Tokyo, Japan. Friday 15th December. (Off-Camera)
It's the first time ever of Rodrigo doing skateboarding qualifiers for the Olympics in Japan. He met a lot of skateboarding fans, even some that were wrestling fans as well. All after he won the finals of the Skateboarding qualifiers final event in Tokyo. It had been one hell of an experience for Rodrigo, apart from being unable to skate in the street as it was the law in Japan to do so. Although he had been continuing his work as a skateboarder doing some tricks, he couldn't get Ella and the potential dad he will be off his mind, more now the skateboarding qualifiers at least for this year were over.
Rodrigo had been far too quiet about the situation and he'd rather put it to the back of his mind, but his skateboarding buddies of Darius and Jerald had noticed, but they didn't ask because the competition was way more important for Rodrigo along with Darius and Jerald who also were competing to qualify for the Olympics.
Rodrigo high fives his friends and saw Rodrigo wearing a gold medal on his neck as they left the skateboarding ramp and went to explore the town, carrying their skateboards. They go into a video game arcades place, the home of video games. Rodrigo nodded and smiles.
Rodrigo Afonso: “This is perfect. This is my cup of tea.”
Darius: “That's more like a friend would appreciate.”
Jerald: “Totally need to go out and play games against each other to rest you away from whatever has bothered you back at home.”
Rodrigo Afonso: “Everything's fine. I was just a little tense about winning the skateboarding gold medal is all.”
Of course, Rodrigo covered up his tracks so far as he wasn't going to be in public about the real situation about his girlfriend, but saying that, he had been contacting her everyday, leaving his friends to be suspicious even more, but they didn't hear the discussions as it was always in his own hotel room.
Darius: “Look at this mortal kombat arcade game. Me and you Rodrigo one on one.”
Rodrigo Afonso: “Alright, sounds like a plan.”
At least in Rodrigo's mind, he will act like a little kid for the time being and it was going to be one of his last chances to do so. He joins with Darius as Jerald had an idea for Rodrigo on what game they should play next.
Jerald: “After this, let's play Mario Kart.”
Rodrigo Afonso: “Na, let's play Fast and Furious.”
Jerald: “Sounds good to me.”
Jerald went off to play Mario Kart by himself as Rodrigo and Darius put the coins in the system and selected their characters. Rodrigo selected Scorpion and Darius selected Sub Zero. They were using all sorts of controls with them going bam bam like they were enjoying the game which they were as it was a combat game. Rodrigo won the first round.
Darius: “Darn, I nearly had you then.”
Rodrigo Afonso: “Hey, there's still another round to go.”
Scorpion reminded Rodrigo as the style of fighting and wrestling he had like Scorpion from and they were cheering and scream of let's go with a few moans and groans and eventually, Darius got Rodrigo and won the second round. Rodrigo shrugged the loss off as it was a game and had gotten used to losing. They played for one last round and they were very evenly matched and eventually at the last second, Rodrigo got Darius and won the entire game.
Darius: “Fair play Rodrigo, you won fair and square.”
Rodrigo Afonso: “I guess I did. Let's go.”
However, as Rodrigo was going to leave, the game was starting the final level of the computer animated boss as he went to the game and played two rounds with the boss and the boss defeated him the first time with Darius groaning of the loss Rodrigo had. But suddenly, Rodrigo defeated the boss the second time. However he lost the third round and the game was over, but Jerald met up with them.
Jerald: “I had so much fun with Mario Kart. Let's go and play that Fast and Furious game here you wanted Rodrigo.”
Rodrigo Afonso: “Sure thing.”
It was all about having fun with little to no wrestling discussions or about what's happening with Rodrigo's life at home, it was about being a nineteen year old kid who had a few months to explore. He and Jerald sat in the arcade machine of Fast and Furious, selected their cars and upgrades and they were racing each other in the night wars level. It was going to be a good game for the boys as Rodrigo was about the fast life, before skateboarding got him first. He did have targets to be an BMX rider too. But sticking to skateboarding was better.
Jerald: “Damn dude, you're a clean driver.”
