Finishing the Story

[Utami]

“That image right there.. Mina Shirakawa standing tall with the gold in her hands.. It could be the future after Fallout!”

The sound clip Nigel McGuinness plays as we see the still image of Mina standing tall over Britt Baker on Warfare. A deceptively gorgeous smile crosses her lips as she looks down the camera after her surprise attack on the champion. Suddenly the image changes to one of Mina’s exhausted smile as she holds up one finger after becoming Last Survivor. Then we see her standing behind Tam Nakano, eying her former leader’s EWBF Women’s Championship hungrily. Then further back to Mina’s Stardom days with her standing next to Tam and Unagi with the trios belts. Back further to her debut in TJPW as a mostly comedy act. Then finally to an image of her in Brazilian colors during the World Cup before her wrestling career.

The camera zooms in on those happy eyes.. And zooms out to reveal Mina sitting on Tam’s old throne in her Oedo Tai gear. There’s no Himeka, just the Last Survivor and No.1 Contender eyeing the camera like a starved lioness.

Mina Shirakawa: I know what you’re thinking. You don’t have to whisper a single word. I’m a people person. I’m good at making quick, accurate judgements based on that one first impression of someone. And you - you’re wondering why I did what I did on the final show before the biggest match of my wrestling career. Wasn’t I out to prove that nobody is better than Mina? Doesn’t me just blindsiding the champion look bad?

She shrugs as if the brutal attack was nothing.

Mina Shirakawa: Let’s just call it a quick throwback to the old days when Oedo Tai ran the show. Whether it was Stardom or EBWF doesn’t matter really. It was a message. No, actually let’s call it a spoiler for what’s coming your way in just a few short days. Besides, my teammate - my friend! - was in trouble, so why wouldn’t I intervene? Unlike the Final Boss, today’s Oedo Tai look after each other.

She glares at the camera as if Britt were right there in front of her.

Mina Shirakawa: The dominant forces of the past are gone, blown out the door by the winds of change. A door that was so generously opened by our Women’s Champion when she ended Tam’s career. It was the greatest thing to ever happen to myself and Himeka! We’re free to do whatever we want however we want. We started winning for ourselves for the first time since we signed with EBWF two years ago. I made sure to thank Britt for her generosity, and what did she do?

Mina sighs and holds up Tam’s Queen of the Ring crown.

Mina Shirakawa: She just talks about how much she respected Tam and how much less of a woman I am than the Final Boss. Sure, she admitted I’ve gotten better with time but that was only after I forced her to by outclassing and outwrestling the entire EBWF roster. I had to win Last Survivor for her to respect me. Shows you what kind of woman she is. But that’s okay, we’re all messy bitches sometime. It’s part of life.

She tosses the crown to the side, where it clatters to the ground.

Mina Shirakawa: So is change.. I’ve rebuilt Oedo Tai from the ground up because I know what it’s like to be tossed aside and treated like a bit player. In 2025 I’m a completely different wrestler than the woman who helped Utami get her foot in the door. While the rest of the world was dazzled by the Crimson Queen or the Final Boss, I worked my ass off day in, day out. I upped my game so that my 11/10 looks would be backed up by razor sharp skills in the ring. I told myself I’d never let myself be an afterthought again. I’d make people notice me. I’d take my place in the sun.

Mina’s eyes flit back to the viewer.

Mina Shirakawa: How am I doing? Undefeated in 2025, 2025 Last Survivor, Savior of Oedo Tai, fighting for the Women’s Championship for the first time.

She swings one leg over the other.

Mina Shirakawa: But none of that’s enough for me. I’ve won big matches before. I’ve headlined units. I’ve challenged for championships. So have many other girls who step into the ring. But those accomplishments are all forgotten very, very fast if you don’t follow them up by finishing the story. My story began as a cheerleader at the World Cup. Its next chapter is me proving that I’m exactly who I say I am. The ultimate combination of speed, technical skill, world class beauty and ruthlessness. Many can do one or two, but only Mina can do them all at an elite level. But it’s not enough to possess those traits. It’s never been enough. Even with all the victories this year, I’ve only gotten hungrier and hungrier.

Mina leans forward as if about to share a secret.

Mina Shirakawa: There’s only one thing that will satisfy me now. There’s only one way that I finally silence all the doubts that echo in my head day after day after day. The only way to prove everyone who ever said I wasn’t good enough wrong is to send Dr. Britt Baker, DMD back to her private practice permanently. Now I want to make something clear-

Mina uncrosses her legs and elegantly stands up.

Mina Shirakawa: I don’t disrespect Britt. I don’t even dislike her. She’s not that different from me in some ways. In EBWF she made her way to the top by working her ass off and going through the best wrestlers in the world. After Tam took the belt, she spent two years refining her skills and sharpening her mind so that she could do the impossible. And that’s what happened when she did what only one other woman had managed in EWBF - beating the Final Boss to reclaim the greatest title in our sport. It’s a great story told by a very, very good wrestler.

She looks wistful for a moment before smirking.

Mina Shirakawa: This isn’t personal. It’s all business. I’m sure she understands why I have to make her Cinderella story strike midnight. It’s time for me to finish this story by going through the two-time EBWF Women’s Champion and wrecking her so completely that no one ever says Mina Shirakawa belongs in the background. I belong in the spotlight, I’m starving for that spot, and it’s about damn time that I got what I wanted. So Britt, I want you to do something for me. When the final bell rings, when you’re laying there with your knees so battered you can’t even stand and your blood and sweat have made some highly valuable impressionist art on the mat?

Mina makes the ‘title’ motion around her waist.

Mina Shirakawa: Remind yourself that you did this. You opened the door for Mina Shirakawa to rise up the ranks and reach the precipice of immortality. You’re great, you’ve done something few women have done and did it twice. But you’ve never gone through what I’ve gone through. I went through 19 women to get this chance. I’m not wasting it. And just like at Last Survivor, I’m going to end the night by proving that you’re right to have Venus Envy.

She tosses a lock of hair over her shoulder.

Mina Shirakawa: Because nobody-

Mina leans forward and winks.

Mina Shirakawa: - is better than Mina.

Mina blows a kiss to the camera and the feed cuts out.