Post by "The Iceman" Konrad Raab on Oct 14, 2015 15:43:55 GMT -5
Bujinkan Kocho Dojo. Pasadena, California. Sunday 11th October
Being in an unusual environment was a man who signed a contract to Ground Zero Wrestling Association to make a whole fresh start after finishing his match against his mentor in World Elite Wrestling company. There's a lot of people who are dressed up as ninja's in this special dojo. It's quite a large dojo with some weapons that are hanging above the walls, which kinda freaked this wrestler out, considering he wrestles in a weapon environment, but it's something he's very highly against and prided himself that he never had to wrestle in that environment so far and it's the man known as Stefan Raab. While he gets changed in wearing a black gi along with his famous blue and white mask as he's alone in the locker room, Stefan speaks to himself.
Stefan Raab: “I hope I won't have to use weapons in my first lesson.”
He cares about wrestling so much that he never tends to cheat or even prides himself from winning a match by count out or his actions of making mistakes because he's a wrestler who respects the business a lot and he comes to sit with the other students, listening to everything the instructor has to say and since it's a beginners class, Stefan joined with four other students wanting to learn a special martial art called Bujutsu. While he's doing some moves, he begins to speak.
Stefan Raab: “Hello my fellow wrestlers in GZWA, you pretty know much who I am from wrestling in other promotions before, but just as a reminder to those who don't, let me introduce myself before we get down to why I'm here and who my opponent is. I'm The Iceman Stefan Raab and I've been wrestling for three years now and I've won a fair amount of titles in my career, especially my last match against my mentor Vantage, I retained not only my WEW Universal title, but won the WEW Titan's title as well. So I left Japan on a very high note as well as the company itself which had meant I had to find somewhere to go.”
It's been a hard few months to deal with the fact he had to go to wrestle somewhere new and he wanted to go somewhere where most people didn't know Stefan very well, where he could make his own name in the business, earning what he wanted to do in the company and he continues to speak while having done throws and strikes, doing what he's been told.
Stefan Raab: “So yes I found the WEW closing down situation tough and it took a lot for me to continue wrestling because of that and the reason I'm still gonna continue is because I still have that passion to do more in the business and I enjoy wrestling a lot as well. That's what's keeping me going. Anyway lets talk about why I'm here and what this place is. This place is called the Bujinkan Kocho Dojo where they do two different sets of martial arts training techniques. There's one called Budo where you learn about self defence in general of karate, judo and aikido where it's basic training and then you have Bujutsu where people learn different things like weapons styles and a combination of being a samurai and a ninja which is why I'm here since my opponent is a ninja warrior wrestler type guy known as Kuro Hayabusa.”
He knew he wanted to do something different as an upcoming star on doing something away from home and arena based things until the day of the match itself as he gets himself locked in a submission move purely because he wasn't concentrating and it bothered the instructor quite a bit and told Stefan to focus in case things like that happen again and he sees why they took a lot of pride in their martial art of Bujutsu and continues to speak.
Stefan Raab: “I hear Kuro Hayabusa hasn't been in GZWA for very long and I respect of what he says in a way of taking pride in his wrestling as a fighter. I like people like that who seem to have the respect for the sport and Japan from my experience of wrestling there and learning the experience I can at the moment do respect wrestling and treat it like a sport a lot. Very talented the Japanese wrestlers are and I respect each one of them. Just like how I respect you for what you said regarding that because I believe that every wrestler should take the sport seriously and believe they have what it takes to get there. I've seen you're matches and what you can do and it's impressive to say the least.
You have a lot of power and speed which is rare in this day and age of wrestling and being a highflyer is not really known in Japan, but wearing the masks just like Mexico is a tradition and although we have different reasons for wearing them, it what attracts kids that they feel they can get behind these two wrestlers like us. I respect most of all that you wanted to get into the family business and even have Japanese wrestlers and you're family get behind you. I do feel you are a threat and just like you, I never underestimate an opponent either, especially I don't know you as a person very well.”
