Post by Kenji on Apr 11, 2024 5:17:40 GMT -5
{{When dialogue is like this, it's being spoken in Japanese}}
TAMPOPO RESTUARANT. GARDENA, CA, USA. MARCH 12th, 2024…
The scene opens inside the Tampopo Ramen and Sushi restaurant in Gardena, California just five minutes from the house that Kenji Miyamoto and Sebastian Blake are both living in whilst he's contracted to the WGWF. Both are searching the menu whilst drinking on bottles of Nigori (a brand of unfiltered Sake).
TAMPOPO RESTUARANT. GARDENA, CA, USA. MARCH 12th, 2024…
The scene opens inside the Tampopo Ramen and Sushi restaurant in Gardena, California just five minutes from the house that Kenji Miyamoto and Sebastian Blake are both living in whilst he's contracted to the WGWF. Both are searching the menu whilst drinking on bottles of Nigori (a brand of unfiltered Sake).
Sebastian - {{Are you feeling okay, Kenji San?}}
Kenji - {{I'm better than okay, Sebastian. I feel good}}
Sebastian - {{I've got to ask though, even coming off the back end of a loss against Clyde Newton?}}
Kenji - {{Even after that and even after the fact I now won't get a shot at the belt at WrestleWars…}}
Sebastian - {{Well I'm glad it hasn't put a dent in your focus in The WGWF…}}
A waitress comes over and asks whether the two are ready to order. They both order spicy garlic Edamame bowls, Chicken Teriyaki Bento and two more Nigori’s. Sebastian orders a Katsudon set while Kenji grabs Nabeyaki Udon. The waitress thanks them and heads to the kitchen…
Kenji - {{Sebastian, I came here to learn, grow and evolve and I have no doubt I will evolve here… This won't be my only shot at a belt in this company and honestly, I never thought I'd be getting a chance at a title this early on…}}
Sebastian - {{You need more faith in yourself.}}
Kenji - {{Oh I've got plenty, Sensei… This is how I know that I'll get another chance at the X-Division Championship, or another…}}
Sebastian - {{Can't believe how cowardly Clyde was…}}
Kenji picks up his Nigori and takes a mouthful as he uses his arms for animation…
Kenji - {{He was desperate, Sebastian San… He had no idea who or what he was facing and he did everything he could to end the match early. Unfortunately at some point, it worked.}}
Sebastian - {{Well his desperation along with his arrogance, will be the undoing of him…}}
Kenji - {{One hundred percent, Sebastian San… I don't doubt this for a second, many people are gunning for The Fortunate Ones }}
Sebastian and Kenji clink their bottles together, as the waitress brings their appetiser dishes out and the scene slowly begins to fade out…
CORAL CASTLE. MIAMI DADE COUNTY, FL, USA. MARCH 28th, 2024…
Almost three weeks have passed since Kenji Miyamoto’s eliminator match loss to Clyde Newton, he and Sebastian are walking around Coral Castle and taking in the sights of the stones… Sebastian turns away from Kenji and focuses outward…
CORAL CASTLE. MIAMI DADE COUNTY, FL, USA. MARCH 28th, 2024…
Almost three weeks have passed since Kenji Miyamoto’s eliminator match loss to Clyde Newton, he and Sebastian are walking around Coral Castle and taking in the sights of the stones… Sebastian turns away from Kenji and focuses outward…
Sebastian - Here we are in good ol’ Miami Dade County! Home of The Port of Miami, Chicharrón and Coral Castle… Now one might be wondering why Kenji San decided on us travelling all the way across the other side of the United States of America to see these amazing stones… Well back in Japan, there is a myth about Sesso-Seki, a killing stone… Nothing as glamorous as these but it itches inside Kenji's mind. You see, this is something he took away with him from home when he came to The WGWF, something not dark per se, but another side of himself.
The mythos behind Coral Castle is a story about Edward Leedskalnin, a Latvian immigrant who arrived in America, New York City to be precise, in 1912… Within the next decade or two he had moved across the US, settling in Florida and building this beautiful structure you see before you… There have been many theories on how Leedskalnin built Coral Castle including the help of fairies, reverse magnetism and other supernatural methods. And I can hear people asking me, Mr. Blake, is this relevant to Kenji’s match at WGWF’s WrestleWars? Well yes, it is…
Sebastian turns and we see Kenji still admiring the stones, whilst talking to a family who are also touring the attraction. He turns back and claps his hands, rubbing them together.
