Five Star Frog Splash!
When his chest hit Yamza’s ribs, it was like a falling anvil. It was like a small earthquake, shaking the ring mat as it sent a powerful jolt through the ring. Yamza’s body crumpled under the pressure of the manoeuvre. He exhaled with a loud, audible breath, as the ringside microphones captured the sound.
Ray Jr didn’t ricochet off. He didn’t tumble away to grab his own tummy. He remained steadfast, not giving in to the pain in his own chest. He caught Yamza’s leg and hooked it hard. He put his masked face into the canvas, squeezing all his body weight to flatten Yamza’s shoulders.
The referee quickly scuttled across the ring, his body slamming down, his hand striking the canvas with intent.
1!
2!
3!
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The Grand Auditorium went wild! Not like the frenzied noise of crowds in Mexico that Jey was accustomed to. The applause was united, rhythmic, thunderous and of great respect. And then came the appreciation. Dozens of paper ribbons fell from the stands and fluttered through the bright lights of the arena before landing in a gorgeous, tangled blue, red and gold mess within the ring.
[Commentator 1: A spectacular victory! Ray Jr has arrived in Japan Wrestling, and he has made an absolute statement!]
[Commentator 2: Let’s hope the legacy continues this time, folks. But make no mistake, this young man is walking his own path now.]
The referee lifted Ray Jr’s arm high in the air as his new entrance theme played.
Jey sat up on his knees. His chest was pounding and his lungs were gasping for breath, having just run the final sequence with great intensity, he was breathless. The mask, made of thick, shiny cloth clung to his sweaty face. He raised his eyes to the bright lights above him in the rafters. The weight he carried wasn’t so heavy on his shoulders for the first time in a year. Tonight, it seemed as though the winds were under his golden boots.
He came out of the ring, rolling easily under the bottom rope. His boots landed on the soft ground. He didn’t hurry off to the locker room. He walked slowly along the steel barricade, slapping outstretched hands of the Japanese fans. They called him by his new ring name... Ray Jr.
He walked up the steel ramp, his boots clumping against the steel grating, and he pushed his way through the ramp entrance, then through the backstage velvet curtain.
The senses of the arena disappeared instantly. Mechanical buzzing took its place and filled the backstage production area. The thick black cables ran across the concrete floor like veins. The men wearing the headsets were running past him with tons of work to do.
Waiting right past all of them, standing with perfect posture, was Mr. Shin.
Mr. Shin was the head booker and CEO of JW (Japan Wrestling). He was a man in a perfectly ironed-out charcoal suit with no wrinkles. His face was plastered with a weathered look and not showing much emotion. He was one of those who had witnessed thousands of new comers and seen them fall countless times, he was one of those who created legends and remembered egos.
However, tonight, as Ray Jr approached, Shin nodded slightly, giving him a sign of approval.
"A good finish," Mr. Shin said. He had a strong Japanese accent in his English but he was emphatic in his speech. "The fans felt your spirit, you respected the ring, you respected Yamza."
"Thank you Mr. Shin," Jey answered politely. He lifted his mask and took it off the side of his face so he could get a good breath.
"Your father was a brawler. He broke bones and was tough enough to be put through glass," Shin said, scrunching his hand at his silk tie. "You’re different. You’re technically graceful. You’ve got the air about you. Japan Wrestling is the place of Strong Style. Ray Jr. Tonight, you matched that. You gave them a show. But next week, the real work begins. The roster won’t be so forgiving when you sign the long term contract and you’re no longer a surprise."
Jey looked the booker in the eye, and said firmly, "I’m ready for them. I’m ready for anything."
Once more Shin nodded, a Japanese voice quickly coming and going in his headset. Their discussion was done.
Jey walked down the concrete hallway to the locker rooms. His shoulder hurt so much from when Yamza had wrenched it in the armbar, and so did his ribs, but it was good pain. This was the pain of a finished task and a match well-enjoyed after so long. He only wanted a hot shower, a bag of ice and an hour of absolute silence.
