Watch the monitors.
Sept 23, 2022 20:06:56 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer and REIGN Board of Directors like this
Post by null on Sept 23, 2022 20:06:56 GMT -5
The light from a wall of small television screens provides a flickering ambience to the scene. Each one shows a different wrestling match from across the XHF Network’s extensive library. From the active federations of REIGN, GUNS, NLW, Tapout and J-ROK to archival footage from AXW, Destiny, AWF, FWA and even the old XHF itself each small display is filled with the high octane action that the Network provides to its subscribers. Every federation, every part of the XHF’s rich history is encapsulated in the action. Every style of wrestling, every weight class, every type flickers into life somewhere only for the monitor to cut after a few seconds to a different match.
Forming a black shadow against the wall of wrestling noise is the small for a wrestler but, if reasonably toned, average for a random member of the population shape of null. null observes the tempest of wrestling flashing in front of him for a few seconds and then turns slowly towards where the camera is set up. As the only lighting in the scene is put out by the matrix of wrestling entertainment behind him, null’s masked face is slightly shaded, his eyes blending a little with the dark face paint he wears underneath his hockey mask.
null:
There’s a lot of history on this Network. A lot of stars have made their names here, a lot of professional wrestling’s greatest free agents have worked their way underneath the Network’s umbrella. So many different styles, so many different talents that a young wrestler can watch and crib from. So I have an important question to ask.
Lifting a remote control over his shoulder and towards the wall of wrestling, null flips a button and every display changes. Now each match going on is an exhibition of either Strong Style, hard hitting and heavy striking or Kings’ Road, head drops, grit and determination. And none of the wrestlers featured are Japanese. None at all.
null:
Why do so many young wrestlers in this business want to be Japanese?
null lets their question hang in the air for a few seconds.
null:
The hard striker with a little MMA inspired technical skills and a nasty power move as a match ender. You see it everywhere across the modern wrestling industry. It’s a style that has almost become the default, certainly the one that gets all the analysts and talking heads across the sport giving it all the accolades, all the plaudits. If someone wrestles that hard hitting Japanese style it’s almost as if the wrestler behind it doesn’t matter. As if the style is the personality. No. Not for me. Any victories I gain are not earned through style, they are earned through graft. If I am the better wrestler, then it will show in the ring regardless of how I choose to go about it.
Click. Now the monitors flicker and change to the many Japanese wrestlers who have wrestled outside of Japan on the network. Kira Izumi tearing a hardcore path across the Network. Raiden Ishimori winning the AWF Championship. MYOJIN and his effortlessly smooth wrestling style. And many more.
null:
Over there they consider going on what they call “an excursion” as an important part in the growth of any wrestler. They progress their style through exposure to foreign wrestling. That’s why you see Japanese names dotted around the Network. They’re here to learn. And yet the fetishization of the Japanese style means they learn little while over here. Maybe REIGN can provide a little extra to Daigo’s education because we here buck the trend. REIGN is built on embracing every style of wrestling. I’m not sure his home federation has offered much on that front.
Click. A careful selection of clips. The same random scattering of Asian wrestlers, all being undone, all failing.
null:
Here’s where facing somebody trained to the highest in the fundamentals of American style wrestling like me will prove a difficulty for Daigo. I’m difficult to define because I’d rather do what works than what fits an image. This will be a learning experience. If you want to learn something outside of your comfort zone, you will find me. I am out of everyone’s comfort zone. I fight to win, to succeed, to pin my opponent’s shoulders to the mat because that’s what you’re supposed to do. I’m not married to any style, any theory. I don’t need to prove why I am better, only that on a particular night, in that particular arena.
Click. A whole range of enmascarados, looking at first glance like your stereotypical luchadors. But for the keen viewer, a glance at the very non Latinx skin tones of all tells more of a story than the actual style they are wrestling. Almost like a point is being made about the mask being more set dressing for the wrestler, at best a homage to the actual tradition.
null:
So, Lucha Libre rules for the Cruiserweight Title? That’s a two out of three falls match. Lucha rules only makes a difference for how it changes strategy in a tag team match. It doesn’t change my gameplan at all. It should, theoretically, lead to extra pressure on both of us involved in the match with the high stakes. Thing is, shiny baubles are nice. But that shit usually gets tagged with, “That’ll look good on my resumé.” “That’ll help build my reputation.” I don’t give a flying fuck about becoming a legend. If I did, I wouldn’t wear this mask. I live in anonymity and I don’t give two shits. The wrestler underneath. He might have cared once. And let me tell you where that got him. Nowhere. But null? I don’t set out to impress. I just go out to that ring to beat people. If people want to shower me with trophies for it that’s their shout.
Click. Every monitor now shows Daigo Arakawa, showing off his huge range of skills, a couple of the monitors showing his Title victory. Many more show his pure chaos causing capabilities.
null:
And you, Daigo. You just want to spread chaos and destruction. You’re an iconoclast against your staid, respectful upbringing in the industry. You have a cause, a purpose. Something that defines you. To me? That’s a massive anchor you wear as a necklace. Anyone who walks into professional wrestling with some grand scheme to prove the world wrong is in the wrong business. I’d try politics or activism for that. I can name everyone who has had the power to change the world on the backs of a wrestling career.
null raises his middle finger and casually flips off the displays behind them in a show of defiance.
null:
Former president Kanyon. And I’m not sure he didn’t manage to unfuck our fucked up little planet.
Another pause. null takes time out to kiss his finger before balling it back into his fist.
null:
Daigo, my greatest weapon against you is unpredictability. I’d favor you against a whole heap of wrestlers on this Network. But I have nothing to prove. Nothing to lose. That makes me dangerous. And as to how I match up against your style?
Click. Jeff Gilliam, hitting an enormous Gutwrench Powerbomb into a beautiful pinning combination.
null:
I’m not Jeff Gilliam.
Click. Kendrick Alexander using a flurry of chops and elbow smashes to back up his victim into the corner, finish with a high roundhouse enzuigiri.
null:
I’m not Kendrick Alexander.
Click. Travis Monroe spiking his opponent on their damn head with a Tiger Flowsion
Null:
I’m not Travis Monroe
Click. Vincent Draven, kicking a hole in some poor unfortunate’s chest with his lightning fast strike combinations.
null:
I’m not Vincent Draven.
One last press and all the monitors cut out leaving the screen in pitch blackness.
null:
I... am null.