Fateful Confrontation
Feb 20, 2014 20:20:09 GMT -5
Post by October Raven on Feb 20, 2014 20:20:09 GMT -5
::It's been a few weeks since the January Circuit show. Corey O'Brian is standing in the middle of his dojo's ring, wearing one of his own merchandise T-Shirts, bearing one of his nicknames, "The Ronin", and holding the UBL Heavyweight title in his hands, looking down at it. Xander Starr behind the camera as always::
Corey: I make no excuses. I saw an opportunity to test RYOMA's power, to play his game, and see how well I fared. To the casual observer, I didn't fare well. But to those who watched the match, they know I showed a point.
Corey: That point is that I took RYOMA's best offense, and fought back. I dug in my heels against the oncoming tide, and I pushed back. And I didn't just push back with technique, I pushed back with force. I charged with all my force and explosiveness on the most powerful man in this league, perhaps in all wrestling, with a shoulder tackle in the match. And? He fell.
Corey: And while I did lose, and to RYOMA's powerbomb, even then did I show how I could fare against RYOMA's force. Because with RYOMA, one powerbomb is enough for RYOMA to pin most wrestlers, he needed THREE to put me down. And I've had neck injuries. I still wake up aching sometimes, remembering the time in DPW that Hotaka Tokudo spiked me on my head. A younger me might have kicked out of that third.
Corey: But through this, playing RYOMA's game, I am more confident than ever, that I can beat RYOMA when it's time to play my game. Make no mistake, I did not intend to lose. RYOMA can probably attest to how much punishment I dealt him, how I put all 247 pounds into the Death Note I delivered before that third powerbomb.
Corey: I hope you watch this well, Joachim, because that is why I made the UBL Heavyweight title. RYOMA and myself are not just warriors, we are world-class wrestlers. That's why we both are fighing in the UBL, because this league is the most competitive of any in the world. And that's why the locker room recognizes my claim as UBL's true champion despite my loss in January.
::Corey looks directly at the camera now::
Corey: It's like they say, Jaochim. Real recognizes real. That's why you're a stranger to the locker room.
Corey: And for those who question my confidence against RYOMA, let me tell you two things.
Corey: The first is that I've been training with Monster Takeshi for the last few months. For those that don't know, he was the first champion of my former home promotion DPW, and held the title against all comers. He, like RYOMA, is a man with power that's almost impossible to overcome. Almost. Now that I am sure of my ability to overcome RYOMA's force, he's heading back to Japan, and I can openly reveal my hand, because it will not affect the outcome.
Corey: The second thing, is the source of my inspiration coming into this battle. RYOMA probably knows this story well. The duel on Ganryujima.
Corey: In the early 17th century, there was a swordsman named Sasaki Kojiro. He wielded a no-dachi, an especially long katana, and was feared for his prowess with the blade. He had a powerful signature technique, the name of which translates in English as the Swallow Reversal; a full-force downward strike followed immediately by a sweeping upward blow. His renown was compared to the great ronin warrior of the time; Miyamoto Musashi, the man who won over five dozen duels.
Corey: Musashi did not believe in brute force nor reliance on a single technique. His style was reliant on flexibility, technique, strategy, and anticipation. He and Kojiro could be considered nearly polar opposites in philosophy, but respected warriors the same.
Corey: The two agreed to battle on a remote island, as Musashi, a ronin, had been wary of an ambush. Musashi, who typically dueled with twin wooden katana, carved a wooden no-dachi from the oar he rowed to the island with.
Corey: The two faced off. Kojiro raged forward, looking to execute the Swallow Reversal. Musashi side-stepped the downward strike while delivering a counter-strike that knocked Kojiro down to a knee. Kojiro attempted an upward strike, the second half of his famous technique... but Musashi broke his ribs, puncturing his lung.
Corey: RYOMA, our battle will be as legendary as the one on Ganryujima. And with all my respect to you? Like Ganryujima, it will be the Ronin who stands tall.
::Corey raises the title as the scene fades out.::
Corey: I make no excuses. I saw an opportunity to test RYOMA's power, to play his game, and see how well I fared. To the casual observer, I didn't fare well. But to those who watched the match, they know I showed a point.
Corey: That point is that I took RYOMA's best offense, and fought back. I dug in my heels against the oncoming tide, and I pushed back. And I didn't just push back with technique, I pushed back with force. I charged with all my force and explosiveness on the most powerful man in this league, perhaps in all wrestling, with a shoulder tackle in the match. And? He fell.
Corey: And while I did lose, and to RYOMA's powerbomb, even then did I show how I could fare against RYOMA's force. Because with RYOMA, one powerbomb is enough for RYOMA to pin most wrestlers, he needed THREE to put me down. And I've had neck injuries. I still wake up aching sometimes, remembering the time in DPW that Hotaka Tokudo spiked me on my head. A younger me might have kicked out of that third.
Corey: But through this, playing RYOMA's game, I am more confident than ever, that I can beat RYOMA when it's time to play my game. Make no mistake, I did not intend to lose. RYOMA can probably attest to how much punishment I dealt him, how I put all 247 pounds into the Death Note I delivered before that third powerbomb.
Corey: I hope you watch this well, Joachim, because that is why I made the UBL Heavyweight title. RYOMA and myself are not just warriors, we are world-class wrestlers. That's why we both are fighing in the UBL, because this league is the most competitive of any in the world. And that's why the locker room recognizes my claim as UBL's true champion despite my loss in January.
::Corey looks directly at the camera now::
Corey: It's like they say, Jaochim. Real recognizes real. That's why you're a stranger to the locker room.
Corey: And for those who question my confidence against RYOMA, let me tell you two things.
Corey: The first is that I've been training with Monster Takeshi for the last few months. For those that don't know, he was the first champion of my former home promotion DPW, and held the title against all comers. He, like RYOMA, is a man with power that's almost impossible to overcome. Almost. Now that I am sure of my ability to overcome RYOMA's force, he's heading back to Japan, and I can openly reveal my hand, because it will not affect the outcome.
Corey: The second thing, is the source of my inspiration coming into this battle. RYOMA probably knows this story well. The duel on Ganryujima.
Corey: In the early 17th century, there was a swordsman named Sasaki Kojiro. He wielded a no-dachi, an especially long katana, and was feared for his prowess with the blade. He had a powerful signature technique, the name of which translates in English as the Swallow Reversal; a full-force downward strike followed immediately by a sweeping upward blow. His renown was compared to the great ronin warrior of the time; Miyamoto Musashi, the man who won over five dozen duels.
Corey: Musashi did not believe in brute force nor reliance on a single technique. His style was reliant on flexibility, technique, strategy, and anticipation. He and Kojiro could be considered nearly polar opposites in philosophy, but respected warriors the same.
Corey: The two agreed to battle on a remote island, as Musashi, a ronin, had been wary of an ambush. Musashi, who typically dueled with twin wooden katana, carved a wooden no-dachi from the oar he rowed to the island with.
Corey: The two faced off. Kojiro raged forward, looking to execute the Swallow Reversal. Musashi side-stepped the downward strike while delivering a counter-strike that knocked Kojiro down to a knee. Kojiro attempted an upward strike, the second half of his famous technique... but Musashi broke his ribs, puncturing his lung.
Corey: RYOMA, our battle will be as legendary as the one on Ganryujima. And with all my respect to you? Like Ganryujima, it will be the Ronin who stands tall.
::Corey raises the title as the scene fades out.::