~With Kai~

Adam and I looked at each other with intensity as one of us was waiting to make the first move. We then moved around in a circle, still waiting for one of us to make the first move.

Then, we decided to go after each other, but I was quick. I went behind him and dropped him on his stomach and looked for the Fujiwara Armbar, but he managed to get to the bottom rope, making me break the hold as I had to move away.

We then circled around the ring and we locked up, but we went to a corner, where we had to break it up. After he broke away Adam started to kick my gut two times before I managed to sell them and pull him up for a gut wrench suplex and looked to perform a Dragon Sleeper, but he rolled out of the ring.

That gave me an opening to try to pull him back into the ring, but he gave me an enziguri kick to my head!

I ended up getting out of the ring too as I looked to catch my breath, but Adam threw me into the steel steps!

I was on the ground, in a bit of agony, but it was no big deal, I can manage. After that he threw me back into the ring, but I got back up on my feet and stare him down.

He was surprised to see me standing as I smiled and waited for him to bring the fight to me.

I went around him for another waistlock as I managed to lock him in a headlock and then a takedown, but Adam locked his legs around my head. I managed to kick out and grab his ankle for a lying ankle lock.

As I held on, I heard a chant that really took me out on the inside!

Oooooooh Ren Hosako! Oooooooh Ren Hosako!

Locking your arm,

Rip off your arm,

Walking in an Hosako Wonderland!

*CLAP CLAP*

It made me smile a bit in approval for the chant, but I had to stay focused. As Adam tried to grab the bottom rope, I pulled him away, locked his legs with my hand and I flipped him up, my knees pushing into Adam's spine.

It wasn't long before Adam escaped and grabbed me for an ankle lock, but I escaped and stayed on my back with my legs out, hoping he gets close to me as the fans applauded us.

Then, I got up as I grabbed his other leg and dropped him on his back, looking for a heel hook, but he blocked as I laid on his chest and flipped him over again as I looked for another Fujiwara Armbar, but he got out of the ring and I smiled again.

The crowd applauded again and I still smiled as if I'm saying to Adam, "Remember, I got this in my arsenal. You better watch yourself. I can lock you up anytime and tap you out."

As soon as Adam stepped back into the ring, I stepped forward as if to charge at him, but I laughed and joked around.

Everyone might think that I'm sadistic in the ring, but in reality, I'm actually enjoying this, both in and out of character.

Now it's coming down to mind games.

We locked up once again as Adam looked to lock me in a headlock and try to choke me out.

Now, you might think that someone like me who has a decade of experience in this sport, that at this stage, all the injuries and stiff shots that I would take from all those competitors I faced would start to wear me down, but in reality, I think I'm in the best shape of my life.

As he was trying to choke me, I manage to escape to get under the bottom rope for a tactic that my mentor would do.

Adam went to me, but before he could pull me back through the ropes, I locked onto his arm with an armbreaker, using the ropes as leverage!

The ref counted to four as I let go, flipped over onto my feet, leaned against the barricade, and cross my arms, looking cool as all hell and the crowd was loving what I was doing.

After that little stunt, I pulled Adam out of the ring and Irish-whipped him to the steel steps as I grabbed a chair from underneath the ring.

The ref told me to let go of the chair or he was gonna disqualify me, but I told him to look over at somewhere, pointing at a group of people.

I shouted...

UE! UE! UE!

The ref looked over, and I hit Adam in the ribs with the chair without the ref looking. When he turned back to me, I dropped the chair and did the "I don't know what you're talking about" look and gesture as I threw Adam back in the ring.

I went inside the ring and covered him, but he kicked out at two.

I thought that would work and it didn't, but it didn't matter, I'm willing to make it work.

Also, what I just did, it's not a way for me to turn heel. It's basically something that I would sometimes do to entertain the crowd and keep the fans invested.

~10 Minutes Later~

This match was getting so good because after I managed to escape another ankle lock and I was on my back.

Adam went forward and I was kicking his sides, like Antonio Inoki did when he fought Muhammad Ali in the 70s. I even overheard Renallo pointing that out, which was just so cool!

Ren Hosako, with the famous Antonio Inoki kicks to Muhammad Ali from the 70s.

After some of that, I got up, but Adam had chopped my chest.

I didn't feel anything, I decided to chop his chest too!

Then, we traded chops as if we wanted to kill each other! I kneed Adam's gut and threw him to the ropes and I dropkicked him off his feet.

I gestured the crowd to cheer as I went out of the ring and threw him back inside so I can tap him out.

First, I wanted Adam to get off his feet again so I can tap him out properly. Next, once he got up on his feet, I locked him into a sleeper hold, making pass out a bit before I released and locked in the Fujiwara Armbar.

Adam screamed in pain as he wanted to get to the bottom rope, but I had it locked in deep, which gave Cole no choice but to tap out.

My music played as I managed to get up with my arm raised.

Here is your winner, REN HOSAKO!

I had my hands on my hips as I was trying to catch my breath, but I felt someone attack me from behind!

It was Kyle O'Reily, Bobby Fish, and Roderick Strong.

They were kicking me, trying to make me feel the pain that I gave to Kyle last week, but I couldn't believe who came out to save me.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Hanson and Rowe, the War Raiders came running out and they scared everyone away as Rowe checked on me. I got up and stared them down as Regal came out to make the match.

All of this just gave me an idea! How about Adam Cole...

BAY BAY!

Kyle O'Reily, and Bobby Fish, verses War Raiders and Ren Hosako, in a six man tag team match!

The crowd went nuts as Rowe, Hanson, and I fist bumped as we looked forward to our six man tag match next week. In the back, Kaori and Masami were excited as they hugged me and I had to hug them back.

アワツメマッチ、カイ！ (Awesome match, Kai!)

ええ、その試合は素晴らしかったです！ (Yeah, that match was awesome!)

ありがとうございます。 (Thanks.)

だからねえ、私たちが去ることを許可されたら軽食を得るつもりです。 興味がありますか？ (So hey, we're gonna get a light snack once we're allowed to leave. Are you interested?)

を確認してください。 シャワーを浴びらせてください。 (Sure. Let me shower and we'll get going.)

大丈夫。 私たちはあなたを待ちます。 (Alright. We'll wait for you.)

ありがとうございます。 私はあなたに少しお會いしましょう。 (Thanks. I'll see you guys in a bit.)

We hugged again as I went to the showers, just feeling good about my first victory over Adam and that we have a six man tag match next week.

I couldn't wait for that. I mean, I really hope that the booking that I'm getting really makes me a star in this brand because so far, I'm enjoying myself.

When I was done showering, I dressed and went to a diner with Kaori and Masami. All we had was an appetizer and that was it. The drinks we had weren't caffeinated because it's a late night and we wouldn't sleep if we drank one that had caffeine.

After the appetizer, we all went back to the hotel to sleep, but during that time, I felt attracted to Masami.

I don't know what the hell am I thinking because she still broke up with her ex-fiancé. Listen, I think I'm gonna stop this feeling right now because first of all, if I told Masami how I feel, she wouldn't think I'm a good person anymore, possibly ending our friendship with her in the process.

I think I should talk to Kaori about it sometime soon, but for now, I need to sleep.