What Invasion?

[J-Hop]

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DON'T FAIL ME NOW!
♦ [ busted grapefruits ] ♦
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Time: 1:55 pm
Location: Manhattan, New York

From all the attempts that Karin tried with keeping Jair at home, in bed � to rest, it didn�t work. He was up, wrapped tight and ready to roll. He was still picturing the last few seconds of that match and having to deal with the defeat. He needed practice, a lot of it. In a few days, he�d be boarding a flight to Honolulu, Hawaii. He felt rough from the past couple of days of no work. Feeling beat and the confidence meter was just under half. Jair was focused on getting back to his �winning ways�.

His buddy, his mentor, Juan Ramirez was the destination, his wrestling school where he graduated just before being picked up and shipped to Meltdown roster before making waves and moving to Asylum. He returned back every so often, not only to keep in touch but to keep and enhance his skills.

�Oh man, it�s big time steppin� through our doors!� The well-familiar voice of Juan Ramirez reached all the way down to the entry level where I came in as I looked up to the next level.

It was a walk-up ramp that went all the way up to the next level. It was a smooth surface for the handicap visitors. Ramirez had shed a smile as I made my way up the ramp, coming around as me and him did our royal handshake. It�s something we had established on the first day.

�How you feelin� homie?� Juan asked as he already knew the deal.

Jair laid down a smile to ease the worry as he nodded.

�I�m good. Its a few bumps and bruises. I can�t stay down, I gotta� keep moving!� He replied, trying to hide his true feeling.

Juan taps him lightly on his shoulder. �You�ll get em� next time, kid. It takes a few tries. You had that title in your hands but those lights, the pressure, the worry, it gets your palms sweaty and make you lose control of what you had. It happens, we�re only humans.�

Trying to give advice to Jair, it was good advice but for Jair, he knew that moment would have sealed the deal if only he was able to untie the strap from the line.

�Yeah I know, in the heat of the moment, I clearly fucked up � BADLY!� Jair spoke, continually drowning himself in that moment.

�You can only go up from this � not down! You gave them a run. Remember, you�re still a rookie. You�re still acknowledging all of what it takes to be great.� Juan spoke as he gave Jair another tap on the shoulder.

It was a nice capture between the two as Juan tried to settle the kid down, let him know that with his young career, he had plenty of opportunities coming his way. When they do come, he will need to close on it and capture those moments.

�As much as I hate that ignorant, egomaniacal fucker in Jason Kash, he�s a dominant name in that company like only a few other are. Even Anthony Bailey, our boy, he�s an elite player. You one day will share that accomplishment of being up there.�

Trying his best to install confidence back into his �student�, Juan felt he was close as he saw a small smirk on the face of Jair.

�I�m not a woman, so I ain�t blushin� � but thanks for the cool words of wisdom!� Jair said as he bounced up and down, ready to go to work.

�Looks like you fittin� a do work?� Juan asked him as Jair quickly nodded.

Juan walked with Jair as they headed for body bag that seemed to have been used not too long ago due to it�s slight movement back and forth. Juan got behind it as he gave Jair a pair of the white and gold trimmed �Everlast� apparel boxing gloves as Jair took off his shirt, stripping to his black tank top. He got into position as he begun to lightly punch into the bag.

�You gotta� pound her more than that, homie. Put some aggression in it!� Juan said as he wanted Hopkins to put more into his punches.

Jair followed suit as he began laying harder blows into the leather that did not give back much. Ramirez stayed put behind to keep from the boxing bag going whacky.

�Best way to do well is imagine someone and place their heads as the boxing bag and then go for it!� Juan said, giving more useful notes.

Jair at the moment of hearing that had a lot of nominees. Kash, Envi, or even his opponents this week. A lot of frustration, a lot of energy that could be unleashed. Gearing up like a scene from Dragon Ball Z, Jair builds up his level as his eyes grow intense. He�s ready to unload and WHAMMM!!!!

�SHIITTTT!!!!� was all that could escape his mouth at the moment.

Juan left from behind the body bag as he saw Jair go to throw in motion and doing so, he went right down to the floor, in pain.

�Holy hell, man you alright?� Juan, in his concerned tone of voice saw everything from that wild swing to the fall.

Jair didn�t respond on cue as he held his side in pain.

�I think I should�ve stayed at home as said. Damn that shit hurt.� Jair discussed the feeling as he remained down on the padded surface.

Juan opted to lift him up but Jair shook his head, wanting to get up own his own.

�Nah � lemme� pick myself up. Fall from agony, rise to greatness.� Said Hopkins as he slowly rolled over onto his stomach as he was truly slow to get up.

