S.E.M.E. Comes from Behind

The AFW arena was packed for yet another night of wholesome Tension wrestling entertainment, fans talking lively amongst themselves in anticipation. The regular announcer’s voice starts up, reading off the card for the night’s entertainment when the sound and lights cut out. There are a few screams from easily startled fans, but veterans know better. And sure enough, the big screen roars to life blaring the Japanese national anthem and a lone flag billowing slowly in the wind.

At the head of the ramp, sparks begin to fly on each side and a platform begins to rise. Three spotlights illuminate the silhouettes of a trio on top of the platform. Their faces are hidden in the shadows, but their figures make it clear that it’s a woman flanked by two men.

The center figure steps forward into brighter light, one hand on her hip and bringing a microphone to her lips.

”Good evening Tension!” she announces in a smooth voice. ”You don’t know who we are yet, but mark my words, once you do you’re going to find it hard to forget. For too long, the Tension league has been oversaturated with foreign wrestlers.”

The statement is met with a mix of boos and applause, and more than a few wondering what in the hell is going on. The male figure to her left steps forward, holding the mic upside down.

”Oi, oi, oi! Hear the lady out first you stu-!” the male figure shouts in a rough and angry voice. The woman holds her hand out and snaps her finger in front of his face, which seems to back him off midsentence.

”The Tension league is indeed saturated with foreign wrestlers, many of them hold or have held title belts. Most of them have fought their way to the top, and we respect their hard work and sacrifice. But there are others, others who have gone unchallenged in their arrogance, unchallenged in their reign by true competitors. They have the audacity to masquerade as nobility and knighthood. By now, the intellectuals in the audience might have guessed at our purpose.

I am of course talking about the United Kingdom Elite.”

This time her statement was met with even more enthusiastic applause and boos. It was safe to say that the U.K.E. had made their fair share of fans and haters considering the length of time they’d held the Tag title belts. The energy in the audience starts to pick up when they catch on, but what happens next ignites them!

Up on the screen, the initials U.K.E. were displayed in front of the Union Jack and the faint humming of God Save the Queen. The sounds of cannon fire were played over the speakers as the flag went up in flames, and the audio track faded out. Gouts of flame spewed out along the ramp and the lights came up, finally revealing the identities of the trio. And the icing on the cake? The big U.K.E. on the screen was crushed from behind and replaced by a large golden S.E.M.E, and back to the Japanese flag and anthem as a backdrop.

There were eruptions of giggles and laughter from audience members so inclined as to get the innuendo.

”Mitsuru Satou”:

”Hikaru Matsuoka”:

”Ryuunosuke Tachibana”:

”I, Mitsuru Satou, and my teammates Hikaru Matsuoka and Ryuunosuke Tachibana, comprise S.E.M.E.. Unlike others who have come before us, we intend to usurp the pretentious United Kingdom Elite from their throne, and return the belt to worthy hands. They claim to the be the best of Britain, but this, this is not Britain!” she continued, sliding her sunglasses up so the crowd could see her face. She now took steps back so that she stood equal with her teammates.

Hikaru stepped forward again, bringing the mic up with a grin and flashing a toothy smile now that the audience could see them. ”That’s right, you heard it, S.E.M.E.’s hear the kick some U.K.E. ass!” he shouted again, running a hand through his shaggy brown hair. ”They prance around like they own the place, but we’re gonna show em what real competition as like. We’re gonna succeed where others failed…” he continues, pausing mid-sentence with a big grin on his face. ”U.K.E. is gonna get pounded…..utterly dominated. We’re gonna work em so hard, they’ll be walking funny and feeling it for days…”

With each comment, the crowd whoops, cheers, and laughs a bit more. The hardcore U.K.E. fans are still a vocal component, but S.E.M.E.’s very comical introduction was definitely winning them some favor.

Finally the last member of the team stepped forward, arms folded across his chest and a surly expression on his face. Mitsuru hands him her mic and he brings it up with one hand, staring out at the audience. Unlike the other two, he was more stoic and serious. ”We’ve made ourselves and our intentions known. We’ve called you out, U.K.E., so you better sleep with two eyes open.”

Just like that, the lights go out again and another wave of screams from audience members. But when the lights come back on, S.E.M.E. is nowhere to be seen. However their message was heard and the audience was abuzz with anticipation.