Post by Kalidah on Sept 18, 2022 1:59:41 GMT
Red Tiger King is standing in the middle of a large mat, surrounded by men in masks. Off to one side, a giant wearing the same mask as the others watches on intently. He points at two of the men and they silently rush towards RTK. Without hesitation, RTK grabs the first and flings him to the mat. As the second approaches, RTK ducks under his arm and grabs the masked man around the waist and drops him hard on his head with a German suplex. The first tries to get to his feet, but RTK is ready with a spinning roundhouse to the side of the head that drops him once again. RTK spins back towards the second man, but he lies on his side, clutching his head.
Sitting in his chair, the masked giant, Brutus Smith, watches this all unfold. He stomps his foot on the floor twice. Boom! Boom! He raises his voice so everyone can hear him speak.
“I am Brute!”
Red Tiger King turns and bows to the giant. He stands aside, allowing the two men to be helped off the mat by their compatriots. Once they are gone, he steps back into the middle of the mat and waits. Brutus Smith points at two more of his masked followers and yells out.
“I am Brute!”
RTK’s training is far from done.
***
RTK sits cross-legged in the middle of the mat. It’s night now and he appears to be the only person left in the dojo. He opens his eyes and stares at the camera, his masked face the picture of peace.
“Ojimi-senpai, you ask what I’m doing in the wrestling industry. You compare me to your son and you belittle the companies I choose to work for. Out of respect for who you are and what you’ve accomplished I will choose not to take offence by your words. You have every right to question my accomplishments, after all, I have done so a lot myself as of late.
“It wasn’t that long ago I was on top of the world, so to speak. At the mere age of twenty I accomplished what most have never done, I became World Champion. In doing so I tossed aside everything moral vow I ever made, every virtue I ever held dear, just to reach the top of the mountain. Unfortunately for me I learned the hard way the old expression, ‘What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul.’ In the end, I paid for my sins and I was cast, broken, in the abyss, lost and forsaken by all.
“Including by you.”
RTK’s face remains passive, but there is a fire in his eyes.
“Perhaps you don’t remember when I dragged myself free of despair that you offered me a spot by your side, but I do; I even kept the card you gave me as an invitation. Sadly, like every one of my mentors previous, you left as well and only recently made your return to the wrestling industry yourself. Perhaps if you hadn’t disappeared…”
RTK stops and closes his eyes, his body visibly tense. He takes a few deep breaths and allows himself to relax before he continues.
“What do you want to know about what I'm doing in the wrestling industry, Ojimi-senpai? I’m rebuilding. I’m growing. I’m relearning to become the man I swore I would be and cleansing myself of the darkness of my past. Each step I take is intentional. This time I’m not looking for accolades and awards. I’m preparing myself for something far more important and, I hope, far more noble.
“So compare me to whoever you like,’Sensai’, I don’t mind. I don’t have anything to prove to a man who walked away from me. It doesn’t matter to me what you call me, or what you think of my career decisions. All I’m concerned about is the fight in front of me. To reach my goals, I must fight you, and win or lose, I will be one step closer to becoming the man I’m destined to be! I won’t ask you to bring everything you have, because I know you will. All I ask is that you don’t underestimate me, because I am going to hit you with everything I have inside me. Win or lose, you will know you were in a fight, and I will be better than I was before.”
RTK bows and the screen goes dark.
Sitting in his chair, the masked giant, Brutus Smith, watches this all unfold. He stomps his foot on the floor twice. Boom! Boom! He raises his voice so everyone can hear him speak.
“I am Brute!”
Red Tiger King turns and bows to the giant. He stands aside, allowing the two men to be helped off the mat by their compatriots. Once they are gone, he steps back into the middle of the mat and waits. Brutus Smith points at two more of his masked followers and yells out.
“I am Brute!”
RTK’s training is far from done.
***
RTK sits cross-legged in the middle of the mat. It’s night now and he appears to be the only person left in the dojo. He opens his eyes and stares at the camera, his masked face the picture of peace.
“Ojimi-senpai, you ask what I’m doing in the wrestling industry. You compare me to your son and you belittle the companies I choose to work for. Out of respect for who you are and what you’ve accomplished I will choose not to take offence by your words. You have every right to question my accomplishments, after all, I have done so a lot myself as of late.
“It wasn’t that long ago I was on top of the world, so to speak. At the mere age of twenty I accomplished what most have never done, I became World Champion. In doing so I tossed aside everything moral vow I ever made, every virtue I ever held dear, just to reach the top of the mountain. Unfortunately for me I learned the hard way the old expression, ‘What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul.’ In the end, I paid for my sins and I was cast, broken, in the abyss, lost and forsaken by all.
“Including by you.”
RTK’s face remains passive, but there is a fire in his eyes.
“Perhaps you don’t remember when I dragged myself free of despair that you offered me a spot by your side, but I do; I even kept the card you gave me as an invitation. Sadly, like every one of my mentors previous, you left as well and only recently made your return to the wrestling industry yourself. Perhaps if you hadn’t disappeared…”
RTK stops and closes his eyes, his body visibly tense. He takes a few deep breaths and allows himself to relax before he continues.
“What do you want to know about what I'm doing in the wrestling industry, Ojimi-senpai? I’m rebuilding. I’m growing. I’m relearning to become the man I swore I would be and cleansing myself of the darkness of my past. Each step I take is intentional. This time I’m not looking for accolades and awards. I’m preparing myself for something far more important and, I hope, far more noble.
“So compare me to whoever you like,’Sensai’, I don’t mind. I don’t have anything to prove to a man who walked away from me. It doesn’t matter to me what you call me, or what you think of my career decisions. All I’m concerned about is the fight in front of me. To reach my goals, I must fight you, and win or lose, I will be one step closer to becoming the man I’m destined to be! I won’t ask you to bring everything you have, because I know you will. All I ask is that you don’t underestimate me, because I am going to hit you with everything I have inside me. Win or lose, you will know you were in a fight, and I will be better than I was before.”
RTK bows and the screen goes dark.