�You need to go home and rest. You are tagging with a man that you fought with just days ago against an up and coming tag team with intentions to make a name.� Juan spoke as he advised Jair of what to do.

�You need every bit of rest to be able to put on a good show, let alone, even travel to that destination. Dude, go home, and listen to your girl. She�s looking out for you. That right there is a �keeper�.� Juan flashed a smile.

�I know she looks out for me, but I don�t think she understands my hustle. I have to keep at it, healthy or not healthy, I have to remain consistent and on top.�

Juan nodded.

�Yeah, trust me, she understands you very well. She understands that an empire wasn�t formed in one day. It took months, years to build greatness. You �J-Hop� has to learn that too. Running with your foot on the pedal to the floor won�t get you nowhere but to the gas station.� Ramirez said as Jair seemed to understand.

�Thank you, I needed that!� Jair said with a grin. �I�ll go home, rest and see what happens next. One step at a time.� He said as he shook hands with Ramirez.

The scene faded as Juan watched his prot�g� go down that ramp, a bit sluggish but upbeat as he exited the facility. Juan wiped his forehead as it went to black.

�I G O T A F E E L I N G�
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♫ NOW PLAYING: �RAIN DROPS� � SLAUGHTERHOUSE

It hurts to lose at something when you�ve put forth the effort. No PED�s, no cheat sheets, just straight fucking hard work. I had all prepared, I had every one of those men, memorized in my head like the �Pledge of Allegiance�. From being in the ring with them twice, I knew their traits, it was like an NFL study, every move, every call. Yet in the end, all it rewarded me with is a screen capture of me on my ass, looking up to see Jason Kash on the ladder, the �Pro-Life/Suicidal� title in hand as I saw myself beside the rubble of Sykes downfall through those tables. Oddly enough, we�re teaming up this week in an epic alumni match featuring some of Meltdown�s bests. What�s even odder, Johnny Sykes never been on Meltdown but I am in no way, shape or form complaining about the setup. We�ve gone through a lot the past few days, he�s gone through fate and four tables. I�ve gone through having my balls busted, at the top, holding on tight all but to fall hard and never recover.

That�s okay�

I hope Kash enjoys his �Grand Slam� accomplishment with the title. I hope he continues to be successful although his bullshit antics cover the greatness he is. I have to respect it, I hate to but I have to. If I don�t, that wouldn�t be wise as for not recognizing greats. I hopefully will see myself in that category but from my work @ Shockwave, I have ways to go.

This week, I�ll be looking forward to this tag match. It had been a good few weeks since Yarmouth had issued out an �Open Challenge� and within days he got several hopeful challengers, including me. It never went down but this could be the start to that challenge match. I get to face him and his new �friend� in this tag match. They call themselves the �European Invasion�. I don�t think those Hawaiian fanatics will take too lightly to these two, but hey, Yarmouth and his partner will finally discover what it�s like to be �STF-O� � �Syked The Fuck Out� by none other than �Jair-Jair Binks� and �Sykadelic�. It might not rhyme and sound themed as �European Invasion� but it will do something impressive. It will be both a winning hash tag and new tag lines in the future.

To be apart of this Meltdown alumni match, it means a lot. Johnny Sykes may have never been on the elusive brand but it molded my life into something more than just a �street thug� on the corners, droppin� packages and watching over my back twenty-four seven. I will never be able to thank Meltdown GM, Johnny Diamond for actually seeing something in me. Actually more thanks to the man who put me in position, that being my mentor, Juan Ramirez. He saw the life I was living as it looked like a reflecting mirror of himself of his early years before he grew wise. He saved a young mofo� like me from living a life of �dodging bullets and graveyards�.

I do actually have a chance to thank Johnny for what he did in picking up a victory over the somewhat established tag duo in Yarmouth and Raab. The last I fought Raab was when the North American title was looking for it�s number one contender. I also remember teaming up with you once in that �Test 4 The Best� and having to come in to �save you�, save US from being out of contention. I hated to even tag with you but for what it was worth, I had to do what was needed to get through. You almost cost us everything. For Yarmouth, he will see what I mean when this battle will grow tough near the tail-end of the match. Yarmouth will see the lack of awareness, the �team� effort or lack of it from him. Right now, you two are �buddy-buddy� but after Asylum, it�s going to be a bit hectic. When holding a name like that becomes nothing more than just a name. To be honest, you two may not even be well in-sync this week. All of what has gone down with Yarmouth and his dealio at home. Losing a child � Fighting isn�t even first on his mind. It may be a few days past but it will forever be embedded.

Win or lose, me and Sykes are coming to play ball. He says he�s got �tricks�, I got the moves. It�s going down in Honolulu.