Drunken Tiger
One year prior
Seoul, South Korea
Ssireum (Korean Traditional Wrestling) Championship Tournament
* All dialogue translated from Korean to English.
Announcer 1: It has been eight rounds of great action, and now only two competitors remain. On one side we have the great Kim Tae Jun. On the other, it’s the two-time winner of Top Honor from 2003 and 2004 trying to repeat for the third straight year. Choi Hong Man, the pride of Korea, has already made the announcement that he plans to move past Ssireum and on to other things if he is able to win again this year.
Announcer 2: There is no doubt in my mind that he is more than capable of doing just that. Mister Choi is a freak of nature. He stands six feet and eight inches tall and weighs three hundred and fifty pounds (converted from metric...). He has been labeled the “Drunken Tiger” for his ability to drink ungodly amounts of alcohol after even the toughest of matches.
A1: It makes no difference. Drunken Tiger has told the world he wants to represent our great country on the world stage. The real question is not whether or not he will win, but where he will go after this.
(Drunken Tiger continues his unbeaten ways, just as the announcer proclaimed he would, by defeating a skilled but smaller opponent in the final round of the tournament... For the third straight year he has obtained the Chonha Chongsa, or Top Honors...)
(Two hours later he attends a press conference so that he can give his special announcement... He is in an all black sweat suit with the hood kicked back off of his head... )
Drunken Tiger: As you all should know by now, I plan on moving past our great sport of Ssireum and taking my fighting and grappling skills to the world stage. I have achieved great success at home in my country’s traditional sport, but I feel that I have so much more to offer to the Korean people. Everyone calls me the “Pride of Korea”, and I feel that I should live up to that title. My plans are unselfish in nature, as selfishness is not becoming of a Korean Wrestling Champion. My desire is to bring great honor and respect from all of the countries of the world to Korea.
Notice that I didn’t say North or South Korea. We are one. The Korean people must unify behind a common front if we are to ever obtain what the Western World has held from us for over fifty years: Reunification!
After much deliberation, I have decided that my ultimate goal is to be a professional wrestler.
(The crowd at the press conference starts buzzing about the announcement... Drunken Tiger holds his hand up as if to show the crowd that his is unfinished...)
DT: However... before I become a professional wrestler, I need to know I am truly ready for that big step. So, without any further ado I announce that for the next year I will tour with the K-1 Mixed Martial Arts Circuit.
(Once again the press conference crowd explodes into buzzing and murmurs... A few reporters hold out their hands, attempting to get Korean behemoth to answer their questions...Drunken Tiger doesn’t acknowledge any of them...)
DT: Wish me luck.
To my Korean brothers and sisters, I humbly ask you to support my decision. I promise that I will not fail you.
Dae Han Mingook Mansai! (Long Live Korea!)
(Reporters continue to try obtaining his attention as the Pride of Korea gets up, entourage in tow, and leaves the conference... Fade to black...)