Post by Matt Pulver on Mar 11, 2023 23:13:42 GMT
January 24th 2023
The sun shines in through the window, reflects off of the Cruiserweight Championship, propped up on the backrest of the couch, and hits Pollo Dorado in the eyes. As he's waking up, his bandaged head is pounding. He feels as if he's been hit by a truck. Remembering his match against Reo Ojima the night before, he concludes that being hit by a truck would probably have been more pleasant.
The TV is on from the night before, paused at a close-up shot of himself getting his mask ripped open. He studied the footage for hours to see if his face was visible. Eventually, he found that the mask wasn't torn enough to be able to tell who he is. But he can't afford any more close calls in the future.
His head keeps pounding away like someone's knocking on a door. It's so loud it's almost as if it's coming from outside of his head. Wait… Someone's actually knocking on the front door.
Realizing that the knocking won't stop, he gets out of the couch and puts on one of his masks.
When he opens the door, he's met by a skinny young-looking man in glasses and a bowl cut.
"Hello, sir. My name is Orville Newton..."
He looks familiar.
"I'm a student at the dojo..."
Ah, yes. He was there last night when he won the title.
"I'm here to make you a business proposal of sorts..."
The kid looks nervous. He feels bad for having to turn him down.
"No puedo ayudarte. Lo siento."
"I know you speak English"
Dorado begins shutting the door.
"I know who you are."
The words don't register at first, but right before the door can close - he hears it. His own name. Out of the mouth of this scrawny kid.
His real name.
Ten minutes later, he places two cups of tea on the kitchen table, and sits down. Orville sits across from him.
"How do you know my identity?"
"I put two-and-two together," Orville states casually and sips his tea. "You grab hammerlocks like this" he puts the cup down and demonstrates with his hands "and push the grip up this way…"
Dorado can only stare at the kid, dumb-founded at his bizarre demonstration.
"Only a few wrestlers do it that way, and only a handful have your height and body type. Plus, after Ojima jumped you last night, you reverted to the exact same posture you used to have back in the day. And the way you torqued that armbar? You told on yourself so hard I'm surprised no one on WrestleChat.Forums has figured it out yet!"
Orville snort chuckles to himself and takes another sip from his cup.
"Why are you here?"
For the first time since meeting him, Orville takes eye contact from behind his thick glasses.
"I want you to be my mentor."
---
February 20th 2023
The Rotisserie Rumble is in full swing in Rama, Ontario. Amidst the sea of people in the crowd, sits Pollo Dorado II. Wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses and a facemask, he’s ensured that no one will recognize him. Instead they will probably think he's an undercover cop, or some sort of pervert. But it’s worth it to be able to watch the Rumble first hand.
Not only does he get to see how Orville's training with him has paid off, but he gets to study all of his potential challengers up close.
He watches intently as the action unfolds. Every wrestler fighting to get a shot at what he has. It feels strange. Like a king, watching his successors gathering their armies and sharpening their swords. Swords meant for his head.
He smiles as Orville enters and showcases his training. Unfortunately the kid still has a lot left to learn.
Before he knows it, there’s only one man left. AJ Knight.
People booing and cheering around him, he stands up and heads to the exit. Before leaving, he takes one last look at AJ celebrating in the ring.
The Crusader was one step ahead of his opponents, as usual. But Dorado is prepared for him.
…right?
---
March 6th 2023
“I know things I didn’t back then…”
AJ’s words stun him. Orville gives him a concerned look. They were watching Drive Thru to study Orville's match against AJ. They weren’t expecting this.
“...there’s some things that he’s hiding…”
They both stare at the TV in silence, until Dorado finally turns to Orville.
"We've got work to do."
The sun shines in through the window, reflects off of the Cruiserweight Championship, propped up on the backrest of the couch, and hits Pollo Dorado in the eyes. As he's waking up, his bandaged head is pounding. He feels as if he's been hit by a truck. Remembering his match against Reo Ojima the night before, he concludes that being hit by a truck would probably have been more pleasant.
The TV is on from the night before, paused at a close-up shot of himself getting his mask ripped open. He studied the footage for hours to see if his face was visible. Eventually, he found that the mask wasn't torn enough to be able to tell who he is. But he can't afford any more close calls in the future.
His head keeps pounding away like someone's knocking on a door. It's so loud it's almost as if it's coming from outside of his head. Wait… Someone's actually knocking on the front door.
Realizing that the knocking won't stop, he gets out of the couch and puts on one of his masks.
When he opens the door, he's met by a skinny young-looking man in glasses and a bowl cut.
"Hello, sir. My name is Orville Newton..."
He looks familiar.
"I'm a student at the dojo..."
Ah, yes. He was there last night when he won the title.
"I'm here to make you a business proposal of sorts..."
The kid looks nervous. He feels bad for having to turn him down.
"No puedo ayudarte. Lo siento."
"I know you speak English"
Dorado begins shutting the door.
"I know who you are."
The words don't register at first, but right before the door can close - he hears it. His own name. Out of the mouth of this scrawny kid.
His real name.
Ten minutes later, he places two cups of tea on the kitchen table, and sits down. Orville sits across from him.
"How do you know my identity?"
"I put two-and-two together," Orville states casually and sips his tea. "You grab hammerlocks like this" he puts the cup down and demonstrates with his hands "and push the grip up this way…"
Dorado can only stare at the kid, dumb-founded at his bizarre demonstration.
"Only a few wrestlers do it that way, and only a handful have your height and body type. Plus, after Ojima jumped you last night, you reverted to the exact same posture you used to have back in the day. And the way you torqued that armbar? You told on yourself so hard I'm surprised no one on WrestleChat.Forums has figured it out yet!"
Orville snort chuckles to himself and takes another sip from his cup.
"Why are you here?"
For the first time since meeting him, Orville takes eye contact from behind his thick glasses.
"I want you to be my mentor."
---
February 20th 2023
The Rotisserie Rumble is in full swing in Rama, Ontario. Amidst the sea of people in the crowd, sits Pollo Dorado II. Wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses and a facemask, he’s ensured that no one will recognize him. Instead they will probably think he's an undercover cop, or some sort of pervert. But it’s worth it to be able to watch the Rumble first hand.
Not only does he get to see how Orville's training with him has paid off, but he gets to study all of his potential challengers up close.
He watches intently as the action unfolds. Every wrestler fighting to get a shot at what he has. It feels strange. Like a king, watching his successors gathering their armies and sharpening their swords. Swords meant for his head.
He smiles as Orville enters and showcases his training. Unfortunately the kid still has a lot left to learn.
Before he knows it, there’s only one man left. AJ Knight.
People booing and cheering around him, he stands up and heads to the exit. Before leaving, he takes one last look at AJ celebrating in the ring.
The Crusader was one step ahead of his opponents, as usual. But Dorado is prepared for him.
…right?
---
March 6th 2023
“I know things I didn’t back then…”
AJ’s words stun him. Orville gives him a concerned look. They were watching Drive Thru to study Orville's match against AJ. They weren’t expecting this.
“...there’s some things that he’s hiding…”
They both stare at the TV in silence, until Dorado finally turns to Orville.
"We've got work to do."