Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020.
A date I will never forget.
I woke up with a text. Yuya wanted us to meet later. Something about us meeting the head booker for Oakland Fight Club. I didn't get my hopes up, but I agreed.
It started in the backyard, smoking as the morning started. It was cold but I didn't want to ruin the smell of the house. I stared into the grass, laid with a light layer of dew and ice. My mind wandered back to the days when I was a child. Playing with my father after he got back for a little while, my mother watching happily. He'd show me how to sell a punch or fake a forearm. When I took wrestling more seriously before I left for Japan to train, I would do workouts here. My mother would hand me water and tell me to keep pushing.
Mom opened the door, coffee in hand, sitting next to me. "Put that away, Kris," She lightly commanded.
I did as she says. What mom says, goes. I stomped out the smoke. "Ugh. Bad habit."
"I have patches if you want to quit."
I scratched the back of my head. I didn't want to think about quitting smoking. Not yet at least. Quitting the only constant you had in your life since you were 20 was hard to kick. I changed the subject. "So, how's life, mom?"
She hums as she sips from her cup. "Not the best. Work is dragging me down. It was awful back in the fall and it's not getting much better. I'm on leave at the moment, my boss almost forced me out." She laughed at the end.
"Good, you need a break. Who knows how bad it can get if you don't slow down? Don't wanna end up like me."
Mom placed a hand on my shoulder. "You turned out great, Kris. Don't convince yourself you haven't. What you've gone through… And you're still here. You're even still wrestling."
I laugh. "I thought you hated wrestling, and you're proud of me now?"
"Well…" Mom started. "I do, but I still support you. I did the same with your father."
"I never asked, if you don't like wrestling, why did you marry him of all people? I saw his matches, dad was a deathmatch guy."
Mom fixed her hair as she looked into her cup, memories flooding back. "Xavier was… larger than life. He was funny, caring, and passionate about his job. He was 'The Artist of Violence' but to me he was Xavier Knight. That man with those crazy dreads and bloody face was a face I fell in love with, even if I couldn't stomach to see his… art."
I listened, smiling at her. "Wonder if I can find someone to put up with me."
"All it takes is one opportunity. You'll see it, Kris."
***
Later that day I was walking with Yuya through the park. We were on the way to the Oakland Arena to meet the OFC booker. She was complaining about her rival.
LeBron needed Curry. Bret needed Austin. And Yuya needed Arin.
"Queen" Arin Arakane. A built warrior of a woman. She was a fucking killer in the ring. The amount of times I saw her lost I could count on one hand, and all of her losses came from Yuya and her alone. She was a former Judo master, training her ass off until she switched to wrestling at just 16. There she met Yuya.
"Ugh, I can't stand the bitch," Yuya complained. "Always rubbing it in that she's the champ. Always texting me. Can't wait to snatch that shit off her."
"Yeah," I replied. "Look, you told me everything I know, but if you hate her so much, why do you have her number?"
"I–" She stopped and frowned at me, disappointed that she didn't know the nuance of keeping in close contact with the woman that you claim you despise. "Come on, Kris! Didn't you hear of 'keep your enemies closer' or something?"
I rolled my eyes playfully. "Sure. Or maybe you can't get enough–"
Yuya hit my side with an elbow, making me keel over. "Shut!"
I started laughing. I knew the truth.
We reached the arena where a few guys in suits waited. They saw us and led the way right into an office where the man sat, smoking. Mr. Martin Hill, a retired wrestler. He was tall, lean, head full of gray hair, and an aged pale face. He looked no older than 50. He was wearing glasses, reading something as we walked in. He stood up, adjusting his fine suit, and pat Yuya on the shoulder. "Rei, good to see ya again," he said with a gruff voice. He turned to me, hand outstretched. "You must be Kris. I know your father pretty well, nice to see you in person."
I shook his hand, smiling. "Nice to meet you as well. How'd you know my dad?"
Martin adjusted his glasses. "Xavier's one hell of a performer, I saw his matches in All-Japan. But that's besides the point, I didn't ask you here because of your father. I asked you here because I saw your tapes in Lion's Ring. I followed you for a long time, Kris. Even when Yuya recommended you I always considered you. The back injury didn't slow you down, so that's why I wanna sign you."
My stomach sank like lead. My mouth opened to speak but I had nothing to say. No way. No fucking way. I was being signed to one of the biggest promotions in the country? Yuya cheered and hugged me, but I was still frozen, I said nothing, I nodded slowly as the only way to communicate my agreement to the deal.
Martin laughed and moved to sit back down. "Atta boy. I get it, a lot to process. We'll get the contract ready for you around January, since the holidays got corporate out of the office. For now, enjoy yourself son. You earned it."
We walked out the arena into the cool outdoors. My knees felt wobbly, it didn't feel real. I was going to wrestle again. Yuya helped me to a nearby bench as I tried to recover. "Fuck…" I finally said.
"Fuck yeah!" Yuya said happily. She hugged me tight again, this time I held her back, when I slowly broke down with happiness. When she looked at my face, she chuckled. "Silly, I told you, you're a beast." She wiped the tears from my face. "Tomorrow, we're gonna celebrate."
I nodded, my words escaping me again.