SUMMARY

SCENE - DATE: MARCH 21, 2023 // LONDON, ENGLAND

TIME: 13:00 BST

SIMON HIU
I've been in London for a few days now, scouting natural areas, touring historical and cultural sites in the outskirts. Finding the right place... is increasingly challenging. I'm not here just for the sights though. My little bro Tua along with his big bro Jay decided to pilot the UKWW Championship Tournament, and I thought, "What better way to get experience than enter?" After I missed the first cutoff date and I was in the area anyway, I waited for an opening to appeal and sign up in person.

As I spent the morning and the first hour of noon on Colley Hill, taking it in, seeing how it feels, I get an alarm. It's my reminder that my appeal appointment is in the next half hour.

I turn my alarm off and begin to head down, back into the city. I make it to one of the headquarters and make my way in. I meet Tua and Jay there and they let me know someone actually had to drop at the last minute, and there was an opening. I could skip the appeals process; great for me honestly. As we chat, they bring out the papers for me to sign.

As soon as I sign the forms, they let me know my first opponent, a wrestler by the name BomberB, and that the match will be at 17:00 tonight in the neighboring stadium. I've heard the name before. He's skilled, experienced... and built. I have a lot to prep for... And thankfully, some time to do so. After everything is finalized, they let BomberB know who his new opponent is, and I head out into the city to take a good walk and then head back to my hotel to destress a bit, and meditate.

BOMBERB
My wrestling acquaintances Tua and Jay advise me that their Federation has arranged a tournament and that they were inviting me to participate. Then they tell me it's in London, England. I make a quick decision to accept and hasten to make some travel arrangements. All goes smoothly and I leave for Britain the next day. Fortunately, I have a couple of days before my scheduled match and I travel north to Aberdeen, Scotland my father's birthplace. I have never been there and had it on my bucket list. The visit is heartwarming. The Granite city natives are super-friendly even though it's difficult to understand them with their thick Scottish brogue. The pleasant visit over, I head to London and get word that my opponent has changed to Simon Hiu about whom I know little. After some brief studying, I learn that, although smaller than I, he will be very formidable with a combination of wrestling and martial arts skills. The night of the event arrives and I pack my bag and catch a cab to the venue.

TIME: 16:30 BST

SIMON HIU
My phone alarm goes off and brings me back from meditation. I begin to stretch and reach into my duffel-bag to take out a sling bag and my gear for the night, along with some medical supplies. Can never do without those. I put them in my bag and reach into my duffel to take out two ankle support socks, which I replace my regular socks for before slipping my signature black and white sneakers I've been wearing lately. With that, I slap the sling bag onto my back and make my way to the stadium.

TIME: 16:50 BST

SIMON HIU
I make my way to the locker room and find a vacant locker to put my stuff in. I take off my sweatpants and slip into my black, Dynasty Brand, Indomitable Spirit grappling shorts and remove the black tank top I wore all day. This time, I decide to do without any wrist/hand support. I trained and fought for three years without them, I should get back into the habit.

As soon as I finish changing, I see you from my left. You look bigger in person. "Hey, you must be BomberB? Good to be acquainted a bit before the match. I'm your opponent, Simon Hiu. You can just call me Simon." I hold out my hand to shake your hand.

BOMBERB
I arrive at the arena and pay the driver, hoping I didn't tip him too much or too little. I'm directed to the locker room and an attendant opens the door to the empty room. I find a locker set down my bag and proceed to strip off my street clothes, First I slip on my lucky red jockstraps with the white maple leaf on the front, then my usual red squares which are adorned with white maple leafs on the front and a white BOMBER on the read. Should I wear boots this time? Yes, since I don't know this place at all. I pull on my red Adidas wrestling boots also with white maple leafs. Still alone in the room I do some jumping jacks and stretches until I hear the door open. I wait until Simon prepares with his gear, when he politely introduces himself. " Yes I am BomberB, Simon, and my pleasure to meet you before we do battle." I take your hand and shake firmly, maybe a bit too firm locking my eyes on yours.

