me or the sound of my voice, my name is Yujiro Fujiwara. I am a man of honor. I am a man of valor. I am a man who has poured his heart and soul into this promotion. And lastly, I am your Redemption Heavyweight Champion.
Now, let’s get down to business.
Convergence is shaping up to be one massive event, yes indeed it is. Aiden Morrow will go on to face Anton Chase. I sincerely hope that Mr. Morrow kicks a large amount of ass in that match. Another high profile match happens to be Adrien Cochrane versus Matthew Shields. Is there really a question as to who I’d “root” for in that bout? And of course there is the Young Lions Championship match featuring Coda and Scotty Latimer…
And yet, that entire night will be capped off as I defend the Redemption Heavyweight Championship against Kayla Richards.
Hmm.
I shall be honest, as always. I have been racking my brain over the past couple of weeks, past couple of months, to truly figure out what this match is about. Every match has an underlying narrative, whether we chose to accept it or not.
This match is not about honor. If it were, Ms. Richards would not have needed to stoop to the levels of sheer disrespect that she has…
This match is not about determining who the better wrestler is. That could have been handled in the tag team match a while back. Or, the topic could have been broached, at the very least…
I also this next point very curious. Even though the Redemption Heavyweight Championship is on the line, it still doesn’t feel like the match is centered upon that grand prize, does it?
No—the central focal point in this match is respect. Or more accurately, an uber lack thereof.
Ms. Richards, let’s be clear about a few things, yes?
You don’t respect the journey I have been on here in Redemption Wrestling. My start in the company was rocky at best. I fought with all of my might, but came up short on many occasions. I was beginning to reach my limit, my breaking point. And yet, I still stood firm. I still stood tall. Instead of quitting, I pressed on. And in pressing on, I captured the Redemption Heavyweight Championship. That is an impressive journey; one that people should aspire to have. But your hate will not allow you to do so.
You don’t respect that I have worked my way up from the bottom of the promotion. It is easy to quit; it is difficult to grit your teeth and fight on. I chose to do the latter. However, I am aware that this trait doesn’t simply belong to you, Ms. Richards. I am no fool; I have heard the way people talk about me. Many people have defeated me in the past. I can assure you that they will claim they are superior to me, regardless of if I possess the greatest prize in this company or not. They stubbornly refuse to acknowledge my growth. They stubbornly refuse to acknowledge that things are no longer the same.
You do not respect or accept the fact that I have defeated Mr. Shields on multiple occasions. Hmm. There was this foolish notion that I “got lucky” winning the championship from Mr. Shields. And yet, I have proven time and time again that I can match up to him and defeat him. The Global Cup, once under a mask, the two-out-of-three falls match, and his rematch at Glory. One win may be a stroke of luck—four separate wins is a stroke of skill and talent. I am certain watching him fall time and time again ate you alive.
Lastly, you do not respect that the company has champion that they can believe in. The key to being a good champion is not an iron grip or world domination. That tactic doesn’t work for dictators; therefore, it shouldn’t work for a championship holder either. A good champion is one that inspires others. A good champion is one that people can look up to. A good champion is one that pushes others to their limits and beyond. I inspired folks when I captured the Redemption Heavyweight belt, the cheers and shouts from the crowd are mighty evidence of that. And on many occasions fans and peers have told me I handle myself and my title reign with poise; that speaks to people looking up to me. And the video footage from my title defense proves that I have taken people to the limit.
I realize that I am not the most vocal champion. That is because I truly believe that actions speak louder than words. And my actions here within Redemption have been exemplary.
Ms. Richards, you lack lack of respect is noted. And to be honest, it is completely fine. I am not a man who must beg, cry, and plead for respect. Never that…
But your disrespect has also been noted. And that? Well, that cannot be tolerated; not one bit. You are an adult, Ms. Richards. Therefore, you must know that every word you speak, every action you take, every move you make, has consequences. And if you took you could simply disrespect me and not catch any hell, well, then you are quite foolish. Quite foolish indeed.
This match shall serves a mighty lesson for you, love. A mighty, mighty lesson.
Hmm…
Before I close out and end this audio log, I must touch upon something very crucial. It will also serve as another example of how your hate is irrational and makes you delusional.
Ms. Richards, you have referred to me both as a transitional and paper champion in the past. I assume those jabs were meant to rile me up, yes? Wonderful try. And if those notions were true, perhaps I would be a bit flustered. Nevertheless, since they are baseless notions, I find it difficult to become heated.
By the time you and I are face to face in the ring, I will have held the Redemption Heavyweight Championship for one hundred and five days. I will have also secured two separate successful defenses.
One hundred days is awfully long for transition period, even you must agree. Therefore, that notion is thwarted. And the fact that I successfully retained twice, including once against the former champion, well, your words are once again proven to be false.
My time with the Redemption Heavyweight Championship tis merely a solid start
to superb reign that I plan on continuing—as simple as that.
You, Ms. Richards? You have the honor and privilege of being attached to that reign. Consider yourself blessed and fortunate.