Sebastian - Kenji Miyamoto isn't unlike Edward Leedskalnin… Kenji is also an immigrant, not from Latvia of course, but rather Japan… He has travelled to the United States of America in order to ply his trade and build on a mythos that has surrounded him for quite some time. And how has Kenji been able to build on that mythos? By standing in the middle of the ring in the arenas coveted by WGWF and taking the Smash brand of the promotion to new levels and to new heights…
Did Kenji manage to come away with the win against Clyde Newton in his eliminator match? He did not… But has he shown the world that he is more than capable of bringing the heat when he needs to and that he is no pushover. Clyde Newton would have told you that himself if he hadn't dropped the X-Division Championship, turned tail and ran. So now, Kenji hasn't been given that shot he'd have had if he'd beaten Clyde, although some believe he should have, no that opportunity has fallen to two very good individuals in Damage and Amber Mansley and so Kenji has to prove his place once more, in a Triple-Threat match alongside two individuals whose names both have reputations attached… the KRAKEN Kazmerick and Hanari Carnes…
Sebastian Blake continues to walk around Coral Castle as the scene fizzles into static…
JIWC STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN MEET AND GREET. TIMES SQUARE, NY, USA. April 6th, 2024…
Right before the JIWC, a promotion from Japan that Kenji is a former World Champion in, puts on a show nearby at the Barclays Centre, they're hosting a meet and greet of current and former roster members in a banquet room of the Paramount Hotel, Times Square. Kenji has been doing this meet and greet for almost five hours now and is slowly packing away.
JIWC STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN MEET AND GREET. TIMES SQUARE, NY, USA. April 6th, 2024…
Right before the JIWC, a promotion from Japan that Kenji is a former World Champion in, puts on a show nearby at the Barclays Centre, they're hosting a meet and greet of current and former roster members in a banquet room of the Paramount Hotel, Times Square. Kenji has been doing this meet and greet for almost five hours now and is slowly packing away.
Voice - {{Do you have time for one more?}}
Shocked, Kenji looks up and spots Ari Tae, the Korean girl who was at his last autograph signing. He beams a huge smile, which Sebastian echoes as he turns away from the two and walks toward the table of Edward Jacobs, the company's current Regional Champ. Kenji stands up and bows…
Kenji - {{Ari-San, how are you? It has been a while}}
Ari - {{It has, Kenji-San, you have my number but you didn't call, I'm slightly disappointed and sad…}}
Kenji - {{Oh, I'm very sorry I've just been so busy with…-
Before he can finish, Kenji catches Ari chuckling to herself and realises she is messing around with him…
Ari - {It's okay, don't worry I am joking! I knew you'd be super busy especially after your match with Clyde Newton, I was there…}}
Kenji - {{You were? Why did you not come to the back and see me?}}
Ari - {{I had already seen two people get turned away by security, I wasn't going to risk it…}}
Kenji - {{I'm sorry, it would have been good to see you…}}
Ari - {{Well I'm about to go dinner, did you wanna get something??}}
Kenji - {Ahh, me and Sebastian were going to…-
Sebastian overhears the conversation and heads back towards Kenji’s booth shaking his head…
Sebastian - {{Unfortunately I've got to get back to the hotel, Kenji-San…}} He'll figure it out soon enough…
The last part was said purposely in English and directed at Ari, so Kenji wouldn't get it, he winks at Ari and she smirks, Kenji missing the entire interaction.
