Post by Goldash on Jul 22, 2008 16:43:35 GMT -5
MAUI, HAWAI'I: His preparation for the Freestyle Hardcore Match at Digital Mayhem was only the beginning. As URWL Hardkore Champion, Akina must continue his laborious workout regimen if he wants to see success in one of the most unpredictable and unorthodox title races in the URWL. No stranger to being unpredictable and unorthodox himself, Akina knows he's got a long way to go to prove himself to the URWL fans, despite being undefeated in his first six matches as a professional wrestler.
"The most successful wrestlers build upon their first title reigns," Akina explains, "and then find new ways to make the fans appreciate them. I don't think I'm there yet. I look on the internet, on the forums, and certain people think I haven't been tested enough. That I'm not Championship material. Comments like those only give me more incentive to become the wrestler I've always dreamed of."
After pulling off a great comeback against Downfall Syndicate member and Tag Team Champion Adrien Carnage in Episode 7, Akina made his first successful title defense of his wrestling career. However, such success was short-lived. Immediately after the match, former URWL North American Champion Blood, bitter over losing a chance to regain his title at Popular Demand, appeared from seemingly out of nowhere. After repeatedly pummeling Akina with the ring bell and hitting his patented Paralyzer DDT in the corner, the former North American Champion sent the almost-lifeless Akina over the top rope with an irish whip and down to the mat outside the ring before taunting and belittling URWL audience members on his way to the locker room.
URWL fans haven't seen such an attack from Blood in the CAW era, but those in attendance who remembered his antics during his career in the text-based era weren't surprised at all.
"This is the Blood the URWL should be afraid of," URWL Arena season ticket holder Frank Worthington remarked, "once he gets that sadism in his head, he doesn't look back. It reminds me of when he was Champion back in 2000. No one fucked with that guy back then."
"Sure, he bent the rules as North American Champion," URWL fan Jared Markowski said at a recent URWL Arena house show, "but he never came close to the raw intensity he showed back in the text days. I think I speak for everyone when I say 'the old Blood is back'. Akina has to make sure he knows what he's doing or else he's going to lose his belt."
"I'm not worried about losing my belt anytime soon," Akina proclaimed in between reps on his home gymnasium's leg press machine. "Blood showed the world that he's ready to give me my first real test as Hardkore Champion at Popular Demand, but I'm not afraid of what he may bring to the table. I have the feeling people may be afraid of what he may accomplish after taking me out after my match against Adrien Carnage, but I'm not worried. Blood, you may have destroyed my body after Episode 7, but you will never destroy my spirit. After I defeat Wes Tomerka in Episode 8, Blood, do whatever you can to prepare yourself for a fight at Popular Demand...because I will be ready to successfully defend my title, no matter what stipulation the fans throw our way."
On the other hand, the former North American Champion wasn't so respectful in his tone.
"I've seen pissants like Akina walk through this league a mile a minute," Blood retorts. "but what do they eventually become? Flavors of the week. Throw-away heroes. Dust in the wind." His hometown of Trenton, New Jersey, is a far cry from the lush climate of Maui. But Blood considers it his very own chunk of paradise. "Jersey isn't the asshole of New York City. But I'd rather live in the 'asshole of New York City' than be the asshole of the entire Hawaiian archipelago. Ever since he won that belt, it's been 'Akina, Akina, Akina'. People can't shut up about this kid. I've been around too long for this shit. Some kid runs into the league, makes a name for himself, and then he's replaced by someone else. The so-called 'vicious cycle', if you will. Just like this waste of roster space Aleksandar Kuleshov, who 'made a name for himself' by singlehandedly taking my North American Title rematch away, Akina isn't anything special. He's an overweight, overpaid, overrated rookie who hasn't proved anything. The reason I took you out after your first title defense, Akina, was not only because I was angry over Kuleshov's win, but because I wanted to stop your momentum cold. I wanted to shut you up. I wanted to become #1 Contender for a title you should have never held. You may be Hardkore Champion, Akina, but you're about as 'hardcore' as Cinemax. I made a career of breaking bones, spilling blood and risking my body for championship gold. You made a career out of squashing jobbers. Three of your wins came against your buddy Scorpion, for instance. I guarantee you, Akina, I am not Scorpion. I am not Busiwa Tanao. And I sure as hell ain't that waste-of-time they call Fusion. Akina, at Popular Demand, I won't stop until I see...your...blood..."
