Post by Yujiro Fujiwara on Jan 28, 2017 19:28:53 GMT -5
Good evening. As usual when it comes to these audio logs, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Yujiro Fujiwara. And while I’ve worn many hats (student, paralegal, husband), there largest and most distinct of them all is the one of professional wrestler.
...It’s curious. I’ve been in Redemption Wrestling for a fair amount of time now. And, if I’m being truly honest, it’s unlike any other place I’ve worked at—for better, and for worse.
Redemption plays host to some of the most talented wrestlers I’ve ever seen. Some of them are established, some of them are trying to find themselves and make a name. Whatever the case may be, most of them are hungry and ready to fight. That is truly a sight to behold.
And then you’ve got the other side of this company, the dark underbelly. Now let’s be clear, professional wrestling has never been all smiles and rainbows. It’s always been a haven for the addicted, the abused, and the neglected. And we all know that egos run wild throughout the sport; it’s merely the nature of the beast. However, it sometimes seems that things here in Redemption are a bit off kilter. The cockiness, the arrogance in this place is baffling…
But then again, that is also the nature of the beast.
Sometimes success requires wading through all the muck, all the bullshit. That’s what I’ve been attempting to do over the past few weeks.
In some ways, I get it. No one in Redemption knew a thing about me before I signed. They had no knowledge of the promotions I worked for, the titles I held, or the hardships I endured to get to this point. They saw a clean-shaven, well-dressed, well spoken man—but for whatever reason, they didn’t spot the warrior inside of him.
How narrow sighted.
However, I suppose my record in the promotion didn’t do me any favors. But then again, that is where that baffling part rears its ugly head…
This company is said to have some of the best wrestlers in the world. And why they may excel in the ring, wrestling is a holistic sport. Professional wrestling is about you do inside the ring, outside the ring, and in preparation.
Holistic...
Wins and losses are virtually important, true enough. Nonetheless, what’s also important is how you got to said match, and what happened during its course. And since my first match in this company, it was clear that I was a talented man. You all couldn’t see that—
Or perhaps you ignorantly chose not to see it. Maybe some of you wanted to live in a fantasy world where Yujiro would never amount to anything in this company. Bubble gum and fairy tales, hmm?
My win over Anton Chase was inexcusable, it was inevitable. For a man who has claimed to worked in this sport for over a decade, he constantly seems to forget one of the sport’s cardinal rules—never underestimate.
The same could be said for Mr. Matthews. I’m not here to gloat or rub a lose in your face; that’s far from my intent. However, what I will say is that you should have seen a moment like this coming. You’ve got a target on your back as large as Texas. You aren’t afforded the luxury of underestimating anyone, given the fact that everyone wants to see you knocked out on the mat…
Now, I feel my mind and my heart is clear. Therefore, allow me to set my sight to the future, and my match against LJ Daughterty.
Mr. Daughterty, I mean this with all sincerity—it will be a great honor to face you in the center of the ring. In the past, people have made remarks to your attitude and such. I don’t know you in that matter, therefore, I cannot judge you on those accounts. What I can judge for, is what you’ve done for this great sport.
From all accounts, NGW was a special place. It was one of those one in a life-time promotions; one that catches fire quickly and burns very bright. And at the time of that burning, you were at the helm, weren’t you Mr. Daughterty?
NGW Marquee Champion. NGW Tag Team Champion. Those are very admirable feats. Some of the best of the best joined NGW, and for lack of a better term, many of them floundered. I’m not here to shame them, so I won’t name them specifically.
However, you didn’t flounder, Mr. Daughterty. No, in fact, you tuck the bull by the horns and thrived.
Mr. Daughterty, I care not what people say about you behind closed doors. I care not about what your record says. Your history says that you’re a mighty competitor—and for this bout, that is what’s important.
Hmm, but despite everything, my goal in this match is to put you away in an efficient manner.
I know how you are feeling, Mr. Daughterty. I truly do. I imagine that you came to Redemption for similar reasons as I did. Maybe you were sick of sit on the couch, hearing from your friends about their wrestling exploits and travels. Or perhaps you grew tired of aimlessly training with no purpose. But regardless of your reason, you were no longer content sitting on sideline anymore.
...I don’t say this very often. But this match will be quite special. To my knowledge, there’s no beef or animosity between the two of us. Therefore, this match shall simply center around honor and pride. And based on personal experience, those are often the bouts that are remembered throughout time, and garner to most respect.
That being said sir, I don’t plan on leaving Fukuoka with my head hanging low. On the contrary—I’ll fight my damnedest to make sure that my hand is risen high at the end of the night.
I’m not fighting hard merely because of this tournament. I’m not fighting hard merely because we are in Japan. Each and every time I step into the ring, I’m fighting for my family—I’m fighting for my legacy.
