Post by SANGRE on Aug 20, 2022 1:19:19 GMT
“Our next guest is being hailed as a blooming icon of Latino culture and the next boy scout of professional wrestling...”
MEZA stands in gorilla watching intently for his queue. Beads of sweat pour down his forehead onto his rented white suit. A talk show producer signals his entrance in five...four...
MEZA (voiceover): Just breathe. Don’t act like this is your first talk show.
Three...
MEZA (voiceover): Shit. Shit. Shit.
Two...
Billy Ferguson (Late Night Talk Show Host): He is...
One...
This anxiety is foreign. For MEZA, the anxiety typically associated with standing behind a curtain is strategically suppressed. But this was far different than waiting for your entrance music to queue. For the first time in MEZA’s life, the American public was judging him for something other than his wrestling ability: his personality.
Billy Ferguson: MAY-SHAH!
MEZA’s sweaty hand manages to push aside the red cloth curtains without error. MEZA, looking damply dapper, emerges with a sheepish smile and a pop encouraged by a “CHEER!” neon sign. Billy scampers from around his desk and shakes MEZA’s hand.
Billy Ferguson: Wow! You’re a wrestler? You look more useful for those hard-to-reach spaces.
The crowd roars. Despite the underlying tone of condescension, MEZA can appreciate a joke at his own expense. He responds with a good-natured laugh.
MEZA: I’m deceptively powerful for my size, Billy.
Billy Ferguson: Oh hooo-look at this guy. First name basis, eh? Did you even know I was a fan of that snake of a wrastler, “El Hey-o Dill Payo”? Did his passing mean something to you?
MEZA: He was my favorite as a young boy...
In the ring, Hijo played the role of robin hood stripped of the morals and equipped with breadcrumbs as a blinding agent. Outside of the ring, he was a cautionary tale about the immigrant American dream swallowed by excess. Nevertheless, it always disturbed me that we share the same origin of being dirt poor and striving to be the best in the world. Somewhere down the line, the dream infected Hijo.
MEZA: ... It’s been a complete [biting down on his words] honor to work within the Pollo umbrella as a wrestler...
In reality, MEZA was indifferent about being attached to the Pollo family.
MEZA: ...Getting the wrestling contract for winning the reality show changed my family’s life.
Billy: Getting recognized a little more often?
More like getting MEZA’s father out of a trailer in rural New Mexico. He holds back the truth. There’s little to no benefit in sharing those pieces of his life. No better way to ruin his first live television interview, he thinks.
MEZA: [He smiles while listening to the question, allowing all the truths to seep out through the cracks in his teeth.] Yeah, kinda like that. We get to eat out more, I guess. [He’s out of anything to say and shrugs.]
Billy: Well, MEESHA—
MEZA: MAY-ZAH.
Billy: MAY-SHA.
At least they are laughing. I know this will keep the difficult questions at bay... for now.
MEZA: MAY...
Billy: MAY-
MEZA: ZAH. MAY-ZAH.
Billy: MAY...ZAH?
MEZA: Ayyyy!
The Late-Night Band does a small celebration riff and fades out with the crowd chatter.
Billy: Well, MAY-ZAH, tell us about what’s going on August 28th out there in the wrestling world.
MEZA: That’s the 19th Pollo Bucket Anniversary show, Billy. I’m really excited about this because for the first time ever I’ll be in a tag team with my hero and mentor, Lynx. As a boy, I always watched the Lynx cartoons—OH! And the little action figures— and here I am talking strategy with him. It’s...
It’s frankly fucking terrifying. The transition to the limelight was swift and unforgiving. Yes, there’s the benefit of being on the road less. But I miss my privacy. And I hate these lights.
MEZA: ... I don’t take for granted that I’ll be sharing the ring with not one, but two legends—Jin Hirai.
Billy: OHHH! [The Band chimes back in.] [Chanting and dancing.] Jin! Jin! Jin!
MEZA: As much as I admire Hirai, only one rookie-legend team [pointing to himself proudly] is walking out, Billy. [MEZA addressing the nearest camera and signaling across his throat.] Prepárate para la pérdida, Crazy Boy.
Billy punches the air, sharing MEZA’s level of hype.
Billy: Thank you so much for coming by MAY-ZAH. [Addressing the camera while the band plays Jin's theme.] Tune in August 28th! Have a good night! [Dancing as the camera zooms out.] Jin! Jin! Jin!
