Post by davidtroy on Feb 8, 2019 20:59:20 GMT -5
“Your time draws to a close, Zenki.”
English. For those of you watching at home, the appropriate subtitles convey the message in Japanese.
Cold open.
A dark, murky gymnasium, with all sorts of equipment erected that brings to mind the training grounds that built Soviet athletes once believed unstoppable. A hulking brute of a man stands to the side, attended to by two callow young men who themselves clearly nurse aspirations of greatness. But in front of it all stands a face not often presented to us Maximum Japan fans.
Say hello to Eddie Dante.
Dante:
In a few short days, Zenki, that ship will depart the shores under the Rising Sun, and begin a voyage around the world, taking Maximum Japan to the masses throughout the globe, land by land, fan by fan.
The gentlemanly manager of Mushigihara smiles and nods.
Dante:
Aside from a chance to perform in front of crowds not used to seeing such goliaths as my God-Beast… we will also face you for the MAX Heavyweight Title, and well outside the homeland… sure, you might have some of those Demon Brigade zealots following your exploits around the Pacific, but Mushigihara?
Dante smirks as Mushi finishes a very efforted bench press; the attendants help him lower the barbell onto the rack.
Dante:
He has history. Your pathetic nationalism probably prevented you from learning about some fighting styles, so I’ll spare you the details behind the Indian style of wrestling called pehlwani, but I will tell you that when Mushigihara left sumo and began his transition into the squared circle, India was one of the first destinations I sent him to. He took to the sport like a fish to water; he trained with various champions in the sport, even pinning several heavyweights during sparring.
He clasps his hands in delight.
Dante:
Mushigihara gave his all in learning the art, in building on his agility without sacrificing strength. He trained with the wrestlers. Lived with them. Ate ghee until he got sick. And they accepted him as one of their own. And they know he is coming back to India… they will love to see the man he has become. They will show him how much he inspired them to push themselves harder.
Mushigihara sits up and roars.
Mushigihara:
OSU!
Dante:
And they will watch him crush you and become the next MAX Heavyweight Champion. After Korea has watched you crumble before his might in that tag match, of course.
With a chuckle, Dante leads the way for the camera, as we make our way over towards the mammoth, red and sweat-coated.
Dante:
You may have deluded yourself into believing this is just another chapter in your good vs. evil epic, but that does a disservice to my God-Beast; you see, Zenki, Mushigihara exists BEYOND such arbitrary binaries. Good and evil… life and death… order and chaos… all MEANINGLESS to him. All that matters is proving himself the strongest there is, and what better way to prove that… than raising the MAX Heavyweight Championship, and the head of the man he defeated for that prize?
Mushigihara:
OSU!
The monster rises to his feet and lumbers to the camera, before speaking to us in Japanese.
Mushigihara:
ZENKI. Dante-san once described my plans for you in that ring as “murderous force.” He is a smart man, indeed; but he understated what I will do to you in the name of glory and gold.
The God-Beast snarls.
Mushigihara:
ZENKI… I will draw upon the forces of heaven and earth themselves. I will enter that ring in India with power that can make the tallest mountains mere rubble. I will bring power that can change the tides on will ALONE. And I will do whatever it takes to silence you once and for all. To defeat you and take that championship for myself. And I will then carry Maximum Japan Pro Wrestling on my back, throughout this world, and turn it into the battlefield of the gods themselves.
With a chuckle and a crank of his knuckles, the God-Beast roars in such a tone that even Dante and his attendants are stunned!
Mushigihara:
YOU WILL FEEL YOUR OWN WEAKNESS, ZENKI! I am power made flesh! I am the force that pushes the sun to rise and the tides to shift! I. Am. MUSHIGIHARA.
Mushigihara takes one long, deep breath and closes his eyes in meditation before opening them again.
Mushigihara:
And soon, you will be no more than dust.
OSU!!!
Fade.
English. For those of you watching at home, the appropriate subtitles convey the message in Japanese.
Cold open.
A dark, murky gymnasium, with all sorts of equipment erected that brings to mind the training grounds that built Soviet athletes once believed unstoppable. A hulking brute of a man stands to the side, attended to by two callow young men who themselves clearly nurse aspirations of greatness. But in front of it all stands a face not often presented to us Maximum Japan fans.
Say hello to Eddie Dante.
Dante:
In a few short days, Zenki, that ship will depart the shores under the Rising Sun, and begin a voyage around the world, taking Maximum Japan to the masses throughout the globe, land by land, fan by fan.
The gentlemanly manager of Mushigihara smiles and nods.
Dante:
Aside from a chance to perform in front of crowds not used to seeing such goliaths as my God-Beast… we will also face you for the MAX Heavyweight Title, and well outside the homeland… sure, you might have some of those Demon Brigade zealots following your exploits around the Pacific, but Mushigihara?
Dante smirks as Mushi finishes a very efforted bench press; the attendants help him lower the barbell onto the rack.
Dante:
He has history. Your pathetic nationalism probably prevented you from learning about some fighting styles, so I’ll spare you the details behind the Indian style of wrestling called pehlwani, but I will tell you that when Mushigihara left sumo and began his transition into the squared circle, India was one of the first destinations I sent him to. He took to the sport like a fish to water; he trained with various champions in the sport, even pinning several heavyweights during sparring.
He clasps his hands in delight.
Dante:
Mushigihara gave his all in learning the art, in building on his agility without sacrificing strength. He trained with the wrestlers. Lived with them. Ate ghee until he got sick. And they accepted him as one of their own. And they know he is coming back to India… they will love to see the man he has become. They will show him how much he inspired them to push themselves harder.
Mushigihara sits up and roars.
Mushigihara:
OSU!
Dante:
And they will watch him crush you and become the next MAX Heavyweight Champion. After Korea has watched you crumble before his might in that tag match, of course.
With a chuckle, Dante leads the way for the camera, as we make our way over towards the mammoth, red and sweat-coated.
Dante:
You may have deluded yourself into believing this is just another chapter in your good vs. evil epic, but that does a disservice to my God-Beast; you see, Zenki, Mushigihara exists BEYOND such arbitrary binaries. Good and evil… life and death… order and chaos… all MEANINGLESS to him. All that matters is proving himself the strongest there is, and what better way to prove that… than raising the MAX Heavyweight Championship, and the head of the man he defeated for that prize?
Mushigihara:
OSU!
The monster rises to his feet and lumbers to the camera, before speaking to us in Japanese.
Mushigihara:
ZENKI. Dante-san once described my plans for you in that ring as “murderous force.” He is a smart man, indeed; but he understated what I will do to you in the name of glory and gold.
The God-Beast snarls.
Mushigihara:
ZENKI… I will draw upon the forces of heaven and earth themselves. I will enter that ring in India with power that can make the tallest mountains mere rubble. I will bring power that can change the tides on will ALONE. And I will do whatever it takes to silence you once and for all. To defeat you and take that championship for myself. And I will then carry Maximum Japan Pro Wrestling on my back, throughout this world, and turn it into the battlefield of the gods themselves.
With a chuckle and a crank of his knuckles, the God-Beast roars in such a tone that even Dante and his attendants are stunned!
Mushigihara:
YOU WILL FEEL YOUR OWN WEAKNESS, ZENKI! I am power made flesh! I am the force that pushes the sun to rise and the tides to shift! I. Am. MUSHIGIHARA.
Mushigihara takes one long, deep breath and closes his eyes in meditation before opening them again.
Mushigihara:
And soon, you will be no more than dust.
OSU!!!
Fade.