~With Kai~

Today was the second match between Johnny and I and we're gonna fight as if it's my retirement match.

When Masami, Kaori, and myself arrived at Full Sail, we had to get ready as soon as possible.

Me? I was ready before they could pack up their gear! I already had my gear on underneath my black and white tracksuit so I didn't have to change when we arrive at Full Sail.

Before we could get inside the place, here comes Johnny, boasting about how he's gonna win the title.

If it isn't the Prodigy himself! You know, I was hoping you'd find your place here in NXT, but here's the reality check, no one likes you, your girlfriend, not even your sister. So, how about you leave the company and give me the title?

I smirked, handed Masami the title, who was glad to do so, and walked up to him, getting in his face.

His smile faded as I had a look of evil in my eyes. I don't like being told to fuck off out of wrestling. This isn't the first time I faced adversity, but I know it won't be the last, so this is my response to his little promo.

Choose next words wisely, Gargano, because they could be your last.

I chuckled and said...

See you in the ring.

I walked away, grabbing my title, and the three of us walked into our locker room, getting ready for whatever comes our way.

I really think I told Johnny because from what I heard, it got him thinking twice about facing me tonight for the rematch.

~1 Hour 1/2 Hours Later~

As soon as the rest of the card had done their match, Kaori had a match with a jobber, but it didn't matter, at least she was willing to work, even if she didn't have a match tonight.

Anyway, as Johnny made his entrance, he was just being obnoxious. I mean, he was mocking the fans, just not giving two shits of giving a shit.

After posing for the crowd and just trash talking, my music played and I entered.

While I was making my entrance, I saw many fans wearing some of my merch. It was pretty cool, considering that I'm getting over organically than just catchphrases and stuff, unlike an old man who's out of touch and thinks the chants I'm getting are insults rather than support along with his best friend Bruce.

As I put the Title over my head with one arm, I went into a corner and waited for the announcer to introduce the match.

The following contest is scheduled for one fall...

ONE FALL!

...and it is for the NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP!

The fans applauded as Johnny was being introduced first.

Introducing the challenger, from Cleveland, Ohio, weighing at 199lbs, JOHNNY GARGANO!

The crowd booed as I was up next.

And his opponent, from Yamaguchi, Japan, weighing at 229lbs, he is the NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION, "THE PRODIGY", REN HOSAKO!

I raised my fists and I gave the ref the title, who showed Gargano, held it up over his head with two hands, and gave it o the other official.

For last minute preparations, knowing that my title is on the line, I did some last minute stretches as Johnny did the same.

When it was time, I was ready.

RING THE BELL!

The bell rang and the crowd cheered, wanting the both of us to fight until our cocks fall off.

We circled the ring, looking to see which one of us will make the first move. I jumped around, waiting for Johnny to come close to me.

When we reached out, fingers trembling, one of us had one of our hands touching until the other was as well. We both had our chests touching each other, testing each other's strength to see which one of us will lock up.

Johnny then took me down with a Headlock Takedown and I locked my legs around his head, cranking it to the point that he's very uncomfortable in this position.

He managed to escape and lock me in a crossface clutch, but I managed to turn my body around with my agility, get on top of him, and put a headlock on him.

He then managed to get up as I kept him locked in until we hit the ropes and we separated, where he went for a clothesline and I ducked and I gave him a knee to his ribs, I performed a snapmare, ran to the ropes and I looked to kick him in the face, but he dodged, rolled me up, I kicked out at 2, and we stood across from each other.

As the crowd cheered and applauded as he told me he was this close to taking the title away from me.

I then smiled and I went into his face as we touched noses, showing that I was ready for a fight.

I was this close to taking the title from you, you know?

You were, but I taking it home with me.

I then forearmed him a couple times before I ran to the ropes and he knocked me flat on my back, before he bumped the ropes, I leaped onto my chest, I got up, he ran up, I jumped, and I gave him a belly to belly slam, covering him, but not for a pinfall.

I made sure that he was grounded for the time being, I didn't want him to perform his tippy toe moves like Kenny Omega would do.

I dug an underhook and pulled his arm a bit, but not to much to the point he taps out early. I wanted him to be as weak as possible so I can play with his head, beat him down a little bit more, and hopefully get the three count.

Johnny then countered by putting his leg on the rope, and I released, but I pulled Gargano back a little bit from the ropes.

I gave him a knee to his head, I covered him and he kicked out at 2, but when his arm was straight up, I immediately grabbed it, twisting it while his head was underneath my crotch.

As I held onto his hand, I bent it...

Ooooh.

...I bent his elbow...

Ooooh!

...and I pulled his arm towards me as Johnny screamed in pain.

OOOOOHHH!

He reached out to the bottom rope with his leg and free arm, but I kept it locked in deep, showing that there's no way out for him.

However, he knew there was no way that he could reach the ropes, so, in a desperate attempt to escape...

You bit me last time, I'll bite you back!

And he did just that on my thigh!

I immediately let go and I looked at the bite mark. It was as deep as it could get to the point it was bleeding.

