International Pro Wrestling

NARRATOR

After a full day of training – And more mysteries – with Adam, The Traveler retires to his hotel room, where he soon dozes off to sleep, rest, heal. He wakes up the next morning, feeling well rested, but uneasy.

SCENE

06:18 The_Traveler: I wake up in the late morning in my hotel, stretching, feeling good and refreshed... But also, uneasy. Afraid. What if this thing inside me goes out of control again? What if it hurts Adam? I shoot Adam an email letting him know that I am ready for more training and sparring, suggesting we meet at the same time at his gym. After I send the email, I stretch and begin my morning routine – some stances and forms training and wrapping up with meditation – before I change into a dark green compression shirt and black athletic shorts, pack my dark green sling bag with my gear, water, medical supplies, a fresh change of clothes, and a towel, and then I head down to the lobby of the hotel for breakfast.

13:09 Adam_Reigns: Next morning, I get to the gym fairly early and do my usual stretch and work out for the day...In my mind still wondering about my training session with Jackson and the strange turn it took. Feeling a bit guilty for playing with him some and making him suffer more than I should have in some of the practice holds we did. But can't get the weird green glowing and the burning sensation on my hands as Jackson was straining.

When his email comes through, I hold back my worries and agree to receive him at gym once more at the same time. I'm all ready and at least a little more prepared for what to expect...well I hope so...

13:19 The_Traveler: After breakfast, I take a little stroll around the area. I find a little park nearby; an open field, trails, some trees here and there. I decide to practice some Shaolin martial arts sequences and forms – along with meditation, this always seemed to help ground me. After going through sequences for what seems like another half hour, I get a notification from my phone, an email from Adam, confirming he's good to go for 1pm. I wrap the final sequence in the routine and then walk around a little more before heading back to my hotel room to meditate. When I get there, I set an alarm for 12:45pm, and I begin meditating, intent on shaking these lasting nerves from my system.

Again, time flies by faster than it should, and my alarm goes off. I pack everything I need into a sling backpack, and head towards the gym. I get to the gym door, take a deep breath, shoot Adam a message to let him know I've arrived, and I enter the gym to go meet him. "Hello? Hey, Adam? I'm here!"

23:18 Adam_Reigns: I hear you enter the gym as I'm changing into my training shorts and vest..."Ha so you came back for more Jax!" I laugh "The training must have been something!" I go to the ring and ensure the turnbuckle cushions are secured tightly and check all the ring fittings over. As I work, I look over at you. "Are you sure you want to continue after what happened last time? "

23:19 The_Traveler: I walk over to the ring, to you. "I should be asking you that question after that burn, but yes, I'm sure, so long as you're willing to train me coach!" I say with direct determination.

23:20 Adam_Reigns: "Yeah I guess we'll both just have to not get carried away."

23:51 The_Traveler: "alright coach, I did a little bit of a morning warm up for myself..., So I am all set to go whenever you are!" I say setting my stuff down and taking off my shirt and shorts – revealing my camo-themed training compression shorts – and sneakers, and reaching into my bag to slip on my ankle support socks and dark green hand wraps. I then enter the ring.

23:56 Adam_Reigns: "Great let's continue from where we left off.. just two more back moves I really wanted to get going for you..and this first one... it's my sort of signature when I do it as a combo" I quickly step up to you and again manhandle you to slam you face down to the canvas... "Sorry Jax you'd start in the same position as yesterday- for me this is THE most painful and effective and difficult to counter... You ready?"

23:57 The_Traveler: You slam me down on the canvas. "AGHH! You know coach, you could have asked me to get in this position!" I chuckle out. "Alright Adam, I'm ready.." I say calmly and take a couple of deep breaths

00:00 Adam_Reigns: Thinking to myself, "best to get this one out of the way first before i inflict too much pain, and avoid any more green haze..." I squat over you, grab your arms wrench them up, hooking them over my legs as from behind my hands cup your chin...I start to lean back bending you in my camel clutch.

