Post by raze on Mar 11, 2024 8:07:00 GMT -8
Raze stands in front of a heavy bag, kendo stick in hand. He's wearing the ring gear he's been using since he started in 1WM, far different from the look he was known for. He's in all black, from his boots, the trousers with his ring name down the right leg, the hand wraps from knuckles to forearm, and his "Forged in Hellfire" t-shirt that he just recently released. He looks at the camera as it approaches him.
"So, not long to go now. We're just days away from my first title shot in this company."
He lifts the kendo stick, resting the end of it on his broad shoulder as he smiles.
"Now, Rowena, you asked why I was being granted a shot at your title, but I don't have an answer to that, I know as much as you on that, possibly the same person who made this a last person standing match. That's what I want to talk about."
He walks around the punching bag, keeping his gaze on it as the camera operator step right in order to get Raze in frame as he comes round the other side of the bag. He then strikes the bag with the weapon, getting a nice, loud noise on impact.
"This match speaks to us both, doesn't it? I know I'm in for a hard fight here, I'm not stupid enough to underestimate your capability. But what of you? You getting cocky because of your tag team win? You think I'll be a walkover? I hope you're more aware than that, because if you are cognisant of the fact that I won't be, then it'll make this match all the harder. I want tough matches, tough opponents. Easy matches don't teach you anything, they don't satisfy. Don't make that mistake, I want you fully aware that my reputation for being hard to keep down, for just getting back up over and over is well documented in wrestling history. As is yours, I'd wager."
He hits the bag again, making another loud impact. He then inspects the kendo stick and when he sees it is undamaged, appears satisfied, giving a single nod.
"Anything goes, weapons included. This weapon, which we refer to as a kendo stick or Singapore cane, is a shinai. It is, as the nickname suggests, used for practice in kendo. Any idiot can just whack people with it until it breaks, but then you greatly reduce its usefulness. Whereas dishing out punishment without breaking it after a few shots..."
He pauses in order to demonstrate, striking the bag three times, keeping the weapon intact. He then twirls it around in his hand, quickly going in full rotation three times.
"Takes a more skilled hand. See, Rowena, it's not just your toughness against mine, there's the elephant in the room that is experience. I've been doing this longer than you have and have been evolving since day one. But something occurred to me kind of out of the blue. You're what, early twenties?"
He points the shinai at the camera, 'wagging' it a few times.
"That means I've put more time into learning the use of certain weapons, many of them transferrable techniques, I might add, than you've spent on this Earth. You need to understand what that means for you. You're faster than I am and your youth means you'll be doing this a long time, potentially, but you better curb that cockiness if you want to win this one."
He turns towards the bag again, tapping and poking it playfully with the weapon, almost as if he'd grown bored or even just making his mind up about what to do.
"I'll take those hits. I have no illusions here. It's gonna hurt like fuck and you'll be full of surprises. At least, I hope so. Make this fun, make it hurt. But I'll be taking that punishment, biding my time, and when you fuck up, present that opening..."
He swings the practice weapon with his right hand, like like he's trying to split the bag open. The impact sounds a Glock going off, badly cracking the shinai and leaving it bent in the middle, barely held together by the remaining unbroken portion.
"That's when I'll strike hard enough to put you down. In matches like this, all it can take is one mistake and it's over. I'm coming for the Glory Championship and if I do win, I'll wear it well. Even if you win, it won't be without blood. You'll be lucky if you can walk away unassisted at the end of this one."
He tosses the kendo stick aside and steps away from the bag, making his way to the bench press and sitting down.
"I hope you're inventive when it comes to this stuff because if you're just the kind of idiot who just grabs something and swings it, you'll be in for a very long night. I want this match with a tough, clever, innovative opponent. I'm going in there with the assumption that you're all those things and more. I've got the advantages of strength and experience, possibly durability, we'll see. Just like we'll see if all other advantages are yours. Show me what you can do when you put your mind to it. Don't disappoint me, kid. Get in the ring, shut up, and fight. I'll see you soon."