Rodrigo Afonso: “It takes practice my friend driving one of these beast of the cars and having fun. You look where you going with these cars.”
Jerald: “If you play Mario Kart with me, we wouldn't see how awful of a driver I am with this. I'll play with Darius later on.”
Rodrigo shrugged his shoulders as he focuses on winning the race against Darius which he does and then he goes on to do another race in the desert with the same upgrade for the car and Darius got to see Rodrigo struggling on his own with computer drivers in the game itself. He did love the experience of it. Rodrigo saw an arcade that caught his eye.
Rodrigo Afonso: “I so want to play Jurassic Park arcade.”
Jerald: “Na, too scary for me. I rather play space invaders.”
Darius: “I'll play with you.”
Rodrigo nodded as they walked up to the Jurassic Park arcade as they had to wait their turn as someone else was playing the game currently. But it was game over for them and they got in the machine and took a seat with their guns at the ready and they were busy blasting Tyrannosaurus Rex as Rodrigo loved the dinosaur the most. He smiles at Darius who was playing along together. Just for a bit of fun. Although Rodrigo knew he was going to have to talk with Jerald and Darius later.
But it was good to relax and enjoying being a big kid Rodrigo was as he's younger than both Jerald and Darius. Darius got killed too many times and Rodrigo played on his own. He was enjoying the game a little too much, so much so he placed a coin in again and Darius says this.
Darius: “I'll play Mario Kart with Jerald. See you later.”
Darius left as it leaves Rodrigo to focus on killing more dinosaurs in his way, more specifically Tyrannosaurus Rex. He was having a blast, using all sorts of guns to take dinosaurs down, until he reached to the second level and had to select another dinosaur which was a Triceratops and he had a long life bar left and continued having fun. The game was over when he nearly completed the level.
Rodrigo Afonso: “Damn, I came so close of completing that level..”
He got off the machine as there were some kids waiting to play the game and caught up with Jerald and Darius who were playing Mario Kart against each other and watches by as Mario Kart wasn't his cup of tea for gaming. He certainly was enjoying himself in Japan, although he had to go back to America, Tucson, Arizona to be spot on. They had a lot of fun and decided to call arcade gaming for the night and left the arcade facility. As they were walking to the hotel with their boards, Rodrigo's gold medal with a trophy and Darius's bronze medal with a trophy.
Darius: “So, you got a match against three wrestlers.”
Rodrigo Afonso: “Yeah, I have for the golden briefcase. A ladder match is what I like for sure. I don't know how briefcases work in wrestling, but I guess I'll find out.”
Jerald: “What's your opinion on Matty Mallow as we know what you're opinions are on the other two opponents, you fought and defeated them?”
Rodrigo scratched his head because he didn't really know what to think as he had only briefly saw him wrestler, but he has to know his opponent for the upcoming match.
Rodrigo Afonso: “He's defeated both opponents I'm facing along with him as well, but he hasn't fought me. He might be undefeated, but I can push Matty to the test of who is the better wrestler of the two of us.”
Darius: “He's a lot like you in the ring actually, high flying, but you have the technical advantage over this dude. I researched a bit of him. Seems like he's got beef with Justin Smith.”
Rodrigo Afonso: “I think it's more Justin Smith to be honest. He seems to be angry about losses all the time, all relating to Casey Williams to some extent. Bill's mentioning Chris Shipman a lot and Matty's related or works at a wrestling school with Staggs. I'm the only one who hasn't aligned myself with wrestlers yet.”
Jerald: “Because you stand out, that's why. We know you're wrestling as it's been your dream, but what is the golden briefcase about?”
Darius: “I think you win a fancy contract or something, not sure because it hasn't taken place in years, but think it's where wrestlers like Rodrigo can make a legacy or something.”
Nodding was Rodrigo as he thought that was the case as they walked back to the hotel they stayed in. Of course they went up to their rooms and decided to go in Rodrigo's room as he was staying in a room by himself. He shrugs his shoulders to come out with the truth.