00:03 The_Traveler: As you wrench my arms over your legs and hook them there, I know what's coming. "Oh... Fuck." I let out under my breath and then you cup my chin and wrench me up, stretching my neck and back "aghhhhhhhhh!!" I strain, screaming out. "Really?! I thought the Mexican Surfboard would be the hardest to counter!" I let out

00:04 Adam_Reigns: "Oh it's hard but also hard for the inflictor to maintain for this..whereas this Jax..this I can lean back and do all day till you give"

00:06 The_Traveler: "urghhhh.... Grrrrrrrr....." I growl out. "I'm not gonna give in this...." I let out and try to wiggle my shoulders back and forth while seeing if I can wiggle my lower body to destabilize you

00:08 Adam_Reigns: I tighten up the whole hold as you wiggle, slightly raise my knees to stretch your arms and make them more secure..and lean back restricting amy lower body movement from you...."As well as your spine being attacked, can you also feel your chest stretching and ripping too?"

00:13 The_Traveler: "urgh! Yeah, I definitely can!!" I shout out. I keep wriggling back and forth, any part of my body I can, generating sweat already, and I can feel myself able to get a little slippery. Little by little, I see sweat forming across my forehead and dropping onto the canvas. I take advantage and spread my legs out and push my butt upwards as well as manage to really slip my arms away from your legs. Once I feel my arms thump on the ground I try to destabilize you and slide under you, grabbing your ankles to sort of pull you so you fall to the canvas face first.

00:15 Adam_Reigns: "Umppf." I roll off you..."Good counter...that's why I normally apply that hold with a sleeper combo... You get too weak to escape"

00:19 The_Traveler: I slowly roll up. "Yeah, I remember a friend doing it to me once! It sucked." I breath out and then get right to your exposed back and stomp on it, not too hard but enough to where you feel it, and then squat down. "If you don't mind, I'll try this now," I state matter-of-factly and then I send an elbow to the part of the back where the arch would occur before pulling you up, get your arms past my legs and hook them there, and then cup your chin, but press down hard on a part of your throat. "How's that Adam?" I breathe out

00:20 Adam_Reigns: "Umpppffff very...er.....effective Jax" I groan.

00:22 The_Traveler: I lean in and whisper, "I'm gonna try something if that's okay with you," and then I lean back a little further and release the grip around your chin and wrap a full nelson around you to try this camel-nelson combination i saw once, and then I wrench it back while forcing your neck a little in. "How is that Adam?" I breathe out

00:24 Adam_Reigns: "AGGG damn that's excellent Jax."I stutter through the pain..."Where the hell did you learn that?"

00:25 The_Traveler: "ehhh, I watched a match once that displayed this. The guy didn't submit, but after..." I say while pushing your neck in more while wrenching you back further, "he certainly was ready to!" I continue to tighten the nelson, forcing your neck down and pulling you back, "you can give at any time... I am still learning the exact mechanics of this move after all," I inform you.

00:29 Adam_Reigns: "There is one way out of this, but it's a risky one...." Squatting as you are with your arms stretched out to maintain the the nelson gives me the chance to bite the bullet against the pressure of this, spread my legs and bearing the pain lurch to one side to send you off balance and us both crashing onto our sides..

00:31 The_Traveler: "AUGFHHHH!" I let out as you throw us both to our side. The nelson loosens but I have a half nelson on you, and my legs I'm able to keep in an advantageous position and try as quickly as I can to relock the full nelson and now lock in a bodyscissors around your torso. "Thanks for teaching me that counter Adam, I'm gonna have to make sure I'll be able to use it if I'm ever caught in such a precarious position," I breathe out.

23:31 Adam_Reigns: "no problem Jax" I say, trying my best to sound light-hearted while trapped in a very efficient neslon/scissor combo. "This guy learns real fast - what with the green glow and his eagerness to learn, I'm going to have to be on my toes at all time!" I think as I squirm in the hold.

"Great follow up there Jax...actually quite difficult for me to escape from...." I manage to raise my legs to get you off the canvas and break the hold. "Good well - you got that real quick" I smile as we both get up from the canvas.

23:38 The_Traveler: "AGH, damn!" I let out as you break the hold. We both rise from the canvas. "Well, I assume with the camel clutch we're concluding the backbreaking subs portion of the training, is that right coach?" I say while getting into a stance to remain cautious of you

23:41 Adam_Reigns: "Well just about, but we missed one really really important one....The Boston Crab! You done one before Jax?"