SIMON HIU
I smile at you calmly as we firmly shake hands and nod as we greet each other not just with words, but with a mutual passion behind our eyes. The time hits 16:55 and there's a chime. My name is being called for me to line up to be announced first. "Ah, that's my cue. Nice meeting you again man, and I look forward to fighting you. Hope to give you a good fight!" I say as I shake your hand one final time and pat you on the back as I head to the doors that lead to the stadium.

TIME: 17:00 BST

"FOLKS. TONIGHT, WE ARE GATHERED FOR A SPECIAL MATCH, PART OF THE UKWW CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT!!! INTRODUCING FIRST, FLYING IN FROM NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA, AT 5'8", 167 LBS, HE IS SIMON HIU!!"

SIMON HIU
As I make my way out into the stadium, my theme music, Born to Be A Fighter by Naimah plays . I put my hands together into prayer position before dropping my arms to the side and walking to the ring, waving to the crowd that is here tonight, giving them all a calm smile. I see Tua and Jay in the crowd and give them a wave and smile too. I then make my way up to the center of the ring and shake hands with the ref and then make my way to the far corner from the entrance, waiting for you to be announced.

BOMBERB
We finish our greeting. It is apparent looking into his eyes that Simon will not be intimidated by my greater size. The chime rings and u turn to leave still with a calm outward appearance. For some reason I have more "butterflies" than usual in my gut. I hear your introduction and reception from the British fans in attendance. Now the chime goes off for me and I head to the ring.

"OUR NEXT CONTESTANT FOR THIS UKWW TOURNAMENT MATCH FROM OUR COMMONWEALTH COLLEAGUE TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA AT 5'11" 196 LBS. HE IS BOMBERB!!!"

BOMBERB
I can't resist the Canadian cliche as a hockey country, I have them play Stomping Tom Connors' The Hockey Song . With its pounding beat, I walk to the ring, nodding to the fans -- especially the grey-headed ones who invariably support me. I step in the ring shake hands with the ref and go to the opposite corner from my opponent.

SIMON HIU
The ref signals to both of us to have us meet in the center and shake hands once again. I extend my right hand out to you as he begins explaining the rules: a clean, one fall, pro style match, win decided by pinfall, submission, or KO. I look at the ref and then to you as he motions to check us, keeping a calm smile on my face. As the ref finishes his check-work, he motions us back to our corners and wait for the bell to sound. I wait in my corner with a calm gaze fixed on you, already analyzing your body, waiting for that bell.

BOMBERB
The ref calls us to the center for the usual pre-match protocol regarding the rules, which we both know like the back of our hands. We shake hands again as he does so then checks us over -- for hidden weapons, I guess. He finishes his work and we each return to our corners gazing across the ring sizing one another up before getting into the match calmly waiting for the bell.

DING DING DING

SIMON HIU
I take a deep breath in and then exhale before pushing myself off the corner gently. I put my left hand behind my back with my right arm extended out towards you, my palm facing in towards me at chest level, and then begin circling you as I drop my arms to my side and keep them slightly bent to be prepared to use them, waiting for you to make a first move as I keep my eyes on your entire body.

BOMBERB
I move out, rolling my shoulders, my meaty pecs bouncing circling with you; my hand extended, knees bent, watching you carefully... wary of your undoubted quickness. I wave my hands inviting you to a collar and elbow lockup for our first contact.

SIMON HIU
I see you invite me for a collar/elbow lockup. Hoping there won't be any cheap shots, I move in carefully to lock up with you, wanting to show you that despite our size difference, I won't be pushed back easily. I make my way to you, slap my right hand behind your neck and my left hand gripping your right shoulder, and we begin to push against each other.