MEZA stands in gorilla watching intently for his queue. Beads of sweat pour down his forehead onto his rented white suit. A talk show producer signals his entrance in five...four...
MEZA (voiceover): Just breathe. Don’t act like this is your first talk show.
Three...
MEZA (voiceover): Shit. Shit. Shit.
Two...
Billy Ferguson (Late Night Talk Show Host): He is...
One...
This anxiety is foreign. For MEZA, the anxiety typically associated with standing behind a curtain is strategically suppressed. But this was far different than waiting for your entrance music to queue. For the first time in MEZA’s life, the American public was judging him for something other than his wrestling ability: his personality.
Billy Ferguson: MAY-SHAH!
MEZA’s sweaty hand manages to push aside the red cloth curtains without error. MEZA, looking damply dapper, emerges with a sheepish smile and a pop encouraged by a “CHEER!” neon sign. Billy scampers from around his desk and shakes MEZA’s hand.
Billy Ferguson: Wow! You’re a wrestler? You look more useful for those hard-to-reach spaces.
The crowd roars. Despite the underlying tone of condescension, MEZA can appreciate a joke at his own expense. He responds with a good-natured laugh.
MEZA: I’m deceptively powerful for my size, Billy.
Billy Ferguson: Oh hooo-look at this guy. First name basis, eh? Did you even know I was a fan of that snake of a wrastler, “El Hey-o Dill Payo”? Did his passing mean something to you?
MEZA: He was my favorite as a young boy...
In the ring, Hijo played the role of robin hood stripped of the morals and equipped with breadcrumbs as a blinding agent. Outside of the ring, he was a cautionary tale about the immigrant American dream swallowed by excess. Nevertheless, it always disturbed me that we share the same origin of being dirt poor and striving to be the best in the world. Somewhere down the line, the dream infected Hijo.
MEZA: ... It’s been a complete [biting down on his words] honor to work within the Pollo umbrella as a wrestler...
In reality, MEZA was indifferent about being attached to the Pollo family.
MEZA: ...Getting the wrestling contract for winning the reality show changed my family’s life.
Billy: Getting recognized a little more often?
More like getting MEZA’s father out of a trailer in rural New Mexico. He holds back the truth. There’s little to no benefit in sharing those pieces of his life. No better way to ruin his first live television interview, he thinks.
MEZA: [He smiles while listening to the question, allowing all the truths to seep out through the cracks in his teeth.] Yeah, kinda like that. We get to eat out more, I guess. [He’s out of anything to say and shrugs.]
Billy: Well, MEESHA—
MEZA: MAY-ZAH.
Billy: MAY-SHA.
At least they are laughing. I know this will keep the difficult questions at bay... for now.
MEZA: MAY...
Billy: MAY-
MEZA: ZAH. MAY-ZAH.
Billy: MAY...ZAH?
MEZA: Ayyyy!
The Late-Night Band does a small celebration riff and fades out with the crowd chatter.
Billy: Well, MAY-ZAH, tell us about what’s going on August 28th out there in the wrestling world.
MEZA: That’s the 19th Pollo Bucket Anniversary show, Billy. I’m really excited about this because for the first time ever I’ll be in a tag team with my hero and mentor, Lynx. As a boy, I always watched the Lynx cartoons—OH! And the little action figures— and here I am talking strategy with him. It’s...
It’s frankly fucking terrifying. The transition to the limelight was swift and unforgiving. Yes, there’s the benefit of being on the road less. But I miss my privacy. And I hate these lights.
MEZA: ... I don’t take for granted that I’ll be sharing the ring with not one, but two legends—Jin Hirai.
Billy: OHHH! [The Band chimes back in.] [Chanting and dancing.] Jin! Jin! Jin!
MEZA: As much as I admire Hirai, only one rookie-legend team [pointing to himself proudly] is walking out, Billy. [MEZA addressing the nearest camera and signaling across his throat.] Prepárate para la pérdida, Crazy Boy.
Billy punches the air, sharing MEZA’s level of hype.
Billy: Thank you so much for coming by MAY-ZAH. [Addressing the camera while the band plays Jin's theme.] Tune in August 28th! Have a good night! [Dancing as the camera zooms out.] Jin! Jin! Jin!