Post by beavie on Oct 1, 2024 19:57:57 GMT
FWA SOCIAL MEDIA EXCLUSIVE
As the broadcast of Fallout goes off the air, the cameras keep rolling. After the FWA World Champion stared down his potential future challenger, standing in the middle of the ring, Steel Roulette cage now above her, Katsu has her newly won briefcase in her hands. Jeremy along with his new “Goode friends” have gone to the back.
She drops down to a knee and looks at it, there is still some disbelief. Stumbling to her feet, Katsu feels the effects of the over fifty minute match, which she was in for the longest. She grabs the back of her neck and walks towards the commentary table side. Knowing what is going to happen, Natalie Rosenberg hands her the microphone, whispering something to the young woman and giving a smile. Katsu sits down in the corner, putting her briefcase on her lap. Turning her microphone on, her breathing is heard, a mix of exhaustion and the nerves that likely come with a career first AND having to address a crowd in your second language.
“FW…” She catches herself, taking a deep breath and apologizes. “Sorry. Give me a second. I got a little, uh... dropped on my head…”
There is a chuckle from the fans which seems to put Katsu more at ease. She’s learned how to control a crowd in Japan, her home where what you do in the ring is where you connect. In America, it is a bit more complex. While your wrestling is a universal language, there’s more than one route.
“-But thank you, FWA fans. Thank you.”
She bows her head slightly and the Nashville crowd claps.
“-And thank you Nashville.”
And mentioning the city creates a bit louder of a reaction. ”That’s where WE’RE from” they must be thinking. A fan in the front row wearing a bright yellow Nashville Predators jersey and a cowboy hat points to the logo on the hockey sweater.
“The last time FWA was here was the Carnal Contendership over a year ago in this arena. There I began my second chance in wrestling. As Katsu. This mask…” She points to the kitsune mask on her face. “It was something I created because I connected with it. It has given me… New Life.”
The camera zooms in on Katsu’s face. It is clear she’s holding back some tears.
“It connected to my fans at home… but I’ve seen it connect with you. For a woman who is masked, I try to be genuine. So, if I have been able to make some impact with you, I feel whole. I feel stronger. I get to carry this torch… one I worked two years for… my second try at this… I will work to make people proud.”
The Nashville crowd cheers and Katsu, feeling her nerves fade, pulls herself up. She looks at her briefcase.
“And that word ‘second’ has been on my mind for a while. I have felt myself get better and better but I always felt behind. Behind everything around me. Steel Roulette last year, I fought FTN two on one, and failed. Next chance for a title, failed. Even with a contender’s match, no. I failed… Then my injury and everything after.”
She closes her eyes. There is some strain on her voice.
“I thought it was over. I was sick physically, I was sick mentally even as it healed, I was sick of my failure in FWA and I will admit-”
The Golden Opportunity holder takes a deep breath. “I was scared. I hid in Japan because I could not bring myself to fix things. I stayed in my comfort zone. I felt ashamed. I was bitter. I kept thinking of mistakes over and over in my head, and I could not admit it. While I could not even address my hometown crowd in an FWA ring, I knew as I saw a ring with FWA’s initials in my home… I missed FWA. I missed its fans. I missed this and I could not stay behind!”
She finally raises her voice and the bit of passion gives the fans a reason to break out in a cheer.
“I got my second chance at FWA and it was not easy. Coming second again felt painful. Coming up short at Back in Business stung. I felt sick again. I felt pain. I felt that sickness at home. I thought my dreams were dead, nothing would change but then I looked at myself and I said I may not be perfect, but I… I can do this, and… I.”
Finally, she has the strength to hold up the briefcase, it shakes slightly in her arms.
“I did it. Tonight, I did it!”
The Nashville crowd gives her a round of applause and gives her a chance.
“You deserve it!”
Clap clap clap
“You deserve it!”
Clap clap clap
Putting the briefcase in front of her face, the Kitsune Warrior may be covering her face as tears form. She wipes her eyes and lets the fan chants die down before she attempts to wrap it up.
“I have a lot to think about with this briefcase. I will address it in the future. All I know is this, I will be flying home, I will celebrate with my YDS friends, and cheer them on as they finish CJW’s big tournament as a true friend would do. I know they cheered me on tonight… and will as I keep going.”
She mutters in Japanese into the microphone.
“やるべきことはまだたくさんあります。”
Then she bows to the fans.
“This is only the start, thank you for everything.”
The fans give one final cheer as “Megitsune” plays again over the speakers. Katsu places the mic on the mat before she drops down and rolls out of the ring, keeping a tight grip on her newly won briefcase. She winces as she gets down on the floor and a member of the training staff gives her an ice pack to place on her neck. The holder of Golden Opportunity takes some time to greet the fans going up the aisleway. Finally, she gets up to the ramp and holds her hand up with a “fox head” hand gesture before she heads backstage as the video fades.