Stefan really didn't like to point out the negatives of any of his opponents, unless he was provoked or he has a feeling that he will be provoked from someone and he can't really judge him and Stefan's finding the Bujutsu training very difficult which he ends up respecting Kuro Hayabusa even more than before. He does a few grappling moves of his own to another student and got the student in some sort of a pressure lock with his wrist and he takes the student down with his legs and got him in a choke hold, not doing it very tightly and while he lets go, he speaks again.
Stefan Raab: “It's amazing how you said that you was nervous before you're match against Rocky Romero a few weeks ago, yet when I saw that match, I didn't see that you was at all in the ring. You went out there and captured the win from Rocky in you're first match in an American company. I wish I could say I had my first ever wrestling match as a win, but I didn't because I was very foolish on being able to beat an experienced wrestler. I know the feeling of coming from a different country to coming to America because I was in the same boat as you when I started, but I could speak English because of where I come from which is from Germany, we had to learn English at school and I was pretty good at it.
So for you to actually speak clear English from Japan is impressive just like how impressive you live this life of being a ninja warrior. Although it's called Bujutsu martial art, it's a very tough one to learn as a beginner like myself and I'm beginning to respect what all these students around me can do. Don't take this as me being nasty to you because not only I'm doing this for fun, I'm also doing this to understand you better and why you are a ninja guy in the wrestling world and I see it's because everything we do here is exactly what we do in wrestling.”
Stefan really is beginning to understand about Bujutsu, especially the trainer sees that Stefan's improving with the moves he has to do in his first class and they didn't really know that he's a wrestler and it was only until one of the students pointed that Stefan is a professional wrestler and it was weird to see a trainer looking at Stefan training here, but after hearing what he's saying, they understand and he continues to speak again.
Stefan Raab: “The thing is dude, I'm not like you're opponents before you that have bad things to say about you because I don't since as I said, I not only don't know you long enough, but I also agree with everything you've said about the wrestling business. The reason why it took me time to come to wrestle for GZWA was actually because of the worry that I'd be handed things straight away because of my status, but Xion Zero's understood the fact of that and I said I wanted to earn things in the wrestling business and he eventually agreed that I want to be treated the same as everyone else.
I don't want to judge on you're last opponent, but I believe everyone works just as hard as you do and I know what it's like to be screwed out of a win in this business because I've been screwed a lot of times in my career, mostly by owners themselves because of how good I am as a wrestler and they wanted me out of the business. I'm glad you want to have a rematch against Rocky because I believe they are always a way of giving someone payback for attacking you which wasn't right in my opinion, but what and the only thing I didn't like about the situation and the only thing I didn't like you saying is you wanted to face Rocky in a Japanese deathmatch.”
Stefan has a smile on his face after hearing that they won't use weapons in their beginner's session today because he passionately doesn't like using weapons to another level and he focuses on doing some strikes to the opponent with his fists and kicks the way he's been learned by the trainers in the gym who had third degree black belts and he speaks again
Stefan Raab: “I mean there's other ways solving situations with Rocky by challenging him to normal one on one matches, but I don't think using weapons or violence is a way to do it. It causes more problems in the long run than facing people in fair matches. I take a lot of pride on being against weapon matches because of how I am with respecting this wrestling business I've pride myself on. I don't blame you for being angry because it does agitate you to perform to you're full potential until you get attacked to lose the match in that situation. I think the only problem was you lost focus and although you can't blame yourself for the loss, you have to move on from it and work harder next time, no matter if you nearly had the match won.
Because complaining about it doesn't do anything and I'd even understand if you want to use that anger and aggression on me after two weeks ago about it, but that's why I'm here and I'm also a guy that helps wrestlers improve on their skills in the ring and regarding, you don't need that as much, but I can help you gain a ton of experience. Just what it would do for you're career if you was to beat a guy who's won multiple of titles in other companies I've wrestled in before, it will give you a ton of confidence for sure. I'm looking forward on facing a guy who sounds like he respects this business and wants to improve his skills out of Japan and face the experienced wrestlers in America.”
It was hard for Stefan to find any negatives apart from what he's said above on the Japanese deathmatch situation and he's seen his brother Markus take part in the match years ago, but Stefan didn't like it and he didn't want to be apart of something like that. He sees the class coming together as it was almost coming to an end now, but there's gonna be a few matches taking place asides from the newer students like Stefan who are gonna sit and watch the show.
