Philosophies

[Mr. Lifeguard's music hits, and he comes out to the ring, energizing the crowd along the way]

Jim “The Amp” Johnson: Look at the crowd's reaction to Mr. Lifeguard!

Warhead: I never knew there were this many fans of mathematical addition!

[Lifeguard enters the ring and takes a mic]

Mr. Lifeguard: Wow....that's all I can...wow. Being back here at NRWL....this is just great! I have to admit, I was a bit nervous coming back. It's like when you were back in school, and that kid moves away for a year, but then he comes back a year later, and he's completely different and everyone hates him...well I'm not that kid, because the reception I've received has been tremendous! I want to thank all the fans out there who have been supporting me, coming up to me for pictures, for autographs...although I must say, I signed so many autographs tonight, my swimming hand is a bit sore. So if there IS someone drowning, they may die. But you know what? That will not stop me from signing more autographs for all of you Lifeguard fans!

[The crowd cheers, and Mr. Lifeguards gives his own round of applause for the crowd. This does not last long, as the music of Katsutoshi hits, and he walks out onto the ramp with Leiko]

Katsutoshi: ...You've been talking for about a minute, and you're already the most annoying man I've ever encountered. So just stop with this pandering and tell me straight up...why are you here? Because as I see it, you're here to waste space. You're here to waste time! Just go back to wherever you came from. I'm here to get to the top, and I do that by defeating opponents.

Mr. Lifeguard: Whoa, me too man! We just have different ways of going about it! I love a good match! But when I'm not in the ring fighting, why should I be walking around backstage, pretending to everyone that I'm a big mean, angry, tough guy?! I like to relax, have fun, enjoy life! Try it sometime!

Katsutoshi: Lifeguard, I hope you keep that attitude. You'll make for an easy match. [Katsutoshi and Leiko leave, while Mr. Lifeguard remains in the ring to pump the crowd up a bit more]

Jim: Two very different men, and two different styles!

Warhead: But both can go in the ring! It's going to be interesting to see where this goes between them!

Isolation

[Jay Phillips is standing in the ring]

Jay Phillips:  Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time, Tornado.

[“Bullets” by Creed cranks over the speakers.  Tornado walks out with an irked face on.  He no-so-boisterously walks down to the ring and climbs in and stands next to Jay as the music dies down.]

JP:  Tornado, as a second generation wrestler and son of SCSF legend, Cyclone, there must have been tremendous pressure to deliver at the last show.  And thanks to Katsutoshi--or, probably more accurately, Leiko--those expectations fell, shall we say, a little short?

Tornado:  Look Jay, you and everybody watching, saw exactly what a disgrace of a match that was last night.  I understand that referees are human and they make mistakes.  I’m not blaming the officiating for my loss, but I really think it played a big hand in the outcome of the match.

JP:  The questionable officiating being the DQ call?

T:  Well---see that’s why it’s questionable.  Normally, a disqualification for putting your hands on out outside manager--which is what I did--is the correct call.  But...c’mon!!  I don’t know how the ref missed her parading back and forth on the ring apron the ENTIRE match, suplexing me out of the ring, punching me while I was outside the ring, and then...proceeding to pin my arms up while Katsutoshi got in a shot I couldn’t defend against!!  And somehow  **I** get disqualified?  Just for taking care of business??  Call me crazy, but I think the people who pay their hard-earned money deserve better than that. 

Voice over PA:  Weeeeeeee ooooooooo weeeeeeee ooooooooooo weeeeeeeee ooooooooooo!

[Tornado and Jay look up the ramp as Katsutoshi and and Leiko emerge from backstage.  It’s Katsutoshi making the siren sound into the microphone.]

Katsutoshi:  Hear that Tornado?  It’s the WAAAAAAmbulance on their way here to administer an emergency diaper change.  Why don’t you man up and admit that you’re a hot-head rookie who lost his cool and put his hands on a lady?  Wait, I just answered my own question.  You CAN’T man up because real men don’t put their hands on ladies!  Typically, I would walk right down there and kick the snot of anyone who strikes a woman, but you’ve already dishonored yourself AND your father with your cowardly act.  Plus, I already beat you!  Ha!  So I have nothing more to prove.  I’m the better man, and truly, the better man won!

[Katsutoshi folds his arms and smiles impishly.  Tornado grinds his teeth and scowls.  After a few seconds, he snatches the microphone from Jay Phillips hand, startling Jay.  Tornado walks over the ropes and leans over them, addressing and pointing up at Katustoshi.]

