Post by Gensai on Nov 21, 2018 8:18:12 GMT -5
One of countless sliding doors up and down Narita International Airport here in bustling Tokyo silently open and we see emerge a pair of nice black loafers, a pair of still crist grey slacks, a black polo… and a skull. Not some promotion for the next Marvel flick, no. The young man pulling on the skull and crossbones themed lucha mask is none other than DJ Munoz. Better known to the wrestling world at large as Mascara De Muerte Four. The well scouted young luchador currently trying to make his mark in Lion’s Road in the states jumped at the chance to participate in MAX Japan’s Sword of Lite Grand Prix tournament.
A little Japanese man in a MAX Japan windbreaker follows Muerte out onto the sidewalk, all smiles. He wordlessly motions to the left towards the taxi area, urging the young luchador to follow him. “Alright Suji, alright, Jesus… “ DJ turns to the camera “Apparently I’ve dragged my feet a little bit. Uptight little dude, Suji. Polite, but uptight.” As Suji settles in right on the curb poking with frustration at some uber lyft app on his smartphone Muerte leans back against a wall and turns his now masked face towards us.
“I want to make clear exactly what winning this tournament is going to mean to me.” There’s an obvious seriousness and a sincerity to his tone of voice. We can see his eyes in this scaled back version of his traditional in-ring headgear. “I’ve struggled in my career so far. More than I’d really care to admit. Even in Lion’s Road I can’t… QUITE seem to put my best foot forward.” His brown eyes noticeably narrow with intensity. “Sword of Lite is where aaaall that changes. Sword of Lite is where I prove I’m THE most dominant junior heavyweight walking the planet. A junior heavyweight that’s going to TAKE that prize back to Lion’s Road and stake my claim as top contender to any title.”
He runs his hand down the front of his mask. “This… this is tradition. It’s my closest friends, mentors, my family. And all the complicated emotions that come along with that. I wear my history right here on my face. I carry that burden on my shoulders, and gladly. The day I was given the go ahead to wear this mask and represent this legacy was one of the brightest days of my life. And since then I haven’t done all that much to live up to that legacy or the men that helped build it… “
He readjusts the bag on his shoulder with a chuckle. “But like I said. Sword of Lite is going to be the measuring stick, the goddamn LAB test to prove once and for all to every corner of the pro wrestling world. From Arena Mexico to MSG to the damn Tokyo Dome that Mascara De Muerte Four is the best in the world. Shigeru Toyama… I’ve watched some tape but brother, but I don’t know you. You’re hurdle one of several standing between me and the name I desperately want to make for myself. That's it.”
He flexes both of his hands, cracking his knuckles. “I hope after what I’ve said, Toyama, you understand what that means. I'm going to out wrestle you. I'm faster than you. My submission game is so strong you're not going to see lights at the end of this match but pitch BLACK. Nothing personal about it. I? Am going to run THROUGH you Shigeru Toyama. Dead sprint… ”
A sleek silver town car pulls up, Suji turning with a relieved smile as he tucks his smartphone back into the pocket of his windbreaker. Muerte nods and turns to us one more time. “... and I’m not stopping until I WIN the Sword of Lite Grand Prix.” He tosses his bag to Suji with a playful twinkle in his eye. “Hurry up! Let’s do this thing Suj, got a big couple weeks ahead of me buddy.”
A little Japanese man in a MAX Japan windbreaker follows Muerte out onto the sidewalk, all smiles. He wordlessly motions to the left towards the taxi area, urging the young luchador to follow him. “Alright Suji, alright, Jesus… “ DJ turns to the camera “Apparently I’ve dragged my feet a little bit. Uptight little dude, Suji. Polite, but uptight.” As Suji settles in right on the curb poking with frustration at some uber lyft app on his smartphone Muerte leans back against a wall and turns his now masked face towards us.
“I want to make clear exactly what winning this tournament is going to mean to me.” There’s an obvious seriousness and a sincerity to his tone of voice. We can see his eyes in this scaled back version of his traditional in-ring headgear. “I’ve struggled in my career so far. More than I’d really care to admit. Even in Lion’s Road I can’t… QUITE seem to put my best foot forward.” His brown eyes noticeably narrow with intensity. “Sword of Lite is where aaaall that changes. Sword of Lite is where I prove I’m THE most dominant junior heavyweight walking the planet. A junior heavyweight that’s going to TAKE that prize back to Lion’s Road and stake my claim as top contender to any title.”
He runs his hand down the front of his mask. “This… this is tradition. It’s my closest friends, mentors, my family. And all the complicated emotions that come along with that. I wear my history right here on my face. I carry that burden on my shoulders, and gladly. The day I was given the go ahead to wear this mask and represent this legacy was one of the brightest days of my life. And since then I haven’t done all that much to live up to that legacy or the men that helped build it… “
He readjusts the bag on his shoulder with a chuckle. “But like I said. Sword of Lite is going to be the measuring stick, the goddamn LAB test to prove once and for all to every corner of the pro wrestling world. From Arena Mexico to MSG to the damn Tokyo Dome that Mascara De Muerte Four is the best in the world. Shigeru Toyama… I’ve watched some tape but brother, but I don’t know you. You’re hurdle one of several standing between me and the name I desperately want to make for myself. That's it.”
He flexes both of his hands, cracking his knuckles. “I hope after what I’ve said, Toyama, you understand what that means. I'm going to out wrestle you. I'm faster than you. My submission game is so strong you're not going to see lights at the end of this match but pitch BLACK. Nothing personal about it. I? Am going to run THROUGH you Shigeru Toyama. Dead sprint… ”
A sleek silver town car pulls up, Suji turning with a relieved smile as he tucks his smartphone back into the pocket of his windbreaker. Muerte nods and turns to us one more time. “... and I’m not stopping until I WIN the Sword of Lite Grand Prix.” He tosses his bag to Suji with a playful twinkle in his eye. “Hurry up! Let’s do this thing Suj, got a big couple weeks ahead of me buddy.”