Arisa Hoshiki: Dark Star to Shining Star

[Utami]

A full body mirror hangs on the wall reflecting a very familiar and sparsely furnished room. It’s a place where the Dark Star has gone to ponder her existence many times. Now it’s being seen in a video package for the first time. At first it’s just the room, but then the view changes to a clip of Arisa Hoshiki walking down the ramp at Last Survivor. Then came one of her throwing Natalya over the top rope, followed by Arisa standing in the ring as part of the final four. She looks into Utami’s eyes, then eliminates Trish Stratus. Finally she takes Utami and Becky Lynch out with Pulsar Kicks. The replay ended with the sight of Arisa Hoshiki on her knees, arms raised in victory.

Arisa Hoshiki: “I don’t want to say no one expected this from me, but being here at all was a long shot. When I was calling the action at Gateway to Glory it seemed impossible that I’d be back in a ring at all. No matter how much my heart wanted it, I wasn’t going to wrestle again. So if you told me last summer that not only would I be back, I’d win the Last Survivor match and be fighting for the championship for the second time in three months? I probably would’ve laughed.”

We then see Arisa standing in front of the mirror, hand pressed up against the glass. She stares deeply into her reflection’s eyes as she speaks.

Arisa Hoshiki: “But it happened. The fighter in me wouldn’t let me just give up the hope that someday I’d be fighting again. Do you blame me for siding with the one other person in the world who said she believed in me? For a few months I was convinced that Utami had my best interests in mind, that everyone else was just unable to see what she saw. I had to believe that she was right. I followed her example because after two years of hell I wanted to be angry at the world. And I thought Tam was just trying to hurt my new friendship when she told me Utami wasn’t someone I should trust. But things aren’t that simple. In the end, everything I’ve achieved in EBWF has been because of my own strength.”

She lightly taps her fist on the glass, expression momentarily anguished as she thinks of the past few months. Finally she spins around to face the camera, garbed in the black and gold ring gear that’s characterized her run in Queen’s Court.

Arisa Hoshiki: “But now I know the truth about who Utami’s become. The Crimson Queen was who made sure I was cleared, whether or not I was actually in a condition to step into a ring. Every blow I took to the head, every time I fell on my neck, my career could’ve ended again. Or worse, my life could’ve been changed forever - my life might’ve been in danger. And knowing who she’s become, I know none of that matters to Utami. I was just another tool for her to use against her enemies until I broke. Would you have thrown me out when I broke again, Utami? Brought in the next girl whose dreams you promised to make come true and then used her up too? All to make sure you got your moment of destiny?”

She frowns and shakes her head at the thought. Then her right hand clenches into a fist and the frown flips into a savage grin.

Arisa Hoshiki: “Except I didn’t break. No matter how many fights I fought for you, I just kept getting stronger. It’s not because of you, it’s because I love this sport and I’m willing to claw deep down to pull out that one last bit of determination it takes to overcome any challenge. I’ve survived this long because surviving is what I do. And now I’m the most dangerous woman you’ve ever made the mistake of stepping into a ring with. You were willing to steal away the thing I love most as long as it got you what you wanted! You’re no friend, and now I’m going to show you how strong I am.”

She folds her arms over her chest as she continues.

Arisa Hoshiki: “Utami, it’s time for you to pay for everything you’ve done. From the opening bell I’m coming straight for you with the stiffest kicks in professional wrestling. I’m going to break you down piece by piece with my expert strikes and knock you off that ridiculous throne you put yourself on. Was that manipulation worth it for the position you put yourself in? You shouldn’t even be in this match, but I’ll never turn down the chance to hurt you. Your destiny is to get beat down by the woman whose life you put on the line for your ego. No matter what you hit me with, I’ll just get back up and continue to defy you. You might think you’re invincible, but I know from experience that even the mighty Crimson Queen can bleed.”

Arisa’s grin dissolves as she makes a promise.

Arisa Hoshiki: “You used to be a strong woman I grudgingly respected, but you’ve let yourself become weak. You can’t accept that it’s possible for you to lose, so you surround yourself with better women who ensure you succeed. Himeka and that new girl won’t save you from what I’m going to do to you. This is personal, and I’m going to kick your royal head into the sun where you’ll burn up.”

She demonstrates one of her kicks, and then suddenly we see her in white, gold and orange ring gear instead. Rather than being in her room, she stands in the middle of an EBWF ring.

