GONG!!!
The fans in the Classic Arena know exactly what that means. The sombre orchestral rendition of the Japanese National Anthem begins to play, as the Oni of Oblivion, Shujin Yama, steps out in a typically resplendent white robe. Behind him, Sensei Abe Lincoln slinks out, with the Japanese flag held high above his head, waving back and forth.
Forgoing his usual theatrics, Yama marches straight down to the ring with Lincoln scurrying behind him. The big man gets to the ropes before his associate, however, and with a look of contempt back towards the sensei, pushes the rope down for himself and steps through. Lincoln arrives on the scene after bounding up the steps with a heretofore unseen quickness, just in time for the ropes to snap back up in his face. Delicately balancing the flag, the sensei slips through the ropes and takes up position right behind Yama, waving the flag with pride again.
Otto Price, gathering his courage, dares step forward with a microphone in hand.
Otto Price: Shujin Yama, in just a few moments you’re set to take on former Tag Team Champion, Lunchbox Larry, whose own partner, Bobby Dean, has a Real World’s Championship opportunity in the night’s main event. Given your repeated assaults on the current champ, Vito Valentino, do you have a comment on who you would like to see walk away with the championship?
Slipping around the colossus, Sensei Abe Lincoln intercepts the question by shoving his face in the way of Price’s protruding microphone.
Sensei Abe Lincoln: Shujin Yama has no comment. Shujin Yama has no care if Vito-San, or Bobby-San. What Shujin Yama wants, Shujin Yama takes, no matter who supposed Real Worl…
The hand of God falls on Lincoln’s shoulder. With a slight, but forceful tug, the wily sensei is pulled backwards from Price. It wasn’t the intent for Yama to flick him all the way across the room, but it was the outcome nonetheless. Lincoln tumbled to the mat, thanks to his former student, and scrambles to pick himself off and regain an air of composure.
Shujin Yama: You’ll have to excuse my friend, Abe…
Over Yama’s broad shoulder, the camera catches a glimpse of Lincoln grimacing at Yama addressing him by his first name.
Yama: He sometimes gets a little overexcited.
Price: I understand completely. Does this mean you have a statement for us?
Yama: There is no ‘us’.
The former Premier American Champion glares at Price, who doesn’t seem to understand what he’s being told. Lincoln makes himself useful and pops out from behind Yama, jutting a finger towards the ropes.
He mouths ‘get out’ to Price.
The host takes half a step back and Yama shoots out one of his giant limbs, snatching the microphone. He gives Price a little push on the way, but as is well established, a push from the sumo is much more than a push from a regular man. Otto Price stumbles back into the ropes, and Shujin Yama doesn’t care one bit.
Yama: There is no ‘us’.
He repeats himself, turning to the crowd and the hard camera.
Yama: There is no ‘us’; there is no ‘we’; there is NOTHING that unites any of YOU to ME! I am not like you! I am not here for your applause; I am not here for your cheers; I am not here for goofy fun and games! From the moment I stepped foot in Classic Wrestling, I’ve been about one thing: Respect. And every time one of you nitwits makes a corny pun; every time one of you cracks a joke; you disrespect everything that I stand for! Everything that I have worked my entire life for! I take what I do very, very seriously.
From the look in his eyes, nobody would doubt it.
Yama: And so the way I figure it… if you’re all going to keep disrespecting what I do, I’m going to FORCE you to respect me. And that brings me to you, Mr. Metro.
He says the name with a sarcastic derision that almost brings a smile to his own hideous face. Almost.
Yama: See how easily I got under your skin? See how easy for me it was to make you choose VIOLENCE. Some role model you are. So easy… to break. So easy… to make you play MY game. I don’t care if you like me, I don’t care if you think what I’ve done to you has been low, or dirty, or cheap. What I’ve done so far is give you a taster of what I can do. By the time I’m finished, I’m going to make it damn clear that I am the biggest, the baddest, the damn best there is! Throw out all the catchphrases you want. Welcome to the METROpolis? Naw. Not anymore. This is Shujin Yama’s world now. I hope you win tonight, because it’s going to be so much more enjoyable for me to put you down. Now bring me my Larry-sized Lunch!
He throws the microphone to the ground, while Sensei Abe Lincoln cackles away. Yama turns to the entrance, and impatiently awaits Lunchbox Larry’s arrival.