With Blood as his new #1 Contender, Akina certainly has a lot to prove. He's facing a veteran whose sadism is only matched by the amount of scars lining his body. He's also facing the first URWL Champion in league history. There's no doubt both men will be tested at Popular Demand. But will a simple "test" be enough to break Akina's winning streak?
"The most successful wrestlers build upon their first title reigns," Akina explains, "and then find new ways to make the fans appreciate them. I don't think I'm there yet. I look on the internet, on the forums, and certain people think I haven't been tested enough. That I'm not Championship material. Comments like those only give me more incentive to become the wrestler I've always dreamed of."
After pulling off a great comeback against Downfall Syndicate member and Tag Team Champion Adrien Carnage in Episode 7, Akina made his first successful title defense of his wrestling career. However, such success was short-lived. Immediately after the match, former URWL North American Champion Blood, bitter over losing a chance to regain his title at Popular Demand, appeared from seemingly out of nowhere. After repeatedly pummeling Akina with the ring bell and hitting his patented Paralyzer DDT in the corner, the former North American Champion sent the almost-lifeless Akina over the top rope with an irish whip and down to the mat outside the ring before taunting and belittling URWL audience members on his way to the locker room.
URWL fans haven't seen such an attack from Blood in the CAW era, but those in attendance who remembered his antics during his career in the text-based era weren't surprised at all.
"This is the Blood the URWL should be afraid of," URWL Arena season ticket holder Frank Worthington remarked, "once he gets that sadism in his head, he doesn't look back. It reminds me of when he was Champion back in 2000. No one fucked with that guy back then."
"Sure, he bent the rules as North American Champion," URWL fan Jared Markowski said at a recent URWL Arena house show, "but he never came close to the raw intensity he showed back in the text days. I think I speak for everyone when I say 'the old Blood is back'. Akina has to make sure he knows what he's doing or else he's going to lose his belt."
"I'm not worried about losing my belt anytime soon," Akina proclaimed in between reps on his home gymnasium's leg press machine. "Blood showed the world that he's ready to give me my first real test as Hardkore Champion at Popular Demand, but I'm not afraid of what he may bring to the table. I have the feeling people may be afraid of what he may accomplish after taking me out after my match against Adrien Carnage, but I'm not worried. Blood, you may have destroyed my body after Episode 7, but you will never destroy my spirit. After I defeat Wes Tomerka in Episode 8, Blood, do whatever you can to prepare yourself for a fight at Popular Demand...because I will be ready to successfully defend my title, no matter what stipulation the fans throw our way."
On the other hand, the former North American Champion wasn't so respectful in his tone.
"I've seen pissants like Akina walk through this league a mile a minute," Blood retorts. "but what do they eventually become? Flavors of the week. Throw-away heroes. Dust in the wind." His hometown of Trenton, New Jersey, is a far cry from the lush climate of Maui. But Blood considers it his very own chunk of paradise. "Jersey isn't the asshole of New York City. But I'd rather live in the 'asshole of New York City' than be the asshole of the entire Hawaiian archipelago. Ever since he won that belt, it's been 'Akina, Akina, Akina'. People can't shut up about this kid. I've been around too long for this shit. Some kid runs into the league, makes a name for himself, and then he's replaced by someone else. The so-called 'vicious cycle', if you will. Just like this waste of roster space Aleksandar Kuleshov, who 'made a name for himself' by singlehandedly taking my North American Title rematch away, Akina isn't anything special. He's an overweight, overpaid, overrated rookie who hasn't proved anything. The reason I took you out after your first title defense, Akina, was not only because I was angry over Kuleshov's win, but because I wanted to stop your momentum cold. I wanted to shut you up. I wanted to become #1 Contender for a title you should have never held. You may be Hardkore Champion, Akina, but you're about as 'hardcore' as Cinemax. I made a career of breaking bones, spilling blood and risking my body for championship gold. You made a career out of squashing jobbers. Three of your wins came against your buddy Scorpion, for instance. I guarantee you, Akina, I am not Scorpion. I am not Busiwa Tanao. And I sure as hell ain't that waste-of-time they call Fusion. Akina, at Popular Demand, I won't stop until I see...your...blood..."
With Blood as his new #1 Contender, Akina certainly has a lot to prove. He's facing a veteran whose sadism is only matched by the amount of scars lining his body. He's also facing the first URWL Champion in league history. There's no doubt both men will be tested at Popular Demand. But will a simple "test" be enough to break Akina's winning streak?