23:42 The_Traveler: "I've seen it done, but I've never done one, no..." I say with an uneasy tone and sort of bounce on my toes and back up, keeping watch of your body language

23:44 Adam_Reigns: "For this we need you flat on the canvas but on your back really...Normally if we were squaring off I'd sort of go in low and grab your ankles as pull you down slamming you onto your back...but today I'll be a bit more gentle....Lay on your back please Jackson"

23:46 The_Traveler: "Ah, that makes sense, yes. In a standard match you'd have to get your opponent on the ground, and a sort of carpet sweep of a move would do the trick..." I say, and then continue, "well thank you for giving me the option this time," I chuckle out and I seat myself down on the canvas then rest myself on my back, my arms to my side

23:48 Adam_Reigns: "Great..so I'd have hold of your ankles..I pull them up to me vertical and then I wrap my arms around them making sure they are definitely behind your knees...I then lean back a bit pulling your body up so that only the back of your shoulders is on the canvas and you're virtually vertical the way I'm holding you... This is probably really hurting already Jackson, yes?"

23:51 The_Traveler: "ooihhh!... Yeah, definitely feeling a strain here!" I say virtually being held upside down on the canvas. "I think I know what comes next!" I say a little louder

23:53 Adam_Reigns: "Yeh?" I step my right foot across your body turning you over and going into a squatting position and lean right back bending your spine. "That's it Jackson, it's in place..how you doing?"

23:54 The_Traveler: "URMMMPH!!" I let out.. I can even feel a part of my spine cracking. "AGH... I'm.. doing ... Great!" I shout. My arms are instinctively trying to get in a push up position, but also sliding up and down the canvas

23:58 Adam_Reigns: "Yeh that's the start of a good counter, and sometimes you can power out like that Jackson....but usually I've had many a guy tapping in this...Secret is when you squat to keep your back as straight up as you can ....It makes it so much harder to escape and sooo much more painful... Sorry, got carried away explaining while you are in the hold! " I let go so your legs fall to the canvas

00:01 The_Traveler: "AGHHH-AHHHHHHH!!" I scream out as you arch your back up and bend mine further while explaining the hold. I'm just about to tap when you let go of my legs and they fall to the canvas. I take a huge sigh of a relief. I roll onto my back and take a couple deep breaths before kipping myself up. "Haha, no worries Adam... I understand your passion," I chuckle out while straightening out my posture. "Alright," I let out a single clap, "is it time for me to try?" I ask

00:05 Adam_Reigns: "Yes by all means..But let me just say the best counters to this are without a doubt those BEFORE the guy get you locked in the hold...While you're on your back and being pulled up vertical do as much twisting and kicking and shaking as you can..It doesn't look pretty - pretty damn desperate in fact, but better to avoid being fixed in a crab at all costs!" I then get down flat on my back, "Be my guest!"

00:08 The_Traveler: "yes, that makes sense!... Well, some counters aren't meant to look graceful," I chuckle out. I see you get down on your back. "Alright, well, get ready!" I pick your ankles up and tuck and lock them in between my arms. I improvise a little and send a knee to the back of your left knee and then swing you up to be on your upper back and use the momentum to flip you over, as I step over your back with the turn and squat down on your back, leaned over at first but slowly arching myself up to decrease your chances of any obvious counters. "How is this coach?" I say a little loudly

00:09 Adam_Reigns: "AGGGGH! Yes that's IT for sure Jackson! " I let out

00:12 The_Traveler: I continue arching myself up, bending your body back, meanwhile improvising a little bit more and bring your ankles a little more inward by closing the angle of my arms inwards. "Feeling it a little more coach?" I ask

00:12 Adam_Reigns: "Damn YES! Jackson..." And I tap on the canvas slapping down hard ... "You certainly must've been observing well when you've seen this done!!! Agggh!"

00:15 The_Traveler: Upon hearing you tap, I immediately reverse the arch and lean forwards to set your legs down on the canvas gently. I get up off you, sort of panting. "Well, actually, I've never seen anyone begin to angle the victim's legs inwards before while keeping the crab locked and continuously wrenching.. I was just thinking about how when I had you in the OTK and you told me to feel free to be inventive, and I was wondering how to apply that to different holds," I chuckle out while making my way towards you and offer a hand down to you.

