Post by Yujiro Fujiwara on Oct 27, 2016 2:20:21 GMT -5
A myriad of thoughts run through person’s mind when they finally decide to knuckle up and return to a past love. Will she accept me back? Will things be the same as they were before? Will things be better than they were before? Has a new person replaced me and taken my spot? Am I being foolish?
Professional wrestling was Yujiro Fujiwara’s first love. In his early years, it consumed all of his time and effort. He yearned to be in the ring. He forewent meetings, trips, and social engagements, all due to his love of the sport.
He was a wrestler.
In all actuality though, it was not an easy decision for Yujiro to hop back into the wild and crazy world of wrestling. His talent and skill were not a question whatsoever. What was a question, however, whether he’d actually do something of substance.
He told himself that he wasn’t going to jump back into the ring simply to have matches; and, his wife was in agreeance. He’d heard all the veterans talk about “one last run.” In the past, it always sounded silly to him; but, as he neared with Redemption return, he began to truly understand…
It was no doubt that he loved the sport with all of his heart, like most wrestlers. But in his mind, he gave himself an ultimatum—he’d only return if he thought he would be able to do something great. He’d only return if he thought he could make a difference in the sport once more.
In the end, he indeed thought that he could do something great and make a difference; hence him signing to Redemption.
His “loss” in the battle royal made him question himself, if only for a moment. Did he perform well? Yes course. Was he one of the few standouts in the match? Certainly he was. Did he go the distance? Verily.
Nevertheless, getting cheated out of the Genesis Championship due to the actions of someone who was no longer in the match? Hmm—that just didn’t sit well with him. In fact, it initially enraged him. What also didn’t sit well with him was the way Anton Chase, the battle royal winner, carried himself.
Anton was not an unknown talent, or a scrub hired off the street. No, he was a man that had lived and dwelled in the realm of professional wrestling for many years. Yujiro knew of his name, his accomplishments, his tenure. The man was an eighteen time champion—however, you wouldn’t know that by the way he acted. And that’s what bothered Yujiro.
“When entering a new territory, it is wise to act as if you have been there before.” That was what one of his old instructors had told him.
In Yujiro’s mind, Anton Chase didn’t act like a man who had made it to the “top of the mountain.” Instead, he acted like a young boy who had just gotten his first taste of gold. He was arrogant. And, Yujiro knew that one could be arrogant when they had the skill to back it up. Nonetheless, Anton had won the title due to interference, and he retained it against Trixie by disqualification.
During his short time in Redemption, Anton didn’t portray himself as the accomplished, grizzled veteran—he portrayed himself as a desperate, insecure being.
Part of Yujiro’s brain understood that desperation. Perhaps Anton had made the same ultimatum to himself as he had. That didn’t excuse the fact that Anton didn’t carry himself with class and sophistication. No no, that was inexcusable…
When it was announced that Yujiro would face Anton on November Sixth, he couldn’t stop smiling. The match was chickens coming home to roost. The match was karma. Now, in all honesty, Yujiro would have settled for a simple one on one, non-title match up. All he really had desired was chance to put the man in his place. Oh, but the fact that the match was the Genesis Champion—it made things oh so sweeter.
After hearing about the match, the first thing that Yujiro did was head to the gym. The City of Angels Wrestling Dojo didn’t just host wrestling rings and training equipment, it also had a massive wrestling library that spanned various eras and promotions. He asked Flex to set aside some old WARPED tapes that featured Mr. Chase on them; of course, Flex obliged.
Yujiro sat watching the tapes. However, he wasn’t merely watching and observing, he was studying. He was studying his opponent’s facial expressions, his demeanors, his movements. After the conclusion of a tag team match, Yujiro lifted up the DVD remote and tapped pause.
“You know, returning to the world of professional wrestling has been humbling, to say the least,” he said as he leaned back in his seat and shifted just a bit. “It’s funny. Everyone expects you to recall their name, their accomplishments, their history. They expect you to bend your knee, lift your hands, and give them reverence. And yet, they cannot be bothered to even look up your name. And yet, they cannot be bothered to find out what you have done in this great sport.”
A small chuckle escaped Yujiro’s mouth. He shook his head lightly. “However, that is the very nature of professional wrestling. It is filled with back-biting, deception, and hypocrisy.” Once again, he shook his head. “However, I suppose it’s those small nuances that help make this sport so grand, yeah?”
He paused for a quick second. “On the last episode of Glory, I went up against Chris Maverick. He was a four-time champion. He was a man that Redemption had high hopes for. He was a man who assumed that he would change the course of wrestling history—and, he was subsequently defeated by yours truly.
“Now, I will not bash Mr. Maverick, as most people would. Not only did he loose, but then he was also released from the company. Some would love nothing more to jump on his case; some would love nothing more to shame him. I will not. The fact of the matter is, he put up a valiant fight. And, for the most part, he put up a fair fight. For that, he garnered a bit of my respect.”