With that, Raze gets up and retrieves the kendo stick to dispose of, while the camera zooms in on the back of his shirt and the writing emblazoned on it, fading to black after focusing on the words there.
'Forged
In
Hellfire'
"So, not long to go now. We're just days away from my first title shot in this company."
He lifts the kendo stick, resting the end of it on his broad shoulder as he smiles.
"Now, Rowena, you asked why I was being granted a shot at your title, but I don't have an answer to that, I know as much as you on that, possibly the same person who made this a last person standing match. That's what I want to talk about."
He walks around the punching bag, keeping his gaze on it as the camera operator step right in order to get Raze in frame as he comes round the other side of the bag. He then strikes the bag with the weapon, getting a nice, loud noise on impact.
"This match speaks to us both, doesn't it? I know I'm in for a hard fight here, I'm not stupid enough to underestimate your capability. But what of you? You getting cocky because of your tag team win? You think I'll be a walkover? I hope you're more aware than that, because if you are cognisant of the fact that I won't be, then it'll make this match all the harder. I want tough matches, tough opponents. Easy matches don't teach you anything, they don't satisfy. Don't make that mistake, I want you fully aware that my reputation for being hard to keep down, for just getting back up over and over is well documented in wrestling history. As is yours, I'd wager."
He hits the bag again, making another loud impact. He then inspects the kendo stick and when he sees it is undamaged, appears satisfied, giving a single nod.
"Anything goes, weapons included. This weapon, which we refer to as a kendo stick or Singapore cane, is a shinai. It is, as the nickname suggests, used for practice in kendo. Any idiot can just whack people with it until it breaks, but then you greatly reduce its usefulness. Whereas dishing out punishment without breaking it after a few shots..."
He pauses in order to demonstrate, striking the bag three times, keeping the weapon intact. He then twirls it around in his hand, quickly going in full rotation three times.
"Takes a more skilled hand. See, Rowena, it's not just your toughness against mine, there's the elephant in the room that is experience. I've been doing this longer than you have and have been evolving since day one. But something occurred to me kind of out of the blue. You're what, early twenties?"
He points the shinai at the camera, 'wagging' it a few times.
"That means I've put more time into learning the use of certain weapons, many of them transferrable techniques, I might add, than you've spent on this Earth. You need to understand what that means for you. You're faster than I am and your youth means you'll be doing this a long time, potentially, but you better curb that cockiness if you want to win this one."
He turns towards the bag again, tapping and poking it playfully with the weapon, almost as if he'd grown bored or even just making his mind up about what to do.
"I'll take those hits. I have no illusions here. It's gonna hurt like fuck and you'll be full of surprises. At least, I hope so. Make this fun, make it hurt. But I'll be taking that punishment, biding my time, and when you fuck up, present that opening..."
He swings the practice weapon with his right hand, like like he's trying to split the bag open. The impact sounds a Glock going off, badly cracking the shinai and leaving it bent in the middle, barely held together by the remaining unbroken portion.
"That's when I'll strike hard enough to put you down. In matches like this, all it can take is one mistake and it's over. I'm coming for the Glory Championship and if I do win, I'll wear it well. Even if you win, it won't be without blood. You'll be lucky if you can walk away unassisted at the end of this one."
He tosses the kendo stick aside and steps away from the bag, making his way to the bench press and sitting down.
"I hope you're inventive when it comes to this stuff because if you're just the kind of idiot who just grabs something and swings it, you'll be in for a very long night. I want this match with a tough, clever, innovative opponent. I'm going in there with the assumption that you're all those things and more. I've got the advantages of strength and experience, possibly durability, we'll see. Just like we'll see if all other advantages are yours. Show me what you can do when you put your mind to it. Don't disappoint me, kid. Get in the ring, shut up, and fight. I'll see you soon."
With that, Raze gets up and retrieves the kendo stick to dispose of, while the camera zooms in on the back of his shirt and the writing emblazoned on it, fading to black after focusing on the words there.
'Forged
In
Hellfire'