"Took you long enough."
Bambietta was by a pile of stacked steel folding chairs in the shadows of the hallway.
She was in knee-high black leather boots, ripped jeans, and a cropped black leather jacket over her maroon blouse. Her dark hair was messily ponytailed, her make-up looking deliberate. She chewed gum with a bored expression.
Bambietta was his childhood not-so-sweetheart. The one who had thrown rocks at him in third grade, the same one who broke a kid’s nose for calling Jey a loser in middle school, and the only person in the world who did not treat him like a fragile item after his dad died. She was a hurricane, and a true bitch to anyone against her man.
She raised her eyes, they softened slightly at the sight of him.
"You looked good out there," she said, pushing off the chairs and coming toward him. Her heels made a loud click-clack in the still hall.
Jey grinned and laid his bulky gym bag down on the ground, his messy, wet hair dripping water on the ground.
Her eyes darted quickly to his shoulder, looking at the way he held it up. She was always looking for injuries on him.
The sweat, the dirt, the pongy arena smell on his skin was not a big deal to her. She stepped close and kissed him lightly on the lips. Her tough, untouchable exterior melted away, reserved strictly for an audience of one. She loved him relentlessly.
The way she spoke to him was as though she had just become a different person. "When we get home you’ll take a proper shower, you smell like a wet dog. I’ve got reservations at a fancy sushi joint in an hour. We can go grab a bite before we go to visit mother."
After two hours, they arrived at Osaka Central Medical Center. It was spotless, quiet, and had a fresh antiseptic scent of lavender.
Jey was wearing a simple grey hoodie and dark jeans and was walking down the brightly lit hallway. Bambietta walked beside him.
Linda was admitted six months ago. After enduring the stress, grief and trauma of losing Lee Ray, she had finally reached a point of severe autoimmune flair up and was now bed ridden. This was a fright that nearly made Jey give up on his Japanese trip altogether, but he was fine now. He was stable. Comfortable. The Japanese doctors had been keeping her in good shape, and the Japan Wrestling front office had graciously paid the expenses of her treatment.
Jey knocked on the thick, wooden door to Room 302.
Linda was seated up in bed, legs covered with a soft knit blanket. The TV on the wall was on mute and broadcasting a local variety show. There were colorful floral arrangements in the room, one of which was sent directly from Mr. Shin. She was so much prettier than she was six months ago when she fell ill.
Her dark, sunken eyes had lost their color but her skin was back to a healthy hue.
Linda placed her cup of green tea on her bedside table and smiled, "There’s my champion."
Jey came up to her and softly kissed her on the forehead. "Hey, Mom. How do you feel today?"
"Much better now that I know you didn’t break your neck out there," she teased, swatting playfully at his arm. "I watched the match on the TV... you and your dad both, reckless show-offs."
Jey laughed softly, pulling up a chair next to the bed and sitting down.
Bambietta stepped towards the bedside table and put a little, ridiculously priced box of imported Swiss chocolates on it. Her fierce, fearsome attitude disappeared completely. Bambietta was warm and respectful and very protective of Linda, because she loved her son more than anything.
"Hi, Mrs. Ray," Bambietta smiled softly. "I made sure to scold him against getting a ton of hits on his head, I threatened to beat him up myself if he came to visit you with a black eye."
Linda chortled happily and put her hand out to squeeze Bambietta’s hand. "Thank you dear. I appreciate it. He’ll be a big star soon, someone has to keep him in check."
"Don’t worry," Bambietta smirked, giving Jey a side-eye. "I am very strict with him."
Jey simply shook his head, leaned back in his chair and exhaled contentedly. He gazed at his mother, who was healthy and smiling, in a beautiful room, safely recovered. Then he looked at Bambietta who was standing, ready to take on the world for him.
While sitting there, listening to the two most important women in his life bantering him back and forth, Jey felt a feeling he hadn’t felt in a very long time.
Absolute peace.