00:16 Adam_Reigns: "Excellent..good work" I gasp out while recovering... "So I'd say with punches, bearhugs, slams into the turnbuckle, some slams across the knee...and a series of back subs you'd be a winner! We'll move onto some other subs now if you like?"

00:19 The_Traveler: "well thank you coach! And yes, let's move onto some other subs!" I say excitedly and then back up onto a careful stance again

07:52 Adam_Reigns: I smile. "So some of the sub holds we did combine well with choke holds or sleepers...Normally I wouldn't go over sleepers, but there's one in particular it's well worth practising here- The Dragon Sleeper. You may have done it already with another trainer on your travels, but if so let's revise and try it." I look across at you, looking very eager, hoping to myself that this won't push you too far and cause another green "incident". "Ready to give it a go, Jackson?"

13:06 The_Traveler: I smile when you mention the dragon sleeper. "I did go over it with my previous trainers, but one thing I am lacking right now is how to counter them, especially when it is either about to be locked in, and when they are locked in. My first trainer used his massive size difference to counter it, and my second used his speed to jam the hold... I'm ready Adam!" I say with cautious excitement

11:07 Adam_Reigns: "yes the counter is very difficult, and depends on the position when you're in the sleeper- most guys would try to counter before the hold is fully in place- far easier and less painful!" I think for a moment - "As you've already done this a few times, I hope what I show you might be different a little but not sure...Let's go for a lock up first, then get you in a full nelson and then the dragon from the full nelson..you ok to try that Jackson?"

13:38 The_Traveler: "hmm, I haven't heard of that transition before... Let's roll with that. Alright Adam, let's lock up, and you can show me how it's done!" I say with cautious excitement. I then raise my arms to signal the collar/elbow lockup

13:29 Adam_Reigns: We lock up...."Great, so now I do a typical swing round to get you in a full nelson..." I crank the full nelson up full and naturally you start to struggle to and flex to try to power out of it..."This is the trick, Jackson as you use your strength to try to flex out of it, I Relax the hold, pushing your right shoulder down, while my other arm wraps real tightly round your neck...like this!"

"From here, as long as I'm quick the transition to dragon sleeper is easy! From your shoulder, I push and spin you round..trapping your other arm under mine...and leaning you back into the sleeper! I can crank it up as a standing reverse choke...Like this!" I bend you right back arched forward in the hold...."Or I can loop my legs around yours and get us both down for a more traditional dragon, but you aready know where to go with that one"

"How's it feeling Jackson? Ok?" I carefully cast an eye over your struggling body for signs of green.

14:07 The_Traveler: "I... Seem... To.... Keep forgetting... About your SPEEEED!!" I let out as you transition from the lockup to a powerful nelson and into an efficiently tight dragon sleeper. "HNNNGHHHHH... HAHHHHHH!" I let out muted gasping screams as you expertly manipulate my body in your hold, showing me different ways this can be done. While struggling, I am trying everything I can to really soak in what you are teaching me. As you keep the hold in but relax in modifying it in anyway, "I'm... I'm fine!" I struggle out

13:41 Adam_Reigns: "Great! I, er, won't push this, but I'm sure you can feel the effects of the hold well enough..." I release you. "Now show me what you've learned in your travels for the dragon... I'm interested!"

14:11 The_Traveler: You release me and I sort of bounce forwards and away to recover. "Oooof!... Sure thing Adam, and this transition to the dragon is a lot less... Graceful," I admit. I turn myself around to face you and then I run and charge at you but fake you out at the last second and get down to slide to your left behind you, and then I get up and send two kicks behind both your knees to get you down, and then I move myself to your right and wrap my left arm around your neck, my right hand connecting with my left, and then I arch you back.

"you see Adam, one of MY favorite combination holds, actually comes from this!" I swing us both back so we hit the canvas and I have you trapped in the hold, and I use the swing to bring my legs around your torso to lock in a bodyscissors. Now that I have the bodyscissors locked in, I tighten the dragon sleeper and wrench you farther back while also increasing the pressure of the bodyscissors. "How's this Adam?" I ask
14:13 The_Traveler: You are not logged in.

