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NJPW LION'S ROAR EPISODE 10 REPORT

After the opening credits, the recruits are shown at the Dojo House dancing and laying in their beds at 6:45 am.  Some are doing chores, others are taping up their injuries.  

Wake-Up Call

Fale and the trainers show up at the House.  Dan quickly runs to greet and bow to them.   Fale brings a cardboard box into the House and tells the recruits to put their NZ Dojo sweats into the box.  All the recruits line up and face the trainers.

Tony Kozina says he is disappointed and disgusted at their behavior.  He said Fale made it clear that if they wanted to be in this documentary, then they would have to report to the Dojo during the Lockdown.  Kozina is pissed that the recruits asked the film crew to come to the House to film them.  No one contacted Fale or the other trainers of this intention.  Kozina talks about the disrespect that the House leaders showed to Fale and the New Japan company.   Kozina said to those who did this, he feels that he is done with them, they can pack a bag and get out.

Fale said he could have been home at his Waterfront Apartment, smoking cigars.  But he chose to be at the Dojo for them.   He said that the recruits do not want to break rules, but they expect others (film crew) to risk their lives to come and film them at the House.  Fale says all he hears is excuses. 

Jake Taylor asks if he could come into Fale's Hummer to go to the Dojo.   Fale says "No, get your own f**king Hummer*.  Fale tells them, if they want to stay here, then that is fine.   It will be less work for him.

Jake takes the box of sweats to the car and the trainers leave the House.

Decisions

Jake and A.V. tell the others that they are going to the Dojo.   The others are questioning what they want to do.  A.J. Visage says he will stay at the House.  He does not share the same goals as Jake and A.V., but he thanks all his brothers who were in the Dojo House.  For the Australian recruits, their only choices are to stay in the House or go to the Dojo.  Leaving the House to go to the Dojo will mean they are breaking New Zealand laws.   They cannot go back to Australia due to the Lockdown.  Neither choice looks good right now for them.  Some are happy to stay at the House, because there will be less work to do.

Dan says he will stay in the House, and perhaps rejoin Fale Dojo again when another group of recruits come along.

Reunited

Sebastian Matters is interviewed.  He states that the confrontation with the trainers made him uncomfortable and he does not like those situations.  He knew they had a choice to go the Dojo the first time.  After the confrontation, he knew where he needed to be, which was the Dojo.  He said that it was a sad situation with this Lockdown that they never knew when they would be home again. 

Matters of the Heart

Sebastian continues by saying it is hard not knowing what the future holds.   COVID has affected the world to the point where it can isolate you and you never know when you can go home.  He says he is learning from one of the best and most respected wrestlers in New Japan, and he is willing to help them and train them.  He wants to make the best of the few weeks that he has left.

They show training sessions with the ones who chose to move over from the Dojo House.  Fale says that it is a bit better now with more people.  They can train with different body sizes and styles. 

Sebastian recounts his first trip to New Japan.  He only lasted 8 days.  He said the mental toughness he needed was not where it was supposed to be.  He realized how tough the New Japan style and training really is.  He will have to work 10 times harder to get where he wants be.   His mother never liked the idea of him wrestling, but she is now his biggest supporter.   This is his third session with the Fale Dojo.

He said many people will criticize his decision to be a pro wrestler.  He just uses those words as motivation to get better and try harder.

Dinner with the Pros

The recruits sit down to eat dinner during a New Japan World live event.   They are watching SHO vs. YOH.

Sebastian explains how he feels New Japan wrestling is a combination of American, Mexican and the UK.   It is a blend of it all.   He feels the appeal of New Japan wrestling is that it feels "real".  He has friends who laugh at his goal to be a wrestler.  He feels that New Japan wrestling is a fight and legitimate.   He says that his favorite part of training is the striking.  He prides himself on his striking ability.

On the screen, they watch a match between Toru Yano and Chase Owens.   Fale cheers for his Bullet Club teammate.   The other recruits mention Yuto Nakashima working at ringside.   Fale says that Yuto Nakashima spent time in his Dojo.