I wish you luck and happy training, Mr. Daughterty. And please, remember to hold your head high after this match, no matter the outcome.
...It’s curious. I’ve been in Redemption Wrestling for a fair amount of time now. And, if I’m being truly honest, it’s unlike any other place I’ve worked at—for better, and for worse.
Redemption plays host to some of the most talented wrestlers I’ve ever seen. Some of them are established, some of them are trying to find themselves and make a name. Whatever the case may be, most of them are hungry and ready to fight. That is truly a sight to behold.
And then you’ve got the other side of this company, the dark underbelly. Now let’s be clear, professional wrestling has never been all smiles and rainbows. It’s always been a haven for the addicted, the abused, and the neglected. And we all know that egos run wild throughout the sport; it’s merely the nature of the beast. However, it sometimes seems that things here in Redemption are a bit off kilter. The cockiness, the arrogance in this place is baffling…
But then again, that is also the nature of the beast.
Sometimes success requires wading through all the muck, all the bullshit. That’s what I’ve been attempting to do over the past few weeks.
In some ways, I get it. No one in Redemption knew a thing about me before I signed. They had no knowledge of the promotions I worked for, the titles I held, or the hardships I endured to get to this point. They saw a clean-shaven, well-dressed, well spoken man—but for whatever reason, they didn’t spot the warrior inside of him.
How narrow sighted.
However, I suppose my record in the promotion didn’t do me any favors. But then again, that is where that baffling part rears its ugly head…
This company is said to have some of the best wrestlers in the world. And why they may excel in the ring, wrestling is a holistic sport. Professional wrestling is about you do inside the ring, outside the ring, and in preparation.
Holistic...
Wins and losses are virtually important, true enough. Nonetheless, what’s also important is how you got to said match, and what happened during its course. And since my first match in this company, it was clear that I was a talented man. You all couldn’t see that—
Or perhaps you ignorantly chose not to see it. Maybe some of you wanted to live in a fantasy world where Yujiro would never amount to anything in this company. Bubble gum and fairy tales, hmm?
My win over Anton Chase was inexcusable, it was inevitable. For a man who has claimed to worked in this sport for over a decade, he constantly seems to forget one of the sport’s cardinal rules—never underestimate.
The same could be said for Mr. Matthews. I’m not here to gloat or rub a lose in your face; that’s far from my intent. However, what I will say is that you should have seen a moment like this coming. You’ve got a target on your back as large as Texas. You aren’t afforded the luxury of underestimating anyone, given the fact that everyone wants to see you knocked out on the mat…
Now, I feel my mind and my heart is clear. Therefore, allow me to set my sight to the future, and my match against LJ Daughterty.
Mr. Daughterty, I mean this with all sincerity—it will be a great honor to face you in the center of the ring. In the past, people have made remarks to your attitude and such. I don’t know you in that matter, therefore, I cannot judge you on those accounts. What I can judge for, is what you’ve done for this great sport.
From all accounts, NGW was a special place. It was one of those one in a life-time promotions; one that catches fire quickly and burns very bright. And at the time of that burning, you were at the helm, weren’t you Mr. Daughterty?
NGW Marquee Champion. NGW Tag Team Champion. Those are very admirable feats. Some of the best of the best joined NGW, and for lack of a better term, many of them floundered. I’m not here to shame them, so I won’t name them specifically.
However, you didn’t flounder, Mr. Daughterty. No, in fact, you tuck the bull by the horns and thrived.
Mr. Daughterty, I care not what people say about you behind closed doors. I care not about what your record says. Your history says that you’re a mighty competitor—and for this bout, that is what’s important.
Hmm, but despite everything, my goal in this match is to put you away in an efficient manner.
I know how you are feeling, Mr. Daughterty. I truly do. I imagine that you came to Redemption for similar reasons as I did. Maybe you were sick of sit on the couch, hearing from your friends about their wrestling exploits and travels. Or perhaps you grew tired of aimlessly training with no purpose. But regardless of your reason, you were no longer content sitting on sideline anymore.
...I don’t say this very often. But this match will be quite special. To my knowledge, there’s no beef or animosity between the two of us. Therefore, this match shall simply center around honor and pride. And based on personal experience, those are often the bouts that are remembered throughout time, and garner to most respect.
That being said sir, I don’t plan on leaving Fukuoka with my head hanging low. On the contrary—I’ll fight my damnedest to make sure that my hand is risen high at the end of the night.
I’m not fighting hard merely because of this tournament. I’m not fighting hard merely because we are in Japan. Each and every time I step into the ring, I’m fighting for my family—I’m fighting for my legacy.
I wish you luck and happy training, Mr. Daughterty. And please, remember to hold your head high after this match, no matter the outcome.
