Posted by Neo-Nichiren on September 11, 2004, 1:08 am

The last few weeks have been utterly boring for Alex Ramirez. Pacing around in his Miami house, during breaks from working out, he has uttered multiple yawns, not out of tiredness but of sheer boredom. Just a few weeks ago, he had been at the top of his game: a popular wrestler, coming back from a horrible injury that temporarily derailed his career. Now? Waiting to wrestle again, spending most of his time complaining to his girlfriend and manager Yukiko and worrying about his old friend Ali, who was currently unconscious laying in a hospital bed downtown. At the moment, Alex, who is supposed to be on his laptop mapping out moves and creating new strategies, is watching VH1 with his fingers on the laptop however, they’re not moving. It’s hard for him to be motivated right now. “You know that you have to get ready for Shockwave, right?” Alex closes his eyes like a kid who just got caught with his fingers in the cookie jar. He sighs. “Hey, its like having ADD without the drugs,” he responds to the beautiful Japanese woman who had walked into the room and is standing behind him, with her arms wrapped around his neck. Their relationship had gotten better since he returned to the IWA. Something how the closeness of losing everything dear to him stimulated a part of him; he appreciated her now. “Still, you shouldn’t watch this crap. Who cares if Ashley Simpson is having a bad hair day?” Alex laughed to himself. It was good to have this kind of relaxing time between stressful situations. Ali in the hospital made him lose focus on what he was trying to do in the IWA. As the wrestler Neo-Nichiren, Alex Ramirez had commanded respect from all corners of the wrestling profession. Once named one of the top 5 most intimidating wrestlers in the CAL, Neo demanded fear and gave little hope. Most wrestlers had never fought Neo but they were afraid of him. Not so much anymore. Maybe it had to do with his relaxed mood. Alex now understood that fame came at a price sometimes the price was one’s own body, and sometimes it was personal relationships. Whatever it was, Alex didn’t want to give it up anymore. He wanted to win to dominate like he once did But he was willing to compromise for his personal life. He wanted a wife one day he wanted a family But until he finished what he started, those dreams would have to be put on hold. Thinking of all this, Alex is caught smiling “What,” she says slyly. “Oh, nothing” Alex lies, “ I was just thinking of how I could command respect in the IWA again. “That’s easy,” Yukiko says and while stating all he reasons why Alex should be able to win the IWA Heavyweight Championship, he stares at her face. A simple pleasure for a man who, at least in principle, is about simple things. There were so many things he had to deal with. Yukiko as a wrestler, himself as a possible husband and father, an IWA Heavyweight Championship, the respect of the entire IWA too much to deal with without a smile on one’s face. And yet, he is still bored. Alex longs for the ring, see where men become men, and wrestlers become legends. He wished with his whole heart that the IWA would just run away from the CAL, and not delay in starting its new promotions. He needed something to take his mind away from the impediments mentioned before. And just why was Ali attacked? Alex decides that this isn’t the time to dwell on this question. He has a bad feeling that the answer of that question is not the bearer of great news but just the opposite. “You’re thinking of something,” Yukiko says stating the obvious. “Yeah but more accurately, trying to get something out of my head,” Alex replies. “I see Ali, huh?” “I would prefer not to talk about it yet, thanks,” Alex snipes, “I’m trying to concentrate on the TV to relax my mind.” “Ah yes,” Yukiko says as she lets go of Alex’s neck and moves over to the love seat that is perpendicular to the armchair on which Alex is sitting, “Did Flava-Flav get kicked off of the Surreal Life yet ” “I thought you didn’t watch these things.” Yukiko blushes, “Ummm I don’t anyway, you should be getting prepared.” “Mm Hm. You know you love VH1.” Alex realizes how much he should be prepared for the next Shockwave but he is in the kind of mental state where he considers all preparation as unnecessary. He knows he is ready even if he is watching VH1. He knows he is ready for all challenges thrown his way. And he knows that he is the top draw and top wrestler in the company. No amount of preparation, studying, or meditating will change that fact. As a consequence Neo has a smile on his face.