18:42 Adam_Reigns: "Agghh,,damn this is a tough one Jackson", I say as I squirm in the hold..."Not too many ways to escape nefore the sleeper really takes hold!... Probably could punch up into your face and at the same time bring my feet in to bridge up...." The pressure of your choke is already weakening me.. "To try to escape..I could blindly try to rake your eyes, but I won't do that now!!" I gently tap on your arm for you to release me.

18:45 The_Traveler: "yeah, there aren't too many ways to escape this, but you could use your weight and experience... Like my first trainer did to me, to just roll out of this!" I say back to you and then I feel you tap on my arm, so then I gently release you from the entire hold. I slide out from under you and let you recover, rising up and then leaning down and offering a hand to you to help you get up

18:51 Adam_Reigns: "Wow you learned a lot from your other trainers, we're probably going over things again.. Let's finish up with a couple of locks...And then have a practice spar to go over evrything we've done. That sound good to you?"

18:52 The_Traveler: "sounds great Adam. So what do you have in mind next?" I say placing my hands on my hips

18:55 Adam_Reigns: "Lets go for the figure 4 leg lock- can actually be a total show stopper if used after lots of leg and knee weakeners... Done this before with other trainers?"

18:56 The_Traveler: "the figure four leg lock huh... I've heard some horror stories, seen it done once before... And no, I haven't done this before with my previous trainers," I respond to you and get into a cautious stance. "Should I... Lie down for you so you can lock it in?" I ask

19:01 Adam_Reigns: "Yes you'd be slammed down ontom your back, and I'd grab your heels and pull you legs up - just like I was about to start a boston"

19:02 The_Traveler: "typically," I chuckle out. "Alright, onto the canvas I go!" I let out playfully and get down onto the canvas and lie down on my back. "All ready Adam!"

19:07 Adam_Reigns: "OK, so I grab your heels and raise your legs just like for a boston..like this...The aim here is to put an enormous amount of very painful pressure onto one of your knees...I let one of your legs drop to the canvas, step inside the leg I'm still raising and spin it round to press onto the kenee of the lowered leg....Like this...following this so far? " I smile down at you.

"Then I get down on my ass while tucking my foot under yours so your leg starts bearing down on your knee joint...Raedy for this Jackson? It will be painful!"

19:12 The_Traveler: "yeah, I'm following so far.. ooOH!" I let out as you slowly apply the hold, feeling something already. As you get down on your ass while you complete the hold, " shit... Adam, do it!" I let out hoping I've prepared myself enough for the pain that's about to come

19:14 Adam_Reigns: I get down and wrench back, placing my foor under your ass while your leg bears down full pressure on your knee...I see you squirming in agony while I do the hold. "That's it! Jackson!"

19:15 The_Traveler: "AGHHHHHH! SHIT!" I scream out as you go all in with the hold. "AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

19:19 Adam_Reigns: "Damn yes it's a killer this one Jackson..you ok?"

19:20 The_Traveler: "AHHHHHHH I'M FINE!!!" I scream out

19:22 Adam_Reigns: "I can still crank it up a bit.." I twist my legs shifting position slightly increasing pressure on your legs.

19:24 The_Traveler: "nonononoNO!!" my eyes are so tightly closed wincing in pain. "Adam... Let..... GO!!!" and as I say "go" my voice becomes this thunderous echo and my eyes open and they glow green, and as you look at my eyes your eyes glow too, and without your conscious control your body begins to loosen the hold

19:27 Adam_Reigns: As you scream out , I suddenly have no feeling on my body..a sort of emptiness takes over...every thing just stops.... I can't control any part of my body... I can't even think...

19:31 The_Traveler: I feel nothing, no pain anymore, but it's like a sort of out of body experience, seeing our legs being set down and it's as if you unraveling the hold is like hitting a reverse button. I then realized in the panic that whatever this is has taken a hold of you too. I slither away from you and close my eyes and bury them in my hands, hoping the glowing stops and that we both regain control of our conscious mind and body.