Johnny was trying to draw blood and he was successful because the ref saw the blood, put on his gloves, and looked to tend to it, but I pushed him away, telling him to let it be.

The guy knew he didn't want to upset me, so he backed off as I felt the drop of blood on my fingers. I'm not a wimp when I see blood, I'm used to it.

Back in Japan, I would often bleed in very violent matches, almost to the point where weapons got involved and the feud became very personal, so, in short, this wasn't new to me.

Instead of being a coward and telling the ref to call off the match, I wiped the blood on my chest, telling Johnny to come at me because now he's gonna die!

さあ、ジョニー！ 行こう！ (Come on, Johnny! Let's go!)

He was having second thoughts and he was trying to run away, but quickly ran up, caught his arm, and performed the rope assisted arm-breaker!

The ref was counting to five, but I stopped at four as I released and posed as Naito, taking a shot at my old rival while I was laying on my side.

Oh, and Hosako looking a little bit tranquillo!

The crowd applauded and cheered as I went out of the ring, and went off on Johnny's arm by throwing him into the steel pole of the ring and I threw him back into the ring and I stood over him, having no emotion in my eyes.

~10 Minutes Later~

As Johnny looked to perform his finisher, the springboard DDT, I caught him for my Brainbuster, but he countered with a knee to my ribs, and he chopped me.

I felt it and I gave him a chop of my own, but the chop I gave him brought him to his knees and Gargano cringed as I kneeled towards him.

私の稱號を奪うとでも？ は？ (You think you'll take my title? Huh?)

I slapped his face, getting an "oh" from the crowd.

あなたは私からそれを取りたいですか？ (You wanna take it from me?)

I slapped him again, and he wasn't fazed as he was wanting me to slap him again.

So I did, but this slap to his face was even harder than the two I just gave Johnny, making him feel like he was out cold.

He wasn't, but I picked him up and looked to Irish Whip him to the ropes. I did do just that, but he went over the ropes and I ran over to hit him off the apron, but he gave me an Enzuguiri to my right cauliflower ear, and a spear through the ropes!

He covered me but I kicked out at 2 1/2!

I was so close to losing the title to Johnny, but I managed to power out.

For a little breather, I rolled through the ropes and was on the outside, but as I stood up, Johnny leaped out of the ring and gave me a DDT on the apron as I fell onto the floor, selling that move.

Johnny picked me up, threw me back into the ring, and covered me...

ONE! TWO! THR—

And I kicked out at 2!

The fans just went wild as they were just applauding and cheering for the both of us!

FIGHT FOREVER! *CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP* FIGHT FOREVER! *CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP*

Gargano looked to lock me in his Gargano Escape to end the match, but I quickly knew we were near the ropes, so I put my foot on the rope without Johnny acknowledging it.

As I managed to stand up, I smiled with pride and joy as I was really wanting Johnny to take it to me now.

I chopped his chest, and he chopped mine and it became a chop fest until I forearmed him, but he looked to punch me, but I countered by twisting his arm around, looked for the Sleeper and then the Brainbuster, but he countered by hitting my forehead and then chopping me, but it didn't land on me the way he wanted it to.

He ran to the ropes, I did the same, and when he was going for a clothesline, I ducked, went behind him, and locked in the Sleeper!

Johnny was really trying to fight out of it and he was screaming and trying to reach for the ropes, but after a minute, he was out.

I put his head underneath my arm, hyped up the crowd, who cheered, I lifted him up for my Brainbuster and I spiked him on the top of his head.

I covered him...

ONE! TWO! THREE!

The bell rang as I got off of Johnny, breathing heavily and just exhausted from the match.

Here is your winner, and still, the NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION, "THE PRODIGY", REN HOSAKO!

I was given the title and I had my arm raised, but I know what I want to do next.

As Johnny was coming to, I went over to him, gesturing to the ref that it's okay as I kneeled over to him, and stuck out my hand.

The fans just cheered and they were enjoying what I was just doing, letting him know that he fought very hard, but in the end, I came out the victor.

He accepted the gesture and we shook hands as we stood up and hugged it out, getting a cheer from the fans even more.

Johnny then raised my hand and pointed at me as we walked back to the gorilla position, where Masami hugged and kissed me as I returned it to her.

そこに素晴らしい試合があります！ (Awesome match out there!)

ありがとう、まさみ。 (Thanks, Masami.)

You two seem to have great chemistry! How would you guys like to go again?

I'd do it again. What about you, Kai?

Let do it

We shook hands as Matt Riddle showed up and was a bit peeved.

What happened to me, bro? When do I get a chance?

Takeover: Brooklyn, you and I, for this. That the plan.

Matt seemed to like the idea as we fist bumped and walked away as Johnny and I shook hands again and Masami and I walked back to our locker, where Kaori and us packed up our stuff and went home.

At the house, I just showered for a couple minutes, just to clean myself from the sweat I got from my match tonight, but the next couple months we're so chaotic it was honestly scary.