Yujirio lifted his right leg and placed it over his left. He then clasped his hands together and set them in his lap. “And to be perfectly honest, Mr. Maverick is one of the few people here to earn my respect. You see, when I look at the Redemption roster, I see prime examples cowardice, I see deceit, and I see shiftlessness…
“There is no other perfect example than Anton Chase.” He let the name of his opponent linger in the air for a moment. “Regardless of if you’ve heard my name before, I am not a rookie, Anton. I know how this industry works and operates. And, I realize that people in your position, people who have a longstanding history, often demand respect. However, I cannot give you that respect, I’m afraid. My apologies, dear sir.”
He ran his fingers through his hair one good time. “Anton, you’ve been in this business over a decade. And, because of that, it would be idiotic for me to claim that you are not talented. You’ve put in the work for twelve years; you have skills.” Yujiro swiftly held up his right index-finger. “That being said, you aren’t as remarkable as you claim to be—and, you know it to be the case.” Yujiro placed his hand back down and nodded his head.
“Believe it or not Anton, I knew a lot about you before you even signed up with Redemption. Most of my colleagues here at the dojo are older than me; therefore, we often talk about past stories, experiences, etc. And you yourself have come up in discussion a few times.
“Now may not know this sir, but your ego precedes you, even more so than your talent does. Rarely do people talk about how proficient you are in the ring. No, the first thing people usually mention is you rotten attitude...how about that?
“For a while, I thought perhaps they were just being harsh. And then, I heard you speak first hand.” He paused. “To be perfectly honest, Anton, Redemption Wrestling didn’t need you. Hell, Redemption Wrestling didn’t need me either. That being said, you’d naturally think that a man in your position would be humble. You are older now, and, I imagine that you’ve burned quite a few bridges. You should have been gracious to be afforded an amazing opportunity. Instead, you chose the busted and tired ‘I’m better than you all’ route.
“How uninspiring sir.
“But, I suppose you were true to yourself, yeah?” Silence lingered in the room for a few moments. “Anton, who exactly are you better than again? Hmm?
“Allow me to be real for a moment. And, allow me to state what most people, including yourself, are already aware of. The reason why you are even holding the Genesis Championship is because of Mr. Starling. Had he not pulled out those knuckles of his, who knows where you’d be now. In all actuality, you’d likely be walking into this match as the challenger…
“You did not pin me. You did not submit me—you took advantage of shady situation. Does that deem you the superior opportunist? Yes, I suppose so. Does that make you the superior wrestler? No it does not. But those are the exact lies and fallacies that you spread over the past couple of weeks. And, you likely will continue to do so...until you are vanquished.
“The same can be said about your match with Trixie.” Yujiro let out a small laugh. “I imagine that you were infuriated when you found out that you were defending the Genesis title against her. You thought she was so far beneath you, did you not?
“However, you were mistaken, were you not? You underestimated her, and she brought the fight to you. Furthermore, no matter what kind of bullshit way that you try to spin it, the tomes of wrestling history will forever say that Trixie defeat you that night, disqualification or not.
“So Anton, please we mind us all, who exactly are you superior to?”
Once more, silence persisted and lingered. He felt his body becoming tense. Therefore, Yujiro leaned back in his seat a bit more and took a deep breath to compose himself.
“While there is a great deal of history that precedes Redemption Wrestling, the promotion as a whole is relatively young. Therefore, I don’t think it would be unwise to say that Redemption is still getting its feet underneath it. I’ve been in similar companies in the past; UWA was not very different. For a promotion to grow and thrive, it needs deep roster—and it also needs champions who will take the company to new heights.
“Mr. Shields has proven that he’ll fight and die for his title. Chaos Love went through hell and back to retain their titles a few weeks ago. Mr. Devereaux impressed the right people, and then demolished John Blade. The only outlier in that group, is you, Mr. Chase.
“The Genesis Champion should be a man or woman who does not take the easy way out; the Genesis Champion should be a man or woman who is going to be steadfast and stand up against any challenge, regardless of how dire the odds may seem…
“That man is not you, Anton.”
Yujiro let out an audible sigh. “Is that man me? Perhaps, perhaps not. All I know is that I’m much more qualified for the position than you are, my good man…”He paused. “When we meet on November Sixth, there will be nowhere to run, Anton; there will be no underhanded tactics—those will be nullified. You will be forced to stand in front on me and fight me, like a man. And, if you are truly as great in the ring as you claim, if you are really this veteran who is deserving of my respect, then you’ll have no problem doing so.
“It is my sincerest ambition to win the Genesis Championship. It is the belt that I and many others feel should have been rightfully mine in the first place.
