Post by Yujiro Fujiwara on Dec 12, 2016 17:17:18 GMT -5
“Hmm. You know, I’m honestly not sure what possessed me to become a professional wrestler.” Yujiro Fujiwara rolled underneath the bottom rope of a large wrestling ring. He crossed the room and took a seat in one of the steel chairs that was posted near the wall. Upon sitting, he rested the back of his head against the wall. “As a kid, was not one who skipped assignments. I enjoyed going to class; I enjoyed learning. Graduating from high school was not an issue. And, in many respects, my college courses seemed even easier than said high school courses...
“What I mean to say is, professional wrestling not the only option for Yujiro Fujiwara.” He nodded a bit. “How does the saying go, ‘I had the world in the palm of my hands,’ so to speak. Initially, I chose to work as a paralegal; nonetheless, the fact remains—I could have done what my heart so desired—it just so happens that my heart wandered towards this luscious sport.”
He used his left forearm to wipe the sweat from his brow. “Perhaps I first became intrigued because of my grandfather.” He nodded. “My grandfather was a wrestle, back in his heyday. And, if you’ve been paying particular attention to our little talks, then you already know this; however, this bears repeating.
“My grandfather worked his buttocks of to be the very best wrestler that he possibly could be…even so, it wasn’t enough.” He let out a small sigh. “While my grandfather did have talent, he was not the ‘best in the world.’ No—he was far from it, actually.
“Did he have a set of wonderful matches? Indeed he did. However, by the societal and industry standards, his career would be labeled as sub-par at best. He was only able to work in certain region of Japan, he never made it big, and never won a world title, or anything of the sort.”
Yujiro leaned back in the chair, just a bit. “It pins me to say this now...but, when I was younger, I used to loath my grandfather. To me, his career was akin to a failure. And in the confines of my mind, I felt as if I could outshine him. I felt that I had the ability to do what he could not do.
“If you look at my debut promos, if you look at my early matches, you catch glimpse of a certain fire. But it was not the fire to be the very best I could be; it was desire to be better than my grandfather. That is why I wrestled back then.
“It was selfish. It was shameful. It was spiteful. But, by in large, I was successful in accomplishing that goal.”
Yujiro sat in silence for a moment or two as he regathered his thoughts.
“Or, maybe you could attribute the career choice to my father. He, like my grandfather, was also a wrestler. Now, where they differ, is that fact that my father was vastly popular and successful. He was so in high demand, that our family have to pick up and move over here to America.” A small smirk came to his face. “Nonetheless, in many ways, I viewed my grandfather and father as won in the same. I wanted to do better than him. I longed to hear people say that Yujiro Fujiwara was the superior than his father, Mongo Fuji.”
He paused for a moment.
“As I look back at my beginning times as wrestler, I can clear see the error of my ways. I didn’t enter into this sport because I loved it. I didn’t enter into it because it made me happy. I didn’t even enter into because I wanted to be the best.” He shook his head as a look of disgust washed over him. “Regardless of the fact that I held two world championships, regardless of the fact that I put on dozens of classic bouts—I became a wrestler due to egotistical and self-centered notions…
“That was in the past.”
He nodded once more. “In my time away from wrestling, I started to re-think things, and I realized the error of my ways. It was, humbling, to say the least.
“And yet, it was oh so very necessary. You see, it was that very humbling process that actually made me appreciate this sport for what it truly is. When I training students and trying to instill the best into them, well, the best was also instilled into me. That experience brought for a true love of wrestling in my heart…”
He pushed off a bit and sat up straight.
“As I made the decision to continue wrestling, I realized that I had to change a few things. I was no longer the man of old, nor was I the wrestler of old. Therefore, when I signed up with Redemption wrestling, I shed and tossed away the moniker of Manabu Fujiwara. That wrestler died and passed away. Instead, I chose to be open, honest, and real.
“And so, here sit before you—Yujiro Fujiwara, a wrestler burning with passion and desire!”
There was silence for a few moments.
“At Winter Solstice Night One, I’ll be taking on Xavier Cain, Anton Chase, and Trixie for the Genesis Championship. And, while I’m sure to you all are expecting a long, drawn out explanation as to why I’m going to win—I cannot do so.
“Mr. Cain, Ms. Trixie, and myself have all had opportunities to defeat Mr. Chase and give that championship a proper home. And yet, each and every one of us failed to do so.
“Have we all trained? Have we all stepped up our respective games? I know it to be true on my end; and, I suspect it to be true on their ends as well. However, that does not erase the fact that we all came up short our last times around.
“Now, some would say that I have a slight advantage over Xavier and Trixie, based upon the outcome of the last Glory event. Nevertheless, that’s not the way I’m choosing to view things.
“Anton Chase will do anything to hold onto his fading fifteen minutes of fame. Trixie will be hungry to prove that she isn’t merely the girlfriend of the owner, that she is a credible wrestler with merit. And Xavier Cain will be looking to prove that his mildly rocky start in this promotion is not a true indication of his talent.
“Everyone in this match is coming in with heightened motivation—I do not have an edge or advantage.”
He took a moment to breathe. He then let out a sigh.
“But my motivation, well, it is far more greater than that championship belt. My desire, is to go out there and do what I love. My desire is to showcase my exceptional skills at the highest level. My grandest desire is to put on the best match of my life, to show that my time here in Redemption hasn’t been in vain.”
Yujiro shook his head.