Arisa Hoshiki: “Tam - nice to see you again so soon. Since the last time we fought, I’ve realized I was wrong about you. You’re not weak, and you definitely weren’t wrong about Utami. I’m not too proud to admit that you were right. The enforcer of Queen’s Court isn’t who I am. This fight is harder than our last meeting because I realized you understand me better than I understand myself. If you could see through the Dark Star’s anger, what more can you see about me that I don’t even realize about myself? Honestly you’re kinda scary when I think about it.”

She motions to the ring around her.

Arisa Hoshiki: “But I’ve fought too hard to get this opportunity to let myself back down from the challenge you represent. Too many hours of blood, sweat and tears to rebuild myself into a woman who can take professional wrestling by storm. To rebuild myself into championship form. After we fought I went the distance against the entire locker room just to have this opportunity to take on Tam Nakano one more time. I was so close to beating you so many times in December that I couldn’t just accept defeat. You won, fair and square, but I’ve been working harder than ever before to sharpen those skills that were blunt last time. And despite all the odds I managed to enter at 2 and win the most challenging gauntlet in the sport. All so that I could face Tam Nakano one. More. Time.”

She smiles a little.

Arisa Hoshiki: “I’m a survivor, Tam. You know that don’t you? After all you’re the one who woke up the real Arisa Hoshiki even when she promised to stamp out your dream. I had to sit with that reality for a long time before I could accept it. Maybe I was strong then, but I’m at my strongest when I embrace what I love. That’s what it takes for me to be in championship form, and thanks to you I’ve found that form again. I like you Tam, I really do. I hope that we can be friends. But in this match I’m going to show you my full power. A power of love that makes me willing to take whatever punishment you can dish out and pull myself back up one painful centimeter at a time to hit you back. I’ve seen how brightly you’ve shined since becoming champion, and I want to show you how bright I shine with a title on the line. And you know what? I have a dream as well.”

Arisa circles the ring, staring up at the ceiling in thought. She stops near the ropes and leans against the top rope.

Arisa Hoshiki: “Just like you, I had a title once and lost it. Mine was lost because I had to retire, but I’ve thought about it every single day since I stepped away from the ring. For three years now I’ve been wondering what could’ve been if my body and mind had allowed me to keep wrestling. When I was going through all the hell of two years outside a ring, fighting with my whole existence just to get back, I never forgot that championship I held for 370 days. Just like your Twilight Dream about regaining the EBWF Championship, my dream of winning another title is what motivates me to fight so hard. Christmas Eve of Destruction gave me a taste of it, and it’s all I can think of now. I know that at Fallout, I’m going to have to put everything on the line to stand a chance of beating you. So that’s exactly what I’m going to do. No matter how bad it hurts or if my time in this ring has an expiration date coming up, I’m gonna keep getting up and finding a way to hit you harder than you hit me. I need to prove I’m still capable of being a champion, and this is the greatest prize in the sport. As good as you are, do you have what it takes to put an end to that dream? Give me your best, because you’re getting the very best that Arisa Hoshiki can dish out!”

She smiles confidently as she reaches her conclusion.

Arisa Hoshiki: “This isn’t just my big opportunity to realize that dream. It’s the return of the real Arisa Hoshiki. For the first time since I last held a belt, I’ll be fighting not out of hatred but out of love. Love for the sport and love of myself. I’m not weak. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been, and that makes me even more of a threat to whoever’s in the ring with me. As long as I’m physically able to wrestle, I’ll keep hitting hard. I’ll keep taking the worst abuse imaginable and finding a way to get back up. Because I’m determined to become a champion once again - it’s been three years! Three long years of waiting, thinking endlessly about that magical feeling you get when you’re undeniably at the top of the sport. I’ve survived the end of my career, the loss of everything I loved, the manipulation of the self-corrupted queen and countless dangerous blows from dangerous foes. And I’m still here. I’m going to survive two of the best in the world at Fallout because they’re what stands between me and redemption. If I can take that championship the right way, it’ll prove that everything I’ve sacrificed and worked for has been worth it. It’ll prove that this Arisa Hoshiki is the strongest.”

Arisa does one more Pulsar Kick, which takes her to the center of the ring. There she stands with the biggest smile imaginable.

Arisa Hoshiki: “So whether you’re a paranoid queen or the shining Twilight Dream, you’re about to get eclipsed by my shining star.”