A hush fell over the audience, stunned into silence.
The colossal champion made his way onto the stage, each step measured and powerful. Dressed in his traditional garb, this massive Japanese wrestler looked less like a competitor and more like an unmovable force of nature.
A few people in the crowd instinctively stood, eager for a better view.
Even Zach Sachman blinked in disbelief.
"...Good Lord."
James Wilson offered a faint smile, "I told you so."
Zach kept his gaze fixed on the entrance. "He's massive."
James nodded in agreement, "Undefeated. He hasn't lost a match since he became the NPJW Champion, and he's held that title for three months now."
A few seats away, Vince nearly jumped out of his skin in surprise but quickly composed himself.
Yokozuna.
That name rang a bell.
First Bob Orton, and now Yokozuna.
Vince had thought those connections were just coincidences at first. Now, he was starting to doubt that. There were just too many parallels.
This world seemed to have its own versions of many legends from his past life.
Which meant there could be countless others lurking out there...
He mentally kicked himself for brushing off Lance's earlier advice about properly scouting NPJW before the Promotion Wars.
He should have paid more attention.
Ross gave the audience a moment to take in Yokozuna's impressive stature before he continued.
"Standing at over six feet four inches tall..."
"...weighing in at well over five hundred pounds..."
"...the undefeated NPJW Heavyweight Champion..."
"...Yokozuna!"
Kyle shook his head in disbelief. "I don't care how talented Eddie Prince is. I don't care how quick he is."
"How on earth do you move five hundred pounds?"
A few rows down from the VIP section, Tony stared at the ring with wide eyes, "...I really don't think Eddie's coming out on top here."
Justin frowned, "Come on, don't say that."
Tony shook his head earnestly. "No, seriously."
He pointed at Yokozuna, "Look at him. That's not just a wrestler. That's a freight train."
Luke couldn't help but chuckle.
Tony pressed on, "How do you even compete with someone that size?"
Justin crossed his arms defiantly.
"Eddie always finds a way."
The bell rang.
This time, Eddie didn't waste a second. He shot forward like a rocket.
Ross couldn't help but comment, "Eddie Prince is wasting absolutely no time."
Kyle quickly caught on, "He knows that standing still is just asking for trouble."
Eddie unleashed a flurry of quick forearms to Yokozuna's chest, then followed up with sharp kicks to his thighs.
The giant hardly flinched.
Eddie kept going. Again and again.
Still, nothing.
Yokozuna just looked down at him, unbothered.
Ross remarked calmly, "Those strikes would stagger most heavyweights, yet they barely faze Yokozuna."
But Eddie didn't lose his cool.
Instead, he recalled the advice Andre had drilled into him during training.
Don't fight the mountain.
Go around the mountain.
He quickly shifted his focus from the upper body to targeting Yokozuna's left knee, then the right.
Another low kick, and then another.
Finally, the giant shifted just a bit.
Kyle slapped the desk in excitement, "There! He felt that one."
Ross nodded in agreement, "Eddie has changed his strategy. He's going for the foundation."
"If he can't knock Yokozuna down...he'll make the giant kneel."
Eddie kept circling, always looking for openings, landing kick after kick against Yokozuna's knees.
Another chop. Another low dropkick.
The giant finally stumbled back a half-step.
The crowd went wild.
Tony leaped from his seat.
"See?" Justin beamed, "I told you!"
Yokozuna's expression finally turned serious. He swung one massive arm at Eddie, who ducked just in time.
Another chop to the knee. Then another.
Ross sounded more impressed by the second, "Eddie Prince has really done his homework."
Kyle nodded enthusiastically.
"He's not just wrestling Yokozuna; he's breaking him down piece by piece."
At last, Eddie spotted his opportunity.
He bounced off the ropes and charged forward, aiming a running clothesline right at Yokozuna's neck.
The giant swayed back.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Eddie hit the ropes again, this time gearing up for another running strike. But he never got the chance.
Yokozuna suddenly lunged forward, wrapping one massive arm around Eddie's chest and the other around his shoulder.
Ross's voice shot up, "Oh no."
With terrifying ease, Yokozuna lifted the IRW Champion clean off the ground and flung him halfway across the ring.
Eddie slammed hard onto the canvas.
Kyle winced, "I think Eddie just learned what five hundred pounds feels like."
The tide turned in an instant.
Yokozuna moved in, each step pushing Eddie back until he found himself cornered. The giant unleashed a crushing body avalanche into Eddie.
The entire ring trembled.
The audience gasped in unison.
Eddie slumped against the turnbuckles, gasping for air.
Ross kept his cool, "This is exactly what Eddie was trying to avoid. Once Yokozuna takes control of the pace..."
"...there are very few men alive who can stop him."
Yokozuna dragged Eddie back to the center of the ring and flattened him with another massive clothesline.
He went for the cover.
One...
Two...
Eddie kicked out.
The crowd cheered.
Yokozuna yanked Eddie back to his feet.
In a surprising burst of energy, Eddie managed to land a few punches to the giant's ribs before attempting one last desperate Prince Bomb.
The crowd stood in anticipation.
Could he pull it off?
Eddie shouted as he tried to lift Yokozuna.
Nothing. The champion wouldn't budge.
Kyle could hardly believe it, "He can't! Nobody can!"
Yokozuna responded with a colossal headbutt. Eddie staggered back, dazed before falling down.
The giant slowly made his way onto the second rope.
Ross shot up from his seat. "No way, he isn't..."
Kyle's eyes went wide. "Oh yes, he is!"
Yokozuna glanced down at the fallen IRW Champion before launching himself into the air.
His massive leg came crashing down right across Eddie's chest.
"Banzai Drop!"
The ring shook visibly as the crowd gasped in unison.
Ross barely managed to whisper, "...That's it."
Yokozuna hooked Eddie's leg.
The referee began the count.
One.
Two.
Three.
The bell rang out.
The Golden Arena erupted into a mix of cheers and stunned silence.
Ross pulled one side of his headset off. "Yokozuna stays undefeated."
Kyle nodded slowly, "And Promotion Wars... is far from over."
In the VIP section, Yoichi jumped out of his chair, fists raised high.
"Yes! I knew it!"
He punched the air repeatedly before turning to Vince with a triumphant grin, "We're still in this!"
Even his usually reserved assistant couldn't help but smile.
For the first time that night, NPJW had finally scored a point.
Across from them, Vince clapped calmly.
Not for the loss—there was nothing he could do about that—but for the performance.
He watched Yokozuna standing tall in the ring, the NPJW Championship held high, and couldn't shake the thought that kept creeping back.
I really should have listened to Lance.
Because if Yokozuna was wrestling for NPJW...
Who else might be out there, just waiting to be found?