BOMBERB
You nod to me and we slowly, carefully close in, my right hand behind your neck the left on your shoulder. We tighten the lockup and muscles flexing we push in hard, grunting from the effort. With my size advantage I gradually start to back you up. Just before the ropes, I yank my hands free and slide them around your lean body pulling you into a bearhug, carrying you away from the ropes as I squeeze.

SIMON HIU
I wanted to push against you further, but to feign a moment of weakness, I let you push me back. As we get to the ropes, you break free and you slide your arms around my body and lock in a good bearhug and carry me to the center. I've built up more than enough tolerance to withstand this squeeze, especially so early into the match. To not drag this out further, I send my right foot to kick your left knee and a headbutt to the left side of your neck, hoping that will get you to release the hold.

BOMBERB
Working the bearhug my knuckles digging in your spine, my biceps bulging as I squeeze trying to weaken you early in the match... You squirm in my arms defending yourself, reducing the pressure. You kick at my left knee, "ugh," and thrust your head into my neck.. Before you can go further I grunt and belly to belly suplex you over me letting your body fly to the mat.

SIMON HIU
Before I'm able to get you to release the hold, you suplex me in a belly to belly and I go flying to the mats. I take the impact and roll back and swing up to one knee before getting back up to both feet. I see you already facing me, so I cautiously circle you at first, until I make my way and charge towards you. I fake you out with a front counterclockwise low sweeping kick, and as you move back to dodge, I lunge at you, wrapping my arms around you and hope to swing you down onto your back with a takedown.

BOMBERB
You land on the mat breaking the impact properly and get on a knee then standing facing me. After the suplex, I roll up to standing, facing you, refraining from recklessly charging after you.. You suddenly come racing at me as I brace myself, hoping to catch you mid flight, you fake a low kick and as I dodge that non-existent kick you dart and wrap my body and swing me down to my back, "ughh," before you can grab my head I swing an elbow to the back of your head and roll into the ropes and pull myself up.

SIMON HIU
You receive the takedown well. As we crash to the ground, you swing an elbow to the back of my head and I move my head with the direction of the strike to minimize the impact, sending me away from you as you roll to the ropes to pull yourself back up. I decide to stay in closer proximity to you and lunge in for another clinch, only briefly so that your arms get off the ropes, and then I use the ropes to help me transition the clinch to arm drag you towards the center of the ring, hoping the arm drag can get you down on at least all fours.

BOMBERB
I hasten to pull myself up, knowing how quickly you will do so despite the nearly solid elbow strike. Regardless, you are close enough to lunge into me then arm drag away from the ropes. I have learned over many years to go with the flow in such situations and roll with the landing bounce off the ropes and charge shoulder down for a spear but leap launching a dropkick for your chest.

SIMON HIU
I see you flow well with the arm drag and you roll towards the opposite ropes. You use the bounce off to propel you forward. I arch my body forward a little bit and squat a bit to plant my root. As you get in closer you leap to perform a launching dropkick to my chest, but I spring myself back to lie down on my back and completely dodge your dropkick, while rolling to my left and get back up on my feet slowly. As you land on your back and try to roll from the damage, as soon as you roll onto your back, I go to grab your right leg by the ankle bend it on the knee joint a bit before I lift your leg up and slam it down to target your right knee. If that works, I'll go to do the same to your left knee.

BOMBERB
It's unusual for me to use a high flying maneuver, but I'm hoping that it will surprise you and I can connect effectively BUT oops... you easily avoid the dropkick and I land on my back. You snatch my right leg as I try to roll away, bend it and slam it down to the mat, "Arggh!" Then you go to grab at my left leg; I can't let that happen and use the leg to sweep your legs out dropping you beside me.. I grab your left arm and try to stuff it under my right pit for partial armbar.

SIMON HIU
You manage to sweep me before I can target your left leg and as I land next to you, you take my left arm and stuff it under your right pit in an armbar maneuver. I chuckle a bit and then I use my right hand, form it into a fist, and jam-pound it to a vital part of your right knee. At the same time, using that as a distraction, I see your left side is exposed, so I send my left foot to kick at your left knee and follow that momentum to continue to kick at the back of your left shoulder, hoping this sequence gets you to release the lock.