T:  If you think this is over, you’re WRONG!  If you think we’re done, you’re WRONG!  And if you think that I’m not going to get back at you…..YOU’RE WRONG!  After this tag-team tournament,  you and I are going at it again!  But this time, we’ll be inside a cage so your harlot can’t interfere on your behalf like she always does!  Then we’ll see who the real man is and if you can take care of business YOURSELF!

[“Bullets” begins playing again.  A visibly outraged Katsutoshi begins yelling and pacing and waving his hands in anger.  He points up at Tornado and Tornado points right back at him, then Tornado punches his fist into his open palm.  Katsutoshi continues yelling up at Tornado as Leiko tries calming Katsutoshi down as the scene fades out.]

Bloody Japan

*Katsutoshi and Leiko are walking through the halls backstage. Katsutoshi walks proud having just challenged John Fraust to a match. Leiko looks at him with adoration. As they turn a corner, Katsutoshi bumps right into Fraust who is just standing there with a dead stare.*

Katsutoshi: Uhh... Geez. What are you standing here for?

John Fraust: I heard what you said out there.

K: Ah, right. Well look...

JF: No, hey, I get it. It's a great opportunity to make a name for yourself. I get it. I've been around long enough to know the game. Listen, I just wanted to introduce myself.

*Katsutoshi looks at Leiko, who merely shrugs at him. Both look a little confused.*

JF: John --- *Fraust belts Katsutoshi in the jaw with a right hand. Katsutoshi falls down and nearly knocks over Leiko. She looks at Fraust, fearfully. Fraust looks at her and then fakes a lunge toward her. She stumbles back but catches herself against a wall before falling over. She looks at Fraust and then pulls on Katsutoshi's arm. Katsutoshi is shaking his head trying to get his bearings but ultimately follows Leiko back from where they came.* --- Fraust.

*After a moment, a door opens in the hallway next to John Fraust. Mark Blood steps out and sees Fraust standing there.*

Mark Blood: Hey! Good to see you, man. I've been meaning to catch up with you since you came back. How are things?

JF: Not so good, Mark. Not good at all.

MB: What? Why? What's wrong?

JF: Well, for starters, I've been watching you over the last year. Your father and I trained you to get to this point and, well, frankly I expected more.

MB: Fraust, look, it's been a little rough lately but I have a plan. I know where I need to be and I'm working on it.

JF: Your plan sucks, Mark. You obviously haven't learned anything at all! Who the hell needs a "pure" wrestler these days? You need to adapt! You need to constantly evolve to make it in this business. Your father knew that. Just because this company made him look like some washed up technical wrestler doesn't mean that is who he was. He was in more brutal matches than I could ever imagine being in! I don't know where this righteous fight for purity came from but you're in the wrong business. You'll never make it.

MB: You know what? I should have known you'd think this way. You were exactly the problem with wrestling for years. You straightened out, cleaned up, started doing things the right way. What happened? You come back from... where did you go anyway?! You come back here and suddenly you're back to your old, grungy self. If anything, I am the one who expected more.

JF: I kind of thought you'd say that....... you're pathetic.

*Fraust walks away and down the hallway. Mark Blood, boiling with rage, follows him down the hallway.

MB: No! Don't walk away from me! Stop! What's your problem?!

*As Mark walks past a closet door that is partially open, Killer Malone pushes it up the rest of the way, knocking Mark off balance. Malone, armed with a bat, pokes Mark in the ribs and then whacks the bat across his shoulder blades. Mark Blood growls in pain and tries to stand up but is then clotheslined by Killer Malone. Malone kneels down and starts punching him. Malone stands up and John Fraust stands beside him. Both men look down at Mark Blood, who is motionless.*

Killer Malone: He's going to want to fight me now, you know.

JF: Yeah, but he'll come around... even if we have to beat it into him.

*Both men walk away as Mark Blood starts to stir on the floor. He has no idea where he is or even what happened. Once he is able to sit up and shake his head, his eyebrows lower and he clinches his teeth in anger.*

Generation Gap

*”PV” by Dazzle Vision blasts over the arena sound system and Katsutoshi walks down to the ring with Leiko behind him.  He walks down smiling confidently, nodding his head and with his arms out at his side in the “what’s up?” pose.  He climbs into the ring and take the mic.  The music dies down, and there several audible boo’s*

Katsutoshi:  Well, well, well!  To all you doubters out there, what do you have to say for yourself now?  I whooped your precious Balance, and whether you care to admit it or not, you actually enjoyed seeing it!