“However, if I fail to capture it in this match, I will not whine or complain. I will not besmirch your name, as you’ll likely do to me. No—I shall dusty myself off, and keep pressing forward…
“That is how a true warrior and veteran should act. And, it’s how a man of valor acts.”
Professional wrestling was Yujiro Fujiwara’s first love. In his early years, it consumed all of his time and effort. He yearned to be in the ring. He forewent meetings, trips, and social engagements, all due to his love of the sport.
He was a wrestler.
In all actuality though, it was not an easy decision for Yujiro to hop back into the wild and crazy world of wrestling. His talent and skill were not a question whatsoever. What was a question, however, whether he’d actually do something of substance.
He told himself that he wasn’t going to jump back into the ring simply to have matches; and, his wife was in agreeance. He’d heard all the veterans talk about “one last run.” In the past, it always sounded silly to him; but, as he neared with Redemption return, he began to truly understand…
It was no doubt that he loved the sport with all of his heart, like most wrestlers. But in his mind, he gave himself an ultimatum—he’d only return if he thought he would be able to do something great. He’d only return if he thought he could make a difference in the sport once more.
In the end, he indeed thought that he could do something great and make a difference; hence him signing to Redemption.
His “loss” in the battle royal made him question himself, if only for a moment. Did he perform well? Yes course. Was he one of the few standouts in the match? Certainly he was. Did he go the distance? Verily.
Nevertheless, getting cheated out of the Genesis Championship due to the actions of someone who was no longer in the match? Hmm—that just didn’t sit well with him. In fact, it initially enraged him. What also didn’t sit well with him was the way Anton Chase, the battle royal winner, carried himself.
Anton was not an unknown talent, or a scrub hired off the street. No, he was a man that had lived and dwelled in the realm of professional wrestling for many years. Yujiro knew of his name, his accomplishments, his tenure. The man was an eighteen time champion—however, you wouldn’t know that by the way he acted. And that’s what bothered Yujiro.
“When entering a new territory, it is wise to act as if you have been there before.” That was what one of his old instructors had told him.
In Yujiro’s mind, Anton Chase didn’t act like a man who had made it to the “top of the mountain.” Instead, he acted like a young boy who had just gotten his first taste of gold. He was arrogant. And, Yujiro knew that one could be arrogant when they had the skill to back it up. Nonetheless, Anton had won the title due to interference, and he retained it against Trixie by disqualification.
During his short time in Redemption, Anton didn’t portray himself as the accomplished, grizzled veteran—he portrayed himself as a desperate, insecure being.
Part of Yujiro’s brain understood that desperation. Perhaps Anton had made the same ultimatum to himself as he had. That didn’t excuse the fact that Anton didn’t carry himself with class and sophistication. No no, that was inexcusable…
When it was announced that Yujiro would face Anton on November Sixth, he couldn’t stop smiling. The match was chickens coming home to roost. The match was karma. Now, in all honesty, Yujiro would have settled for a simple one on one, non-title match up. All he really had desired was chance to put the man in his place. Oh, but the fact that the match was the Genesis Champion—it made things oh so sweeter.
After hearing about the match, the first thing that Yujiro did was head to the gym. The City of Angels Wrestling Dojo didn’t just host wrestling rings and training equipment, it also had a massive wrestling library that spanned various eras and promotions. He asked Flex to set aside some old WARPED tapes that featured Mr. Chase on them; of course, Flex obliged.
Yujiro sat watching the tapes. However, he wasn’t merely watching and observing, he was studying. He was studying his opponent’s facial expressions, his demeanors, his movements. After the conclusion of a tag team match, Yujiro lifted up the DVD remote and tapped pause.
“You know, returning to the world of professional wrestling has been humbling, to say the least,” he said as he leaned back in his seat and shifted just a bit. “It’s funny. Everyone expects you to recall their name, their accomplishments, their history. They expect you to bend your knee, lift your hands, and give them reverence. And yet, they cannot be bothered to even look up your name. And yet, they cannot be bothered to find out what you have done in this great sport.”
A small chuckle escaped Yujiro’s mouth. He shook his head lightly. “However, that is the very nature of professional wrestling. It is filled with back-biting, deception, and hypocrisy.” Once again, he shook his head. “However, I suppose it’s those small nuances that help make this sport so grand, yeah?”
He paused for a quick second. “On the last episode of Glory, I went up against Chris Maverick. He was a four-time champion. He was a man that Redemption had high hopes for. He was a man who assumed that he would change the course of wrestling history—and, he was subsequently defeated by yours truly.
“Now, I will not bash Mr. Maverick, as most people would. Not only did he loose, but then he was also released from the company. Some would love nothing more to jump on his case; some would love nothing more to shame him. I will not. The fact of the matter is, he put up a valiant fight. And, for the most part, he put up a fair fight. For that, he garnered a bit of my respect.”