BOMBERB
I control your arm and get to my knees beside you, bending your arm, looking down expecting to see pain showing your handsome face... but, almost a grin appears. First, you pound a fist into the back of my right knee, then your left foot kicks at my other knee. "Screw this," I let go of your arm, and as your leg kicks up, I slam a chop to your exposed, smooth chest.

SIMON HIU
The hits to your knee work at least, to get the lock off, but you get up and go to slam a chop to my chest. I sit up from the impact but waste no time and use that momentum to perform a clockwise rear sweeping kick almost instantaneously to have you fall forward onto your front. Using the momentum from the sweep, I get up onto my right knee and as you land, I rush forward at you and at such a low height, drop my elbow at the center of your lower back and swiftly get up and stomp down at the back of your left knee before transitioning that into an STF submission; trapping your left leg in between my legs and sprawling forwards up your body to slither my arms around your neck, wrenching you back, adding strain to your back and neck. "Wanna give Bomber?" I ask in a hush tone.

BOMBERB
My wicked chop causes a red welt to appear on your chest, which I admire. You then make a ballet-like swing of your foot, connecting and sweeping past my ankles, tripping and knocking me forward. You then, while I roll on my stomach, drive an elbow to my lower back "ughhhh." Then you stomp my knee viciously and mount me and get what I call a crippler crossface, wrenching my head back asking for my submission. "NOOOO!!" I grip your hands thinking of some way out of this predicament I'm in ..I get my hands on your fingers and twist them violently, separating your hands, keeping the finger separation on and pull you off me.

SIMON HIU
You manage to separate my hands in a violent way. I release the grasp my legs had on your left leg and kick your left leg down and swing my body clockwise to kick at your left shoulder to prevent further damage with your escape hold. I free my hands and move quickly to turn you back onto your front, having to capitalize. I mount your back again and punch the back of your neck a couple times. I then send a punch between your left arm into your left armpit to get that arm to flail a little bit. As it does, I grab it by the forearm and press it into your body and open my mount to wrap my legs around your torso, trapping your left arm to your side. I then roll us over and lock in a sleeper hold to complete this sleeper/arm-trapped bodyscissor combination submission. "And now?" I whisper as I tighten the scissor and the sleeper.

BOMBERB
I manage to get you off me but get no opportunity to escape and regroup, and you deliver yet another kick to my surgically repaired shoulder, "owwww!!" Then you put me on my back, mount me, punch my neck, and as I almost nap, you get me in a combo sleeper-scissors. I will never let myself go unconscious so I tap your arm with my submission.

SIMON HIU
I let out a big exhale in shock and relief feeling you tap on my arm to submit. I immediately release the sleeper and unwrap the scissors and slide your body off mine, placing you gently down on the canvas. I get up as the ref comes to get me, hearing "AND YOUR WINNER BY SUBMISSION FROM A SLEEPER/SCISSOR COMBINATION, SIMON HIU!!!!" The ref raises my hand in victory as my Victory theme plays, , Kung Fu by Apashe. I take some deep breaths as I take a victory lap around the canvas of the ring, the applause from the crowd numb as it hits my ears as I still process the victory. I then turn towards you and offer my right hand down to you to help you up. "You good man?" I say with a calm smile.

BOMBERB
Laying on the mat beaten by this ultra skilled smaller man I hear ugly music with the announcement of his victory. You offer to help me up.... I pull my arm away... never gonna look that weak... I get to my feet and pat your chest, then raise your arm and trudge off to the locker room.

SIMON HIU
I see you reject my offer but get up on your feet. You pat my chest and raise my arm and I see as you leave to head to the locker room. I smile and shake my head a bit, chuckling a bit at your reaction, and then I soon make my way following you back to the locker-room, still processing I'm in this tournament for another round.

END

Published: 2023-03-21, viewed 60 times.