Rodrigo Afonso: “I didn't want to say out in public what was the real situation going on because I don't want my girlfriend to be affected.”
Jerald: “I knew you had something on your mind. Also, that's great you and Ella are together.”
Rodrigo Afonso: “To be honest, while I did offer her to be my girlfriend, in the end, it turns out I had to be.”
Darius: “Why's that?”
Rodrigo Afonso: “She's pregnant. She couldn't come because she was too sick quite frankly. We competely forgot to use condoms. Yeah, so I'm going to be a dad sometime next year.”
The guys were sitting there, looking straight at Rodrigo with the news he's got and they hugged him, although he was going to be a young father, but he had to do it because he and Ella got themselves in that situation.
Jerald: “Holy shit man, congratulations. Now I understand why you kept it quiet and why you've been hiding in your room, talking to Ella.”
Darius: “Big responsibility.”
Rodrigo Afonso: “Yes it is, now if you excuse me guys, I need to talk to Ella.”
They got up and left Rodrigo to it as they went into their room together as Rodrigo dialled up the number to talk to Ella. They talked about the future, how they needed to go to pregnancy exercise class for Ella and parenting classes as well. Also the progress how the baby was doing as well and it was all exciting times ahead. After the hour long phone call, Rodrigo got his things packed up, except for the clothes he's wearing tomorrow. He went off to sleep and then got up at five in the morning to fly back to America.
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Taking care of the briefcase business for the last time this year shoot. (On-Camera)
“Seems like my opponents are taking this challenge head on with Bill, Justin and Matty being my opponents for this week. I got to be frank, as much as I feel I'm undeserving for this match, I will always take opportunities when I'm given them, not by me demanding of course. But I do like this being a ladder match where Bill and Justin most likely will struggle because of their size. For me and Matty, it's a massive advantage for the pair of us.
I don't know what Justin Smith's going to say to me, considering I didn't hear a single word he had to say about me. Maybe he will this time with what the offer he has got on the table for him. I've beaten him and since he's given me little to no information about him other than his size and strength, I leave things there, seeing you're too angry and the only thing I know about you is being in Casey William's wrestling school.
Bill, why is it every time you do a wrestling video you talk about Chris Shipman? Listen, we get that you're his half brother, but you're beating a dead horse at this point. Heck, I don't even know the dude whatsoever. But you need to focus on fixing your own career and focusing what this match means to you. Because nobody cares for your Chris Shipman stories anymore. You're a great guy and has a big heart, but you don't have what it takes to be a wrestler here because you're not focusing on yourself. That's why you lost to me and Matty. You need to step up and tell your own wrestling stories of what this match means to you and why you're going to win.
Matty, you're my biggest competition out of anyone in this match to be quite frank because we've never fought unlike the other two of us beating them. You're a threat because not many people know much about you. Although you were in the Staggs wrestling school and got Kandy your friend around you and that's awesome, I would love to do tag wrestling with a female partner myself, but I haven't found anyone yet. Our wrestling styles match and it's great to face a high flyer for once. Usually use my technician skills to beat opponents bigger and stronger than me.
I respect the hell out of you because you've earned that with your efforts in the ring. But someday my friend, you will suffer losses in wrestling. There's no guarantee you are going to walk away with the briefcase in hand because it's very difficult to wrestle and go on a winning streak. It's impressive to say the least, but you're going against me that's fought some really tough opponents. Some I was far too early for.
But at the same time, I gained and grew better as a wrestler by facing all these legends and former SCW champions. I will do everything to go up because I've been unlucky with my results lately, but unlike the rest of you, none of you have any excuses for your losses, especially you Bill. I'm going to climb up the ladder and win the Golden Briefcase which I'm aware you win a contract of what match you want or title.
I already know what title I'm going for, granted if they are still champion, but if they aren't, I still want to face them. Not going to tell you all who that is, but you'll find out sooner than later when I'll beat you all down with and without high flying moves. There is no way anyone else is winning this match apart from me because I deserve it and I will work hard to get there. I don't need to say much more than that because saying less is more.”