“I do not know what’s going to happen in this match. I cannot tell you what my opponents will do. I cannot tell you who the winner is going to be.
“The only thing I can tell you is that I’m going to fight as hard as I possibly can—simple.”
With that, Yujiro stood back to his feet. He walked back to the ring to continue his training.
“What I mean to say is, professional wrestling not the only option for Yujiro Fujiwara.” He nodded a bit. “How does the saying go, ‘I had the world in the palm of my hands,’ so to speak. Initially, I chose to work as a paralegal; nonetheless, the fact remains—I could have done what my heart so desired—it just so happens that my heart wandered towards this luscious sport.”
He used his left forearm to wipe the sweat from his brow. “Perhaps I first became intrigued because of my grandfather.” He nodded. “My grandfather was a wrestle, back in his heyday. And, if you’ve been paying particular attention to our little talks, then you already know this; however, this bears repeating.
“My grandfather worked his buttocks of to be the very best wrestler that he possibly could be…even so, it wasn’t enough.” He let out a small sigh. “While my grandfather did have talent, he was not the ‘best in the world.’ No—he was far from it, actually.
“Did he have a set of wonderful matches? Indeed he did. However, by the societal and industry standards, his career would be labeled as sub-par at best. He was only able to work in certain region of Japan, he never made it big, and never won a world title, or anything of the sort.”
Yujiro leaned back in the chair, just a bit. “It pins me to say this now...but, when I was younger, I used to loath my grandfather. To me, his career was akin to a failure. And in the confines of my mind, I felt as if I could outshine him. I felt that I had the ability to do what he could not do.
“If you look at my debut promos, if you look at my early matches, you catch glimpse of a certain fire. But it was not the fire to be the very best I could be; it was desire to be better than my grandfather. That is why I wrestled back then.
“It was selfish. It was shameful. It was spiteful. But, by in large, I was successful in accomplishing that goal.”
Yujiro sat in silence for a moment or two as he regathered his thoughts.
“Or, maybe you could attribute the career choice to my father. He, like my grandfather, was also a wrestler. Now, where they differ, is that fact that my father was vastly popular and successful. He was so in high demand, that our family have to pick up and move over here to America.” A small smirk came to his face. “Nonetheless, in many ways, I viewed my grandfather and father as won in the same. I wanted to do better than him. I longed to hear people say that Yujiro Fujiwara was the superior than his father, Mongo Fuji.”
He paused for a moment.
“As I look back at my beginning times as wrestler, I can clear see the error of my ways. I didn’t enter into this sport because I loved it. I didn’t enter into it because it made me happy. I didn’t even enter into because I wanted to be the best.” He shook his head as a look of disgust washed over him. “Regardless of the fact that I held two world championships, regardless of the fact that I put on dozens of classic bouts—I became a wrestler due to egotistical and self-centered notions…
“That was in the past.”
He nodded once more. “In my time away from wrestling, I started to re-think things, and I realized the error of my ways. It was, humbling, to say the least.
“And yet, it was oh so very necessary. You see, it was that very humbling process that actually made me appreciate this sport for what it truly is. When I training students and trying to instill the best into them, well, the best was also instilled into me. That experience brought for a true love of wrestling in my heart…”
He pushed off a bit and sat up straight.
“As I made the decision to continue wrestling, I realized that I had to change a few things. I was no longer the man of old, nor was I the wrestler of old. Therefore, when I signed up with Redemption wrestling, I shed and tossed away the moniker of Manabu Fujiwara. That wrestler died and passed away. Instead, I chose to be open, honest, and real.
“And so, here sit before you—Yujiro Fujiwara, a wrestler burning with passion and desire!”
There was silence for a few moments.
“At Winter Solstice Night One, I’ll be taking on Xavier Cain, Anton Chase, and Trixie for the Genesis Championship. And, while I’m sure to you all are expecting a long, drawn out explanation as to why I’m going to win—I cannot do so.
“Mr. Cain, Ms. Trixie, and myself have all had opportunities to defeat Mr. Chase and give that championship a proper home. And yet, each and every one of us failed to do so.
“Have we all trained? Have we all stepped up our respective games? I know it to be true on my end; and, I suspect it to be true on their ends as well. However, that does not erase the fact that we all came up short our last times around.
“Now, some would say that I have a slight advantage over Xavier and Trixie, based upon the outcome of the last Glory event. Nevertheless, that’s not the way I’m choosing to view things.
“Anton Chase will do anything to hold onto his fading fifteen minutes of fame. Trixie will be hungry to prove that she isn’t merely the girlfriend of the owner, that she is a credible wrestler with merit. And Xavier Cain will be looking to prove that his mildly rocky start in this promotion is not a true indication of his talent.
“Everyone in this match is coming in with heightened motivation—I do not have an edge or advantage.”
He took a moment to breathe. He then let out a sigh.
“But my motivation, well, it is far more greater than that championship belt. My desire, is to go out there and do what I love. My desire is to showcase my exceptional skills at the highest level. My grandest desire is to put on the best match of my life, to show that my time here in Redemption hasn’t been in vain.”
Yujiro shook his head.
“I do not know what’s going to happen in this match. I cannot tell you what my opponents will do. I cannot tell you who the winner is going to be.
“The only thing I can tell you is that I’m going to fight as hard as I possibly can—simple.”
With that, Yujiro stood back to his feet. He walked back to the ring to continue his training.