Ari - {{So, we can go to dinner?}}
Kenji - {{Yes, we can, I'd like that…}}
Ari - {{Me too!}}
Smiles and relief permeate the room as Sebastian walks off fist pumping the air whilst in the background, Ari helps Kenji tidy away his stuff as the scene dissolves into nothingness…
MASTRO'S STEAKHOUSE. SIXTH AVENUE, NY, USA. April 6th, 2024…
Kenji Miyamoto and Ari Tae are sitting in a booth in Maestro’s Steakhouse and looking over the menu whilst Kenji sips from a bottle of beer and Ari, a glass of red wine. They tell the waiter what they want (Kenji a Tajima Wagyu and Ari a 24 ounce double cut Porterhouse Steak) and Ari smiles at Kenji as he takes their menus and leaves
MASTRO'S STEAKHOUSE. SIXTH AVENUE, NY, USA. April 6th, 2024…
Kenji Miyamoto and Ari Tae are sitting in a booth in Maestro’s Steakhouse and looking over the menu whilst Kenji sips from a bottle of beer and Ari, a glass of red wine. They tell the waiter what they want (Kenji a Tajima Wagyu and Ari a 24 ounce double cut Porterhouse Steak) and Ari smiles at Kenji as he takes their menus and leaves
Ari - {{So, I've never really got the chance until now, to speak to you in-depth…}}
Kenji - {{Well, now is your chance. Ask anything you want.}}
Ari - {{Okay, so what made you want to be a Wrestler?}}
Kenji - {{It's just something that's always been in the forefront of my mind honestly… My dad currently owns his own medical practice back in Kanazawa, but once upon a time, he was a Wrestler known throughout Japan. He and Sebastian were the JIWC Tag-Team Champions for almost two years once…}}
Ari - {{So, it's always been instilled in your blood?}}
Kenji - {{Exactly.}}
Ari - {{So, why come to the United States?}}
Kenji - {{Why not? The land of opportunity, home of the brave? I've done most of not all that's possible in Japan and like the American athletes who come to Tokyo to compete, I've done the opposite… Japan is my home and it's the home of everything I know in the business, but now it's time to expand my mind, my knowledge and my experience.}}
Ari - {{Wow, that's deep…}}
Kenji - {{And what about you? I know you've been studying in Japan and I'm assuming that you are here? Why have you chose to stay?}}
Ari - {{I came here for the second part of my studies, so on an educational visa but now I've got my green card status.}}
Kenji - {{That's great, it'll be a while before I can apply I think.}}
Ari - {{But your company can help right? The WGWF?}}
Kenji - {{I've only been here a month so, we’ll see}}
Kenji chuckles and picks up his beer as the waitress begins to place their orders onto the table…
Ari - {{And your match at the upcoming PPV? Pretty important eh?}}
Kenji - {{One of the most important I've been involved in, in my career…}}
Ari - {{Where is it happening?}}
Kenji - {{Texas, would you like to come? I could get you a ticket? I mean you don't have…-}}
Ari - {{Oh no! I would love to! That would be awesome}}
Kenji - {{Okay, cool… Awesome yeah…}}
The pair smile at each other as both pick up their cutlery and begin to eat with the scene fading out slowly…
JKF AIRPORT, QUEENS, NY, USA. April 7th, 2024…
The next morning we find ourselves in pre-depatures at JFK Airport. Kenji and Ari are over to one side chatting away animatedly but inaudibly, whilst to the other side, Sebastian Blake sits on the end seat of a row of lounge seats, arms draped over either side of his chair, one leg crossed horizontally over the knee of the other…
JKF AIRPORT, QUEENS, NY, USA. April 7th, 2024…
The next morning we find ourselves in pre-depatures at JFK Airport. Kenji and Ari are over to one side chatting away animatedly but inaudibly, whilst to the other side, Sebastian Blake sits on the end seat of a row of lounge seats, arms draped over either side of his chair, one leg crossed horizontally over the knee of the other…
Sebastian - It’s great isn't it? When you find “the one”… It's like some secretive veil is lifted and whilst it still may take you a while to figure it out, the feelings are there… In your head, your heart, your… Well you get the picture! And this doesn't only apply to people, oh no… This feeling of finding “the one” can be applied to locations and environments too. Indecision is also a key component in these feelings and right now, after Kenji has said goodbye to Ari, we will inevitably and undoubtedly be sitting here for another half hour deciding if we should board the plane at gate six to LAX to go home, or gate thirteen to Arlington, Texas in order to check out where he'll be in the ring once again, this time at the AT&T.
Last time Kenji-San was in Arlington, he competed in the Crucial-State Global Wrestling Tournament in which he was a finalist but unfortunately did not win. This time he comes to take on not one, but two individuals in a Triple-Threat match to determine the number one contender for the WGWF X-Division Title, namely the KRAKEN Kazmerick and Hanari Carnes. The difference here is, whoever wins this match doesn't go on to face Clyde Newton this time, because he's the former X-Division Champion, we'll be facing either Damage or one of Clyde’s close associates in Amber Mansley.