The numbness begins to wear down from my body and legs and I feel a little pain, which soon subsides since I'm no longer in the hold and my body recuperates. "Nonononono why did this have to happen like this?!" I shout at myself. "Adam! Please tell me you've snapped out of it!" I say while keeping my eyes closed and buried in my hands, afraid to open them and they glow out of control.

19:33 Adam_Reigns: I hear an echo of your voice in the distance...but I still cannot connect with my body..there's nothing but stillness

19:35 The_Traveler: I don't hear you at all, or feel the canvas shake slightly with any movement. "Shit shit shit shit shit!" I scream out. I then try to calm down.. my eyes are still glowing, and you still seem to be trapped by it. But I don't know any other way to wake you up. I open my eyes again, they glow intensely. "Adam! Wake up!" I let out thunderously, hoping it'll reach you and that whatever this is will finally correspond to my wish

19:39 Adam_Reigns: Still hearing echoes, but like I am swimming under water, but have no control of my limbs..suddenly a panic sets in..I cannot move tp breathe...I am losing my last breath..but can't move to stop it

19:43 The_Traveler: I hear you begin to gasp. "Nonononono Adam stay with me!" Through pure impulse, I move towards you and place my index and middle finger on your left temple, gently wrapping my right hand behind your head to hold you still and keep your gaze on my glowing eyes. "Adam, snap out of it!" I close my eyes to try to focus and then reopen them to stare into you, let the glow try to reset you, my two fingers on your temple to try to maintain a direct connection to your brain, hoping something wakes you up

19:55 Adam_Reigns: I let out a huge gasp and then breath in heavily as if I'v e been starved of air, my body jerks, and I hear your voice again as if underwater and then it becomes clearer, feel like I'm surfacing...My eyes refocus, I see you standing over me looking desperately concerned.

19:56 The_Traveler: "Adam? Adam?? Adam!" I sort of shout as I see your eyes dilate and focus. My eyes stop glowing too, finally... I gently hold your body in my arms. "Are you okay??" I ask with an overwhelming worry

19:57 Adam_Reigns: I am shaking.."Er... I think ...? I don't know..Damn what happened?"

19:58 The_Traveler: "I'm not entirely sure myself... But it seems the pain of the figure four leveled up whatever is inside me... I'm so sorry!" I turn away from you

08:08 Adam_Reigns: I feel physically and mentally drained, like I'd been in a best of three bout, and still totally unsure what just happened. "Ok Jackson, it looks like you really need to look somewhere else to assess what your ....powers?...skills are? I'll always be here to help you with how to perform holds and moves, but it looks like you got some kind of self-preservation power, and that's way out of my league... I think I've done all I can - safely- with you..What's your next move?"

09:27 The_Traveler: I slowly try to get up, then I offer a hand down to you to help you up. "Have you been able to find out if there are any mystical or spiritually inclined people in the area? I can try to search too. I may need you for translation, directions, something that won't put you in harm's way," I say trying to my best to remain composed.

11:37 Adam_Reigns: "I have a friend of a friend who knows something about this kind of stuff...we can give him a call after we shower, perhaps continue light training till you get to see him in the next few days. ..let's hit the showers and leave it for today!" I smile.

11:39 The_Traveler: "alright Adam, sounds good!" We head off to exit the ring and head towards the showers. "Hope I didn't scare you away," I chuckle out as we head to the showers.

THE TRAVELER

Over the next two weeks, Adam and I train in pro sub. Interestingly enough, this mysterious thing inside me doesn't make an appearance... Thankfully. During these two weeks, Adam helped me find any spiritual leader and mystic around the area, someone I could go to to try to get to the bottom of my mysterious energy... Unfortunately, whereas combat training is thriving, these mystical leads have hit their dead end.

Towards the end of the two weeks I've spent training with Adam, I let him know my next stop: France. He suggests that since I'm heading east, I should visit his friend, Rob Hunter, in Germany after I wrap up my trainings in France... I've heard a lot about Rob up until now, and didn't know Adam knew him as well... Not only that, I never thought I'd return to Germany, not after what happened when I was there, but I shrug off my hesitation due to my prior experience – opposite end of Germany after all. But first, my next stop: France.

Published: 2022-11-07, viewed 53 times.