(It's evening in the Great Plains. The orange light from the setting sun paints the panoramic view of the sky in a stunning array of colors. Colossal masses of clouds roll in from the west, steadily building momentum and being driven by currents unseen but forever felt. Far off, we can hear the rumble of thunder, as the storm steadily approaches...)
(We're at the Intrust Bank Arena of Wichita, still a couple days separated from BRAWL 72. Around this hour, a taxi pulls up around the rear of the building. As the rear passenger-side door pops open, KERRY KUROYAMA steps out, clad in black trainers, a grey sleeveless "ARASHI" logo t-shirt, and sunglasses. He retrieves a Dojo-brand duffel bag and carry-on suitcase from the trunk before paying the driver and politely thanking him for the ride and handing him a generous tip. Kerry starts for the arena as soon as the cab pulls away, and is almost immediately mobbed by a cluster of K2 fans who have been anxiously waiting outside for the Pacific Blitzkrieg's arrival. He welcomes them with a warm-hearted smile, looking only happy to sign autographs and pose for various selfies.)
(Intermingled among the fans are also a few members of the press, who seem more interested in picking the young wrestler's brain rather than scoring a personalized copy of his John Hancock. Handheld audio and video recorders in hand, the immediately begin pressing K2 with all manner of questions. Through the rabble, some notable key words can be picked out... events like "RANDOM RUMBLE", "FUTURESHOCK", "BRAWL SEVENTY-TWO"... names like "XAVIER LANGSTON", "LANE CASH", "TEDDY ALEXANDER". Beaming confidently as he continues his meet-and-greet with the fans as he raises his head and addresses the crowd en masse.)
"Thank you... thank you, everyone, for your support, and the growing interest in my path from all you esteemed members of the media. Many of the answers to all your burning questions can be found in Devin Millwood's article, once it goes public. But while I'm here, let me say a few things in regards to recent events..."
"I walked into the Random Rumble back in Chicago not sure of what to expect... but hoping to make a great, definitive impact. One felt by all of New Frontier. And in the end, despite not being the last man to leave that ring in a glorious victory, I managed to eliminate several other competitors from the match, and dauntingly survived to the final three. If that's not what you call making an impact, then honestly, I don't know what else to say to you. Only that if you aren't impressed yet, then just wait until you see what's to come."
"I don't hold anything against the big winner Castor Strife for being the man to eliminate me from that match. He did what he to do to win the Rumble... and I take a degree of satisfaction knowing I had a small hand in debilitating the gas-masked freak he had to overcome in the end. I also take a bit more satisfaction knowing I simply managed to make it that far into the bedlam, exceeding all the expectations set against a man of my age and experience."
(He briefly turns his attention from the fans and drops his shades, eyes catching one of the cameras held up in front of his face.)
"All the same... I am not content."
"A year from now, all of my effort in the Random Rumble... all that I worked for and everything I went through... that will all be forgotten. In matches of those caliber, the one thing people usually remember over the course of time is who walked out the winner. Castor Strife added yet another line to already long list of accomplishments, as well as a blank contract at his disposal... and the Pacific Blitzkrieg walked away with nothing, except the short-term luxury of being able to boast about a good performance. But good performances are meaningless unless you come away with the win."
"What was proved back in Chicago is that Kerry Kuroyama is a great wrestler. But most of us already knew that. What the world doesn't know right now, though, is that I intend to be greater. Greater than any other man I outlasted in that match. Greater than our esteemed champions. But almost-made-it circumstances won't get me to that level. In order to truly ascend to that elite level... I have to pen my name in the NFW history books. And the only way to immortalize myself in this federation's memory, is to beat another man who is already at that level."
"So whatever Commissioner Peter Windham has in store for me at BRAWL 72... whether it's a handicapped gauntlet with a string of UWA talents, or just a standard qualifying one-on-one... I'm prepared to take up the task, and I will be ready to overcome any obstacle. No matter the match... no matter the opponent. I will not be denied, by anyone or anything."
"Of course, there will be nay-sayers. Xavier Langston had something to say about that back in Omaha, and it's hardly a surprise to me. He's a man with a score to settle, ever since the Young Lion's Showcase. I can relate to that... having my own score to settle with a certain Philadephian Nightmare in Teddy Alexander. But I give Xavier all the due respect in the world... he's a tremendous athlete, who fought a hell of a match back in Chicago. As a driven, competitive athlete, I can fully understand his bold ambitions, and how he might take some slight to my going ahead of him in terms of opportunities. And honestly, given my experience with him in the ring, there's no doubt he could fight at a championship level."
"But only one of us will move on to that level before Futureshock Two... and I've been progressively moving forward ever since our first foray."
"It seems inevitable that the two of us are going to cross paths in the ring again. Maybe it will be here in Wichita. Or maybe sometime later down the road... when more is at stake. Whenever, wherever... I intend to make the result the same: the Pacific Blitzkrieg walking out victorious."
(He sets the sunglasses back in place and grabs ahold of his luggage once again.)
"Thank you, everyone, for your continued interest and support... hope you all enjoy the show. I won't tell you to expect big things... but expect anything and everything. Because once the Pacific Blitzkrieg takes to the ring, you will witness some of the greatest wrestling New Frontier has to offer, and then some."
(Kuroyama continues onward toward the Intrust Bank Arena as the modest gathering of fans cheer in delight. He pumps a fist and smiles to acknowledge a whooping "KAY-TWOOOOO" before disappearing into the building.)