Stefan Raab: “It's an honour to face someone who's so passionate about not only wrestling, but fighting in general, especially with how difficult it is to be trained as a ninja fighter like yourself and I personally can't wait to see what you have against me because I'm looking forward to facing you and the fact you're so close to you're family is very good. I mean I'm only just getting close to my dad again that we've started talking after he said disgusting things about my wife years ago. It's a good thing to have family backing you because it shows they support you with you're career like all parents should do.
Hell, I have two sons that want to be sport stars someday themselves with my eldest son wanting to be a motocross rider like my wife's dad and brother are and my second eldest son wants to be an ice hockey player. I support them with what they do cos I'm their dad and they expect that from me. It's great you're dad supports you with what you do and to continue the family business amongst the great Japanese wrestlers that are behind you too. It's clear to me that you're a well respected individual in this business and it shows with you're wrestling performances in you're last two matches.”
Stefan's always points out at least one thing he gets impressed with his opponents, but it was everything but one little thing that he disagreed on, but that's it. He sees the experienced Bujutsu students use weapons on each other which is something Stefan had to look on the floor with as he's still trying to overcome his fears of seeing weapons, let alone using them.
Stefan Raab: “They can be quite vicious these students here and I guess it's because it's what ninja's and samurai life is about, but I just can't watch people use swords against each other or any type of weapon, but I respect it. I take this upcoming match with you Kuro Hayabusa very seriously and although I respect you as a person and as a wrestler, I want to let people know that I came here because of me wanting to face against Chris Matthews. He's the only guy on the roster that's beaten me and I know he's the TV champion right now and I'm gonna earn my chance for the belt someday, but for now, I'm just gonna have fun wrestling you since Xion selected me to face you.
But winning just like you is of course a goal of mine to do and earning you're respect is another goal too. I hope I can slide through the ice to achieve what I want to do because of course I'm in GZWA to win titles, but I'm also here to shake up the competition. Facing everyone but Chris is a whole new experience for me because of not really knowing anybody else well is a huge challenge for me and I'll prove that when our match comes around that I still have what it takes to be the top wrestler I was. The question I have left for you Kuro is can you break through this German ice block?”
Stefan of course knew he could, but it depends if Kuro can keep his focus on wrestling against Stefan to his full potential and sees other students not using weapons in the match, but just using all their fighting skills of what they've learned over the last few months or years they've been here and the students are very passionate about Bujutsu martial arts training and speaks again.
Stefan Raab: “Because I honestly don't think you can since you seem to be quite distracted with Rocky and I want you to view me as someone to get by and I really hope Rocky doesn't interfere in our match because I want our match to have the whole house torn down because that's how I feel this match is gonna go. I'm known as The Iceman because I'm always happy and generally don't really give my emotions away as much and the mask I wear keeps me happy and focus with the wrestling business and I always feel cold. I love anything to do with ice and having ice poured on my body because it excites me to wrestle, especially a guy like yourself who is a proud wrestler in this business and you should be like everyone else should.
But I do want to be the one to attempt in anyway possible to pin or submit you fairly without using extra advantages like the way you expect me to and everyone in GZWA as Chris Matthews knows will expect it. Because GZWA needs more guys like me in their company and they need a star they can be proud of like you as well. I'd usually say something else, but I won't in this case because I respect you, but I'm gonna put out everything I have against you and wish you all the best of luck against me because you're gonna need it.”
Stefan usually says other things, but it was hard to be negative because he's not the kind of wrestler who does that, especially Kuro Hayabusa was here to wrestle and gain experience and he can do that with Stefan as the lesson finished with everyone getting themselves changed into their normal clothes with some taking the time to do some autographs and pose in pictures for the students and even the trainers wanted to have Stefan's autograph too and even posed in pictures for him and then they all leave separately as Stefan goes to his car and leaves to drive back home to his wife and his kids as he spends time with them before putting his kids to bed along with getting in bed with his wife and they kiss before they go to sleep.
