Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to JTF Squaretable. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
News Central; 22-02-06
Topic Started: Mar 4 2006, 03:59 AM (112 Views)
Fletchanator
Keith
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]

News Central
Wednesday February 22, 2006
========================

# The worst fears of Dream Fujin fans became a cold, hard reality this morning, when it was confirmed that Independent Super Lightweight champion Usagi Yoshida suffered a seriously broken ankle Monday night at Yoyogi. Speaking to the press from Dream Fujin's offices in Sapporo, and accompanied by an unnamed doctor, Billy Thomas was very solemn as he announced the news.

Thomas said the prognosis was that Yoshida would be out of competition for a minimum of four months, and probably longer. The doctor held up an x-ray of Yoshida's ankle, showing the obvious fracture.

A reporter asked Thomas if he thought the Fujingun army could possibly beat Pro Wrestling MEGA without Yoshida. Thomas said of course they could, but he was less than convincing. He said that Griffin James, Norihiko Miura, Apollo Kid III and Kyuki Shonjo would represent Fujingun in the Best of 5 series at Hakata Star Lane as planned, but he was unsure who Yoshida's replacement would be.

"Originally the plan was for Yoshida to fight HERO Ishikawa in the main event - champion against champion, but obviously that won't be happening now. Instead, Griffin James will fight Ishikawa, and I think you'll agree that that's just-as-exciting a match."


# Uncharacteristically withdrawn from the press during the latter stages of the Heaven's on Fire tour, Tate Monroe was even moreso following his defeat by fellow gaijin Griffin James at the Higashi-Murayama Sports Center show on 2/19. He has spent much of his time since then at the Dream Fujin Dojo, sparring with Dojo students and otherwise working to hone his skills, but did finally take some brief time away from that preperation to give some comments to a staff member for the Dream Fujin website:

- On his general performance level during this tour: "It's been a disappointment, honestly. Don't get me wrong, I may not have reached Eric Dane levels by any means, but I definitely feel like I've regressed somewhat compared to last tour. My record may still be very good, good enough to satisfy most people's standards I'm sure, but I try to hold myself to a higher level that that, and falling short just isn't acceptable."

- Has the loss to Griffin dented his confidence in any way?: "My confidence? No, not at all. My comfort zone? Perhaps. You have to understand, I've been an overacheiver all my life, both athletically and academically. I won the Submission Championship in Huron Valley Wrestling shortly after my debut, and I remain undefeated there. I came here to Dream Fujin, and my ability and hard work not only quickly earned me a shot at the Independent Light-Heavyweight Title, but also made me one of the most talked-about names in this company.

But then... I lost. And more importantly, I reacted to that loss in the wrong way. I saw it as... an aberration, and in many ways it was, but I didn't learn the most important lesson I needed to take away from that defeat. And as a result I lost again. Not to take anything away from Griffin James, but I made some of the same mistakes -- albeit the less obvious ones perhaps -- against him that I did against Yoshida, and that's not something I do. I became too comfortable in my performances, too satisfied with my victories, and unfortunately I think I paid for that complacency."

- On recently being dubbed "GINOUDAIO" ("Great King of Technical Skill") by the Dream Fujin fans at the Hakodate Citizen Gymnasium: "It's a tremendous honor actually, and one that means a great deal to me. I've said since the start that the Japanese fans are very astute when it comes to recognizing ability and a strong work-ethic. Of course I didn't know what it meant at first, but someone quickly filled me in and it made me very proud."

- On him seemingly being drawn towards a conflict with Jeff Kujawa and his faction: "I'll say this -- their attitude and modus operandi is one that many people in this company don't appreciate, and I'd count myself in that group. And if their paths continue to cross with mine, then I can see there being further conflict. I've already offered my assistance to Griffin James if he wants it. That offer still stands."

- And finally, on the escalating war between Dream Fujin and Pro Wrestling MEGA, and his potential place in that war: "Like I told Griffin James, I'm still an outsider here in Dream Fujin, and I'm really not looking to get involved in politics and inter-company rivalries at this point. But having said that, Dream Fujin has been nothing but good to me since the day I arrived, so if a request for my assistance came from Mr. Thomas for example, I'd certainly consider it strongly."


# Griffin James has finally addressed what's ahead of him in the future, namely Pro Wrestling MEGA and Shoji Tamura...

"First things first, MEGA's gotta go down. Hard. They've split us up, they've got us acting stupid... but now? _We're_ ending this. I'll see them at Hakata Star Lane. End of story."

On Shoji Tamura:

"...if he wants a challenge, he's got one. And if he wants someone to stop him... well, I'm not guaranteeing that.

I'm guaranteeing a _massacre_. Me being 'honorable' doesn't come into play here: he hurt my friend. When the time comes, I will go to levels that these fans haven't seen to make sure that my friend is avenged- I'm going to shock and disgust them all in the name of Crazy Bastard Cop. Don't say I didn't warn you..."


# Namiko Inoue for J*Style

Dream Fujin is a company fast rising up the independent ranks here in Japan, helped largely due to its involvement with the NEO-I alliance. It is this affiliation which has seen many gaijin performers appear for the gruelling tours Dream Fujin promotes.

I had the chance to sit down with one such performer, Elvis Sunday, a colourful young daredevil from Hawaii who comes to Japan by way of NEXT. The Dream Fujin fans have clearly taken to Sunday for his fun-loving persona and high-flying in ring performances. I was pleasantly surprised upon meeting Sunday, that what you see in the ring is what you get outside of it.

Sitting in front of me in the Blue Note Tokyo, accompanied by live jazz in the background is a man clearly enjoying Dream Fujin and Japan as a whole. Sunday enthused about both stating:

“I’m a kid from Hawaii, I haven’t seen anywhere but Hawaii and more recently Wisconsin! To come to this neon metropolis has blown my mind! It’s like a comic book to me and I would love to come back here. Dream Fujin has been awesome, the fans, the style and the characters are out of this world. I’ve stepped into the ring against an Orange Panda and a Baywatch dude...that’s surreal!”

It is safe to say as Elvis oozes enthusiasm he would welcome the chance to return to Dream Fujin.

“The experience here has really helped me to improve my skills, it’s a different, stiffer style over here and I’d like to think I can take some of that back to NEXT with me and use it to pink up The Great DAVE [Who Sunday is currently embroiled in a bitter feud with].”

On Pro Wrestling MEGA and the Fujigun:

“I can’t pretend to really understand the history between the two. Of course I am an outsider to it all but seeing the actions of the MEGA boy’s puts a downer on things. I look at the DF roster and see a growing united front, I’d like to do more to help out because I do feel an affinity here. Plus, the Fujigun t-shirts are neat looking!”

We concluded with Sunday telling me he is looking forward to the final shows of the tour and that he would jump at the chance to perform on Samurai TV for the tour ender.


© Dream Fujin, 2006.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · D-F/RoFW · Next Topic »
Add Reply