(Out west, the sun has fully descended below the horizon, leaving only a reddish glow in its wake. The cloud front, meanwhile, is almost nearly on top of us now. As the sky darkens, a peal of thunder can be heard once more, before we finally fade to black.)
(We're at the Intrust Bank Arena of Wichita, still a couple days separated from BRAWL 72. Around this hour, a taxi pulls up around the rear of the building. As the rear passenger-side door pops open, KERRY KUROYAMA steps out, clad in black trainers, a grey sleeveless "ARASHI" logo t-shirt, and sunglasses. He retrieves a Dojo-brand duffel bag and carry-on suitcase from the trunk before paying the driver and politely thanking him for the ride and handing him a generous tip. Kerry starts for the arena as soon as the cab pulls away, and is almost immediately mobbed by a cluster of K2 fans who have been anxiously waiting outside for the Pacific Blitzkrieg's arrival. He welcomes them with a warm-hearted smile, looking only happy to sign autographs and pose for various selfies.)
(Intermingled among the fans are also a few members of the press, who seem more interested in picking the young wrestler's brain rather than scoring a personalized copy of his John Hancock. Handheld audio and video recorders in hand, the immediately begin pressing K2 with all manner of questions. Through the rabble, some notable key words can be picked out... events like "RANDOM RUMBLE", "FUTURESHOCK", "BRAWL SEVENTY-TWO"... names like "XAVIER LANGSTON", "LANE CASH", "TEDDY ALEXANDER". Beaming confidently as he continues his meet-and-greet with the fans as he raises his head and addresses the crowd en masse.)
"Thank you... thank you, everyone, for your support, and the growing interest in my path from all you esteemed members of the media. Many of the answers to all your burning questions can be found in Devin Millwood's article, once it goes public. But while I'm here, let me say a few things in regards to recent events..."
"I walked into the Random Rumble back in Chicago not sure of what to expect... but hoping to make a great, definitive impact. One felt by all of New Frontier. And in the end, despite not being the last man to leave that ring in a glorious victory, I managed to eliminate several other competitors from the match, and dauntingly survived to the final three. If that's not what you call making an impact, then honestly, I don't know what else to say to you. Only that if you aren't impressed yet, then just wait until you see what's to come."
"I don't hold anything against the big winner Castor Strife for being the man to eliminate me from that match. He did what he to do to win the Rumble... and I take a degree of satisfaction knowing I had a small hand in debilitating the gas-masked freak he had to overcome in the end. I also take a bit more satisfaction knowing I simply managed to make it that far into the bedlam, exceeding all the expectations set against a man of my age and experience."
(He briefly turns his attention from the fans and drops his shades, eyes catching one of the cameras held up in front of his face.)
"All the same... I am not content."
"A year from now, all of my effort in the Random Rumble... all that I worked for and everything I went through... that will all be forgotten. In matches of those caliber, the one thing people usually remember over the course of time is who walked out the winner. Castor Strife added yet another line to already long list of accomplishments, as well as a blank contract at his disposal... and the Pacific Blitzkrieg walked away with nothing, except the short-term luxury of being able to boast about a good performance. But good performances are meaningless unless you come away with the win."
"What was proved back in Chicago is that Kerry Kuroyama is a great wrestler. But most of us already knew that. What the world doesn't know right now, though, is that I intend to be greater. Greater than any other man I outlasted in that match. Greater than our esteemed champions. But almost-made-it circumstances won't get me to that level. In order to truly ascend to that elite level... I have to pen my name in the NFW history books. And the only way to immortalize myself in this federation's memory, is to beat another man who is already at that level."
"So whatever Commissioner Peter Windham has in store for me at BRAWL 72... whether it's a handicapped gauntlet with a string of UWA talents, or just a standard qualifying one-on-one... I'm prepared to take up the task, and I will be ready to overcome any obstacle. No matter the match... no matter the opponent. I will not be denied, by anyone or anything."
"Of course, there will be nay-sayers. Xavier Langston had something to say about that back in Omaha, and it's hardly a surprise to me. He's a man with a score to settle, ever since the Young Lion's Showcase. I can relate to that... having my own score to settle with a certain Philadephian Nightmare in Teddy Alexander. But I give Xavier all the due respect in the world... he's a tremendous athlete, who fought a hell of a match back in Chicago. As a driven, competitive athlete, I can fully understand his bold ambitions, and how he might take some slight to my going ahead of him in terms of opportunities. And honestly, given my experience with him in the ring, there's no doubt he could fight at a championship level."
"But only one of us will move on to that level before Futureshock Two... and I've been progressively moving forward ever since our first foray."
"It seems inevitable that the two of us are going to cross paths in the ring again. Maybe it will be here in Wichita. Or maybe sometime later down the road... when more is at stake. Whenever, wherever... I intend to make the result the same: the Pacific Blitzkrieg walking out victorious."
(He sets the sunglasses back in place and grabs ahold of his luggage once again.)
"Thank you, everyone, for your continued interest and support... hope you all enjoy the show. I won't tell you to expect big things... but expect anything and everything. Because once the Pacific Blitzkrieg takes to the ring, you will witness some of the greatest wrestling New Frontier has to offer, and then some."
(Kuroyama continues onward toward the Intrust Bank Arena as the modest gathering of fans cheer in delight. He pumps a fist and smiles to acknowledge a whooping "KAY-TWOOOOO" before disappearing into the building.)
(Out west, the sun has fully descended below the horizon, leaving only a reddish glow in its wake. The cloud front, meanwhile, is almost nearly on top of us now. As the sky darkens, a peal of thunder can be heard once more, before we finally fade to black.)