Yujirio lifted his right leg and placed it over his left. He then clasped his hands together and set them in his lap. “And to be perfectly honest, Mr. Maverick is one of the few people here to earn my respect. You see, when I look at the Redemption roster, I see prime examples cowardice, I see deceit, and I see shiftlessness…
“There is no other perfect example than Anton Chase.” He let the name of his opponent linger in the air for a moment. “Regardless of if you’ve heard my name before, I am not a rookie, Anton. I know how this industry works and operates. And, I realize that people in your position, people who have a longstanding history, often demand respect. However, I cannot give you that respect, I’m afraid. My apologies, dear sir.”
He ran his fingers through his hair one good time. “Anton, you’ve been in this business over a decade. And, because of that, it would be idiotic for me to claim that you are not talented. You’ve put in the work for twelve years; you have skills.” Yujiro swiftly held up his right index-finger. “That being said, you aren’t as remarkable as you claim to be—and, you know it to be the case.” Yujiro placed his hand back down and nodded his head.
“Believe it or not Anton, I knew a lot about you before you even signed up with Redemption. Most of my colleagues here at the dojo are older than me; therefore, we often talk about past stories, experiences, etc. And you yourself have come up in discussion a few times.
“Now may not know this sir, but your ego precedes you, even more so than your talent does. Rarely do people talk about how proficient you are in the ring. No, the first thing people usually mention is you rotten attitude...how about that?
“For a while, I thought perhaps they were just being harsh. And then, I heard you speak first hand.” He paused. “To be perfectly honest, Anton, Redemption Wrestling didn’t need you. Hell, Redemption Wrestling didn’t need me either. That being said, you’d naturally think that a man in your position would be humble. You are older now, and, I imagine that you’ve burned quite a few bridges. You should have been gracious to be afforded an amazing opportunity. Instead, you chose the busted and tired ‘I’m better than you all’ route.
“How uninspiring sir.
“But, I suppose you were true to yourself, yeah?” Silence lingered in the room for a few moments. “Anton, who exactly are you better than again? Hmm?
“Allow me to be real for a moment. And, allow me to state what most people, including yourself, are already aware of. The reason why you are even holding the Genesis Championship is because of Mr. Starling. Had he not pulled out those knuckles of his, who knows where you’d be now. In all actuality, you’d likely be walking into this match as the challenger…
“You did not pin me. You did not submit me—you took advantage of shady situation. Does that deem you the superior opportunist? Yes, I suppose so. Does that make you the superior wrestler? No it does not. But those are the exact lies and fallacies that you spread over the past couple of weeks. And, you likely will continue to do so...until you are vanquished.
“The same can be said about your match with Trixie.” Yujiro let out a small laugh. “I imagine that you were infuriated when you found out that you were defending the Genesis title against her. You thought she was so far beneath you, did you not?
“However, you were mistaken, were you not? You underestimated her, and she brought the fight to you. Furthermore, no matter what kind of bullshit way that you try to spin it, the tomes of wrestling history will forever say that Trixie defeat you that night, disqualification or not.
“So Anton, please we mind us all, who exactly are you superior to?”
Once more, silence persisted and lingered. He felt his body becoming tense. Therefore, Yujiro leaned back in his seat a bit more and took a deep breath to compose himself.
“While there is a great deal of history that precedes Redemption Wrestling, the promotion as a whole is relatively young. Therefore, I don’t think it would be unwise to say that Redemption is still getting its feet underneath it. I’ve been in similar companies in the past; UWA was not very different. For a promotion to grow and thrive, it needs deep roster—and it also needs champions who will take the company to new heights.
“Mr. Shields has proven that he’ll fight and die for his title. Chaos Love went through hell and back to retain their titles a few weeks ago. Mr. Devereaux impressed the right people, and then demolished John Blade. The only outlier in that group, is you, Mr. Chase.
“The Genesis Champion should be a man or woman who does not take the easy way out; the Genesis Champion should be a man or woman who is going to be steadfast and stand up against any challenge, regardless of how dire the odds may seem…
“That man is not you, Anton.”
Yujiro let out an audible sigh. “Is that man me? Perhaps, perhaps not. All I know is that I’m much more qualified for the position than you are, my good man…”He paused. “When we meet on November Sixth, there will be nowhere to run, Anton; there will be no underhanded tactics—those will be nullified. You will be forced to stand in front on me and fight me, like a man. And, if you are truly as great in the ring as you claim, if you are really this veteran who is deserving of my respect, then you’ll have no problem doing so.
“It is my sincerest ambition to win the Genesis Championship. It is the belt that I and many others feel should have been rightfully mine in the first place.
“However, if I fail to capture it in this match, I will not whine or complain. I will not besmirch your name, as you’ll likely do to me. No—I shall dusty myself off, and keep pressing forward…
“That is how a true warrior and veteran should act. And, it’s how a man of valor acts.”
Fin