*now the entire crowd boo’s loudly*

Katsutoshi:  Oh boo yourselves!  You people lack the foresight!  If you could see past your ugly noses, you’d all be running to jump on the Katsutoshi bandwagon faster than you run to the unemployment lines for your undeserved handouts

*Boo’s*

Katsutoshi:  No.  Unlike you people, I have ambition and goals.  And the NRWL Champion will be mine sooner than you know it.  Now, I’ll admit it…beating Balance isn’t really anything to brag about.  Even the greatest of the greats sometimes have to start by scraping the bottom of the barrel.  But now it’s time to take on someone who actually somehow still has some marquee value

……………………………….John Fraust.

*crowd has a mixed reaction to the name – half cheers, half boos*

Katsutoshi:  Yup, here’s a guy who makes a long-awaited return to the ring….and falls flat on his face.  This might surprise a lot of you, but I was actually a huge fan of Fraust.  I used to watch him in the underground circuits of the WFW.  I used to yell and cheer at the TV when watching him in the incredible hardcore matches of the IRW.  I aspired to be like him as when he was the unstoppable Division 2 Champion during the NRWL’s inaugural season.  It’s true!  But the key word in all this…..”was.”  Now, I’m embarrassed for him.  Losing quite soundly to another wash-up, “Hardcore” Adam, and then raising Adam’s hand, post-match, in some sort of an attempt to save face from the humiliating defeat he was just dealt.  His career is in its death throes, and it’s painfully obvious to anyone with working eyes and a thinking brain.  But….his name still puts butts in the seats and still pulls weight…for some reason--which is why I’m calling him out.

*Katsutoshi turns and looks out the corner of this eyes up the ramp with cockiness*

Katsutoshi:  Fraust, your time as a main-eventer is done, we all know that.  But I can still use you and your past accolades that you’ve been riding, to propel myself up in the ranks…hopefully, that is.  I mean, after your excuse of a match last week, I can only hope that beating you isn’t less of an accomplishment than beating Balance.  You were a great champion back in your day.  But you know what?  So was Triple-Crown winner, Secretariat.  And do you know where he is now?  On a 3^rd grader’s art class project, holding glitter onto a construction-paper Christmas tree!  I’m going to do to you what “Hardcore” Adam should’ve done but couldn’t—put you and your wrestling career out to pasture in an Extreme Rules K.O. match!  If you think about it, it’s a win for both of us.  I get to move ahead with my success and continue building my legacy that will surpass yours, and you can go down fighting.  So, what do you say, Fraust?  Remember, I’m only offering you this opportunity to go out swinging and have people say “He fought ‘til the end!  What a gladiator!” because I was a big fan of yours.  And I really don’t want to see you become Mike Blood.  And believe me, you are on that path.  Let’s do this, so we can both move on to better things.  Championships and honors for me, and rest and retirement for you!  And who knows?  After I put you away, maybe I can put another old piece of unwanted furniture out to the curb……..”Hardcore” Adam.  But, one step at a time.  See you soon, Fraustie!

*”PV” blasts and Katsutoshi and Leiko leave the ring, both sporting shit-eating grins as then make their way up the ramp*

Eastern Beginning

*Jay approaches Katsutoshi and Leiko backstage*

Jay:  Excuse me, Katsutoshi!  Uh…..Konnichiwa?  Um…… *to Leiko* Are you his translator?

Katsutoshi:  I can speak English, Jay!  Geeze!

Jay:  Oh, sorry!  I didn’t—

Katsutoshi:  Just because I’m from Japan doesn’t mean I can’t speak a different language.  In fact, unlike the United States, we actually teach our children foreign languages!

Jay:  I’m sorry, Katsutoshi.  I just wanted to know your thoughts on your match with Balance tonight?

Katsutoshi:  My thoughts?  Your job is really useless, you know that Jay?  Here’s my thoughts.  Everybody is underestimating me.  That’s fine.  They’re the ones who are going to have to eat their words when I rise to the top.  I get that this is a business and corporate already has their prima-donna favorites picked out and ready to be marketed and sold – some before they have even stepped a foot on the canvas.  But that’s OK.  I don’t mind starting at the bottom and working my way up.  I’m in this garbage match with a garbage wrestler, Balance.  I’ll make short work of him and kick his head off Mortal Kombat style.  Within a few months, you’ll see the kids in the seats wearing shirts with my face on them, and waving rising-sun flags and chanting “JA-PAN!  JA-PAN!  JA-PAN!”  And then you can feel special and go around saying that you “knew” me back before I was the man on top.  But for now, you can sit back and watch it all unfold right before your eyes.

*Katsutoshi walks away.  Leiko walks up to Jay and gets really close to him.  Jay is visibly uncomfortable and Leiko leans in really close to his face.  She then snaps her gum incredibly louds, startling Jay, before she abruptly turns and walks away.  Scene ends with Jay looking confused.*