The next scene is A.V. getting into a car to explain he has to get a vaccination.

Jab

A.V. summarizes the past few weeks.  He says things are getting settled now that they are back in the Dojo.  He drives with Richard to a medical facility for his shot.

Finish Strong

The recruits at the Dojo sit in a circle with Fale and Kozina.  Fale says that this was the most dramatic intake group ever, in part due to COVID.  He repeats the same message to them that he has been saying throughout the documentary.   They have to think of what do they want and are they willing to work for it.  Fale thinks for some they will not be able to handle the life style.  Kozina says he likes to be light hearted at times because he knows this is a hard business.    He tells them to focus on what is in front of them, not on  the mountain behind them.   Take smalls steps.

Richard Mulu speaks to the group and says what happened in the past is done.  Focusing on the past will bring everyone else down.   They have to stick together as  group.  They have to finish strong.

Confidence

Sebastian says he struggled with self confidence when he was younger.   He knows it is a problem with wrestlers.  When he came to the Fale Dojo, he had to work on his confidence.   Now, he feels that he can believe in himself, more than he can in other things.   He believes in himself that he can be a pro wrestler in New Japan.  He wants to help increase the presence of New Japan in Australia as well.

The Police

The police arrived at the Dojo to interrogate the trainers.  During the 2020 Lockdown, the NZ Dojo had an agreement with the local government to be Residential property, primarily to help the International students who did not have a family in New Zealand to quarantine with.  The police were imposing new rules and regulations.   But the local government and NZ Dojo were never contacted about these new rules before the Lockdown occurred.

Trainers:

Toks Fale

Tony Kozina

Mark Tui

Tangi Ropati

Recruits:

Tumanako “T” Te’i (new)

Perenise “Eli” Taito (new)

Warren Walters (new)

Will “Southside” Averil (Returning student)

Dan Puru (Returning student)

Michael Richards (Young lion)

AJ Visage (Returning student)

Lloyd Morgan (Returning student)

Richard Mulu (Returning student)

Andrew “A.V.” Villalobos (Young lion)

Jake Taylor (Young lion)

Sebastian Matters (Returning student)

Tim Hayden (new)

Mitch Schoemaker (new)

My review:

Another fine episode.   You were able to see the impact of COVID as it related to the wrestling business, or any business as a whole.   COVID really disrupted the filming of the documentary and this recruiting class.  You could see that spirits were really low for the guys at the House.  I felt bad for the recruits who were suffering with uncertainty and with the fear of not being able to return home.   The recruits that did choose the Dojo are in a better position than those that stayed at the House.

Episode 9 and 10 both emphasized the difference in young wrestlers (or young people as a whole) versus those who are older and trying to teach them.  The younger ones play video games or watch television.  They are not willing to put in the extra work for their bodies and minds.   Also, they need constant management  and oversight in order to keep them in line.   I understood Tony Kozina's anger with them and the lack of trust.  I do not understand why most of the recruits did not go to the Fale Dojo, other than this life is not for them.   If so, they should not appear in the documentary anymore.  The episode ended without any information about the police interrogation.  Are the recruits who moved to the Dojo in trouble?     Will fines be imposed on the Fale Dojo?   Hopefully, this will not look bad upon Toks Fale and the trainers.

It was cool to see Fale watching a New Japan event as a fan and cheering on his Bullet Club partner.  It was also good to see the recruits watching with interest and wanting to learn.  Hopefully, they all can be there on that stage someday.  

Sebastian was a good interview too.  You can hear his lack of confidence in his voice.  However, I enjoyed his enthusiasm and belief in himself.   He went to New Japan and realized he was not ready.  He knows what he has do, what obstacles he has to overcome and what is expected at the New Japan level.  Like Michael Richards, I hope that Sebastian will get another chance to become a young lion at the New Japan level.

Please check out New Japan World at http://www.njpwworld.com, to see this documentary.

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