Post by EZ/PZ on Dec 22, 2018 23:56:44 GMT -5
We're greeted by the smiling faces of Ashley Kendrick and Hype Jones in a selfie video. Ashley's in a grey henley shirt with dark blue jeans, Hype's in a wavey pink V-neck and beige pants, beard flowing over and hair bursting out from the top of his blue bandana. They're seated in a row of seats with the rest of an airport reception area behind them.
"If ya didn't know", Hype starts, "we're going to Japan! Now ya know! Say Konichiwa, Ay-Kay."
"Ko-nee-chee-wa.", Kendrick's got a big grin on his face.
Hype flashes the two rollers they've got in front of them, with their jackets, and 2 smaller carry-on bags. "They're flying us in days early to make sure everything is on track, we get to see some sites. First we got a 17-hour flight and layover. See ya soon."
We're walking behind AK, the airport is different, the sky is dark, most of the people around are Pacific Asian.
"AK and Hype rollin' into Tokyo.", behind the camera.
AK makes his way to one of the entrances of the airport where we see a handsome man with an English BLR sign, dressed in blue jeans, a white shirt, and black leather jacket.
"Ashley Kendrick.", a handshake.
"Hey, Hayato Hamada."
"Hype, I'm the guy you've been talking to.", another shake.
"Good to meet you two in person. Let's get the shuttle into the city. I know you probably slept on the plane but I'm guessing you'll wanna take a nap and get some real food at the Max-J residences."
"You read my mind, man", Kendrick smiles.
They start out the entrance into the traffic around the entrance.
It's midday now, Hype's taking a selfie video of the trio walking through the narrow, dense Tokyo street. It's cloudy and cold for Tokyo, but the trio is dressed noticeably lighter than the people around them.
"You-know-who in Tokyo proper with Ay-Kay All Day and Falcon Hamada! Got some food, got some sleep, about to get some culture. Falcon, where we at?"
"Takanawada subway station."
"That's why I got 'em to say it."
Now the trio is seated inside a booth at a restaurant. Hamada's on one side while AK and Hype face him, with AK at the window, if there was one - the walls are plastered with signed photos and event posters, with belts, trophies, masks, and other memorabilia on display, for wrestling, boxing, and MMA. Bluegrass music twangs in through treble speakers. We look around to show another table with people in the narrow restaurant but the rest are free, and the employees are cooking calmly. On the table are three almost-finished New York style steaks laying in red juices with bits of rice, corn, and salad on the side with some empty bottles of Sapporo too.
"Welcome to the Tendora steakhouse everyone's heard so much about.", Hype introduces, "Discovered by Wild Bill Bronson over 40 years ago. Ever since then it's been like a pilgrimage for wrestlers in Japan. When I found out we were coming a month ago, I booked this before the plane. Luckily most people are at work so we can relax."
"Watch out." Kendrick wipes his mouth off and motions to scoot out. He walks to the wall and faces a photo.
"AJ Knight."
Another photo.
"Jun Vegas."
Another.
"Go Gensai."
And another.
"Frank Dylan James."
AK looks at Hype.
"Ashley Kendrick. All of us stepped into a ring to fight for a better understanding of ourselves and what we're capable of. And on December 31st, we're gonna do it again on a card packed with some of the best on the planet. It's Max-J's last breath, the dojo apartments are emptying out. I dunno what'll happen with Lion's Road either. What I do know is I gotta beat four guys to go home with 270 grand in green backs. Knight lone-wolfed his way to the top. Gensai's a nasty es-oh-bee with a special dislike for foreigners like me. I know the irony of winning the tag titles with James isn't lost on him, but those birds of a feather flock together. And Jun Vegas has a sleeve full of aces. I know the odds are against me, but there's a way to win. I'm the only guy who doesn't have his photo up on that wall, but on January 1st, it's gonna be. Twenty-nineteen is a mystery, but I'm gonna end twenty-eighteen with some history."
Black.
"If ya didn't know", Hype starts, "we're going to Japan! Now ya know! Say Konichiwa, Ay-Kay."
"Ko-nee-chee-wa.", Kendrick's got a big grin on his face.
Hype flashes the two rollers they've got in front of them, with their jackets, and 2 smaller carry-on bags. "They're flying us in days early to make sure everything is on track, we get to see some sites. First we got a 17-hour flight and layover. See ya soon."
We're walking behind AK, the airport is different, the sky is dark, most of the people around are Pacific Asian.
"AK and Hype rollin' into Tokyo.", behind the camera.
AK makes his way to one of the entrances of the airport where we see a handsome man with an English BLR sign, dressed in blue jeans, a white shirt, and black leather jacket.
"Ashley Kendrick.", a handshake.
"Hey, Hayato Hamada."
"Hype, I'm the guy you've been talking to.", another shake.
"Good to meet you two in person. Let's get the shuttle into the city. I know you probably slept on the plane but I'm guessing you'll wanna take a nap and get some real food at the Max-J residences."
"You read my mind, man", Kendrick smiles.
They start out the entrance into the traffic around the entrance.
It's midday now, Hype's taking a selfie video of the trio walking through the narrow, dense Tokyo street. It's cloudy and cold for Tokyo, but the trio is dressed noticeably lighter than the people around them.
"You-know-who in Tokyo proper with Ay-Kay All Day and Falcon Hamada! Got some food, got some sleep, about to get some culture. Falcon, where we at?"
"Takanawada subway station."
"That's why I got 'em to say it."
Now the trio is seated inside a booth at a restaurant. Hamada's on one side while AK and Hype face him, with AK at the window, if there was one - the walls are plastered with signed photos and event posters, with belts, trophies, masks, and other memorabilia on display, for wrestling, boxing, and MMA. Bluegrass music twangs in through treble speakers. We look around to show another table with people in the narrow restaurant but the rest are free, and the employees are cooking calmly. On the table are three almost-finished New York style steaks laying in red juices with bits of rice, corn, and salad on the side with some empty bottles of Sapporo too.
"Welcome to the Tendora steakhouse everyone's heard so much about.", Hype introduces, "Discovered by Wild Bill Bronson over 40 years ago. Ever since then it's been like a pilgrimage for wrestlers in Japan. When I found out we were coming a month ago, I booked this before the plane. Luckily most people are at work so we can relax."
"Watch out." Kendrick wipes his mouth off and motions to scoot out. He walks to the wall and faces a photo.
"AJ Knight."
Another photo.
"Jun Vegas."
Another.
"Go Gensai."
And another.
"Frank Dylan James."
AK looks at Hype.
"Ashley Kendrick. All of us stepped into a ring to fight for a better understanding of ourselves and what we're capable of. And on December 31st, we're gonna do it again on a card packed with some of the best on the planet. It's Max-J's last breath, the dojo apartments are emptying out. I dunno what'll happen with Lion's Road either. What I do know is I gotta beat four guys to go home with 270 grand in green backs. Knight lone-wolfed his way to the top. Gensai's a nasty es-oh-bee with a special dislike for foreigners like me. I know the irony of winning the tag titles with James isn't lost on him, but those birds of a feather flock together. And Jun Vegas has a sleeve full of aces. I know the odds are against me, but there's a way to win. I'm the only guy who doesn't have his photo up on that wall, but on January 1st, it's gonna be. Twenty-nineteen is a mystery, but I'm gonna end twenty-eighteen with some history."
Black.