"603 pesos..." I mentally grumbled as I tossed my phone to my left side and leaned my head back, looking out the window as my Grab car passed by the Makati architecture enveloped in darkness. I really hate spending big money. Especially on ride share apps. Or really, just anything expensive in general.
May 26, 2019. We, Philippine Wrestling Revolution, had just finished doing the biggest show in Philippine wrestling this year, Wrevolution X 2019. It has exhausted me in various (good) ways. I could still feel every ounce of each emotion boiling hot inside my system as I took this ride home. As I fixated my eyes on the lamp posts shedding little to no light on the streets, I still recalled the beautifully-constructed matches. The PWR ring with different set of wonderful talents. The loud pops of the hot crowd. The sheer joy. The incomparable energy of the Power Mac Center Spotlight that was thrown by the crowd, that was absorbed by every wrestler that came out that curtain which bounced back to the crowd and resonated through the walls of the venue. Excitement and fear and heart-attacks and tears. All these came out for every beautiful story that was told inside that ring.
Post-show photo
I wasn't supposed to be able to wrestle today. Due to my nasal bone fracture nearly a month ago, I was advised by my doctor to avoid any intense physical activity for straight 30 days as I let it heal. Today marked the 22nd day and I had decided to do the match because I knew no amount of pain and regret would ever compare to the one I would've felt had I chosen to withdraw myself from the match. This was Wrevolution X after all, not to mention, my first one. I was participating in the pre-show match that was the over-the-top-rope Battle Royale together with the Cali Nueva, Rederick Mahaba, Kapitan Tutan, Brad Cruz, Bolt, Revo Ranger, Gatilyo, Joey Bax, and the returning Zayden Trudeau - for an All Out War title shot (and rights to some weird picture of Kap's which I've zero interest in). Considering it was literally a rumble, everyone knew it would be chaotic. Slightly, I'd been scared for myself. But it had been agreed upon to kind of keep me safe as we worked through the match to avoid worsening the injury. I had convinced myself later on that I'd be all right. However, when I met with the boys to discuss the match earlier today, Z walked up to me broaching the idea he said he'd been thinking about as a spot between him and myself.
"So I have this spot which I think we could do," Z started as we got up from the seats ringside.
I think I had been focused for a few seconds on what he was saying until he revealed the name of the move.
Brain buster.
No.
Brain bustaaaaah!
I think I just looked at him with a very forced, awkward-looking smile. He talked for the next few seconds explaining the mechanics and science of the move and the positioning and everything, assuring me that he could keep it safe and all that. I swallowed with a hint of fear behind a forced smile, still. He then said he was pretty sure we could do it - that I could do it.
"If you feel uncomfortable we don't have to do it."
"No, it's cool," I half-lied. "I'm okay with it." I stretched my slightly quivering lips once more into a weird wide smile.
Takte kaya ko ba 'yon???
I'd never tried that before with anyone. I've only done a diving clothesline off the top rope but nothing this crazy. The move elicits fear just by trying to picture it in your head. I was scared. I might have been so lost in my scaredy-cat thoughts as I paced back and forth inside the dressing room because I almost wasn't able to mouth a proper response when Crystal twirled my red curls with her fingers and looked at my face.
"Your face has super light make-up compared to mine," she randomly pointed.
It took seconds before I was able to answer. "The colors and glitter suit your face."
While what I said was true, the real reason I had little (to almost no) make-up was because... I really can't put on a good, show-ready make-up look. You can challenge me to apply BB cream, lip balm, some eyebrow, and some Johnson's baby powder and I'd totally kill it. But if you're talking all-glam - smokey-eye with a wing and blending colors and glitter on my lids and contour and all that - I'm such a zero. The only reason I had great make-up on my debut match against Jhemherlhynn at Wrestle-ution back in January was because Nicole got me all show-ready and she's such an amazing make-up artist (huhu thank you so much again Nikki). Of course, I couldn't ask for her help every time we do a show because. Nakakahiya na.
When we went to rehearse the move, I really didn't want to disappoint Z and really...really gave it my best to achieve the proper position and all. Z was just all kind and understanding and patient enough - all qualities of a good coach right? First time we did it, I was still hesitant and couldn't get a good height out of my jump.
"I need you to jump harder," Z said.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry."
I forgot just how many times I apologized for not being able to jump harder. But he constantly told me, "It's okay." We tried about 3 times outside the ring before I earned his sweet-sounding, "Perfect." I was finally able to establish myself vertically and utilize some core strength properly. I also felt anxious because it seemed that I was tiring him out with each try. But now it was time to try it on the top rope. Again, fear ate me.
As we climbed the ropes and he hooked my head in his arm and I hooked his in mine, my heart was beating hard. "Ready? 1-2..."
"Wait wait wait Z omygosh!" I was just thinking so many fearful thoughts! I couldn't help but really be afraid. I trusted Z and there was no question with his abilities and skills. But.. but... I was afraid.
"Hey," he spoke calmly. "If you're not okay with it and feel uncomfortable, we won't do it."
I paused for a while. That wasn't what I wanted to happen. I definitely wanted to do it, I just needed to get rid of my fear. I might be thinking I trusted Z, but I didn't trust him completely. And that's what I had to do. So we tried it one more time. And...
"Perfect."
I heard him say the second time. He got me ready, and I was ready.
Later on during the match, we did it and the crowd went nuts. I couldn't be any happier with it and I'm just ever so grateful to Z for pushing me and being patient with me.
My subtle friendship with Boss Red
(c) Mike Yap
Finding the perfect timing to attack these crazy boys
(c) Mike Yap
Blinded by the Stars with me in the ring - they're shining bright
(c) Mike Yap
So in totality, my Wrevo X-perience as a wrestler looks like this:
1. Paid respect (and equality) to Red
2. Killed by Z
3. Betrayed by Cali
But as a fan, it's a little something like:
1. Went crazy about the dueling 450's by Cali and Z
2. Got so invested in Khenmherlhynn
3. Was so moved by Mh4rckie's kakai-proposal
4. Got my heart warmed by JDL's victory and even more so when Bombay joined him in the ring to celebrate his victory and brotherhood
5. Got lost and indulged in huge disbelief upon seeing Motor City Devil
6. Extremely emotional during the main event - PWR Championship match between Quatro and Ralph Imabayashi
Not lying with number 5. Cali (who'd betrayed me earlier) and I had been lost in our own little corner as we watched Quatro and Ralph tear the house down from afar and we reacted ever-so-extremely to every page unfolded of that championship match book. We were crying and holding each other just because of how beautiful the storytelling was by those two. I was getting super exhausted by the match, we all were, we had released every scream of excitement and fear and frustration in the last 40 minutes and those two Lords inside that ring wouldn't end it just yet. They were such... champions. I think the last 4 falsies, my eyes were literally welling up with tears and my hands and lips were shivering out of sheer joy - it's like getting drunk in this irresistible liquor known as wrestling. I hadn't been much aware until Robynn tapped me asking why the heck I was crying. "Ang ganda kasi," I answered absentmindedly, not taking my eyes off the ring.
with the Battle Royale winner and AOW contender, Kap
Nerparts
with the new PWR Champion, Quatro
I was exhausted mentally and emotionally - but in a good way. This show, Wrevolution X, really shook me to the foundations of my soul. I feel absolutely grateful to have been part of this historic day. I'm ever so, sooooo grateful.
After reflecting on life a bit, I decided that I didn't care about spending 603 pesos on a Grab ride tonight. Wrevolution X brought me so much joy, it was impossible to feel any form of negativity towards anything.
Thank you, PWR family. I love you.