So that's three individuals who are all ever so talented and some who, Kenji would even say, deserve this shot ahead of him given that he didn't win his eliminator with Clyde a few weeks back… Firstly the KRAKEN Kazmerick. A man who fights very similar to Kenji although whilst Kenji is focused on King's Road, Kazmerick is more suited to Strong Style with an inflection on Martial Arts and he also appears to have an affinity for Japan, so this match up will be one of intrigue that's for sure.
We catch Kenji and Ari still talking as Sebastian has now pulled a can of Pepsi Max from his pocket and cracks open the pull after tapping on the lid lightly but severely. He takes a mouthful and stands up walking towards a “Sunglass Hut” kiosk where he takes off his own shades, placing them hanging over the front pocket of the blazer he's wearing as he tries on another pair from a rack in front of him…
Sebastian - Kenji sees somewhat of a warrior in Kazmerick, but I only see a Sci-Fi channel shakeup of Captain Jack Sparrow… A man who's home is the briney sea but this one would rather knock back a bottle of Cyanide than Rum… A man who seems to be on his second stint here in the WGWF, the first in a time before Kenji Miyamoto where he defeated Ragnarok on his debut at Summer Madness, he then went on to defeat Damage too but then he took on Brawl’s current World Champion, Mac Bane and was shown the true ways of the ring…
And what happened once he took that shameful hit back in September, folks? He chained his ankles together and threw himself off The Golden Gate Bridge or something, back to the depths and didn't show up again until very recently when he took out Gideon King last month… So what did we take away from this little assesment? That the KRAKEN Kazmerick isn't afraid of anybody and will put himself out there regardless of opposition size, strength or stature. However it appears that once he loses a match, he goes swimming beneath the waves once again, visiting Davy Jones’ Locker until he's got it in him once more to fight… And it seems like beating King has given Kazmerick a spark of life to come back once more…
Having tried on several pairs of shades at this point, Sebastian settles on a pair of dark tinted ones and walks to the counter with them…
Sebastian - But as I've mentioned, Kenji isn't just in a one on one match, he's booked into a Triple-Threat meaning there is another person involved and that individual is Hanari Carnes… Another man with history and pedigree to his name albeit not here with us. The man has done absolute bits, as my nephew would say, in a place called XWF… He has been a two time Tag-Team Champion, two time Extreme Champion and a two time Television Champion which he won the first time in only his second ever match that is definitely something to be proud of.
But here, you're a guy who's lost three different belts six different times, Hanari. You're a guy who's had one at match in The WGWF and whilst you do have that history, it is history… I don't know if you've ever faced Kazmerick before although I assume you haven't, you've certainly not faced someone of Kenji's calibre that's for sure so that litmus test will come at WrestleWars. Hanari you can present yourself as some kind of self-help Guru all you like, after WrestleWars you'll be needing to help yourself. You label yourself as “One of, if not the best, technical wrestlers on the planet”. At WrestleWars you're going to understand what getting technical actually means…
Sebastian walks back over to where Kenji and Ari are talking and waves his hand towards a Burger King. The three of them head towards the kiosk, but Kenji looks back slightly…
Kenji - {{Hanari Carnes, Kazmerick… On April 21st there will certainly be a battle! There will certainly be a war! Only one of us can go on, to face Damage or Amber Mansley for the WGWF X-Division Championship and I can assure you that it won't be either of you… Hanari, you seem to like talking… Lots. But it's not the bark that wins the fight, it's the bite. Your shopping list of accomplishments are very impressive but trust me when I tell you I'm not just another lamb waiting to be led to the slaughter, I'm a wolf, lurking in the shadows waiting to strike… Hanari, you talk about humbling people and putting them in their place? In this business it isn't about what you've done or where you’ve been, it's about what you do next and I'm about to show everybody exactly why they should be excited for this match!
Kazmerick, another who has a mouthful of words and a stomach full of confidence and with good reason. You've come craving the chaos, in the number one contenders match for the WGWF X-Division Title, the mayhem, the thrill of the fight but understand that this won't be just a walk in the park, Kazmerick… Against me it'll be a clash with a relentless force of nature! WrestleWars will be insanity, it'll be brutal and it'll be fun... But most of all it'll be the night Kenji Miyamoto shows the world what he's truly about…}}
Kenji bows and turns, smiling at both Sebastian and Ari as we fade out...