CONTRACT YEAR

Backstage.

Mushigihara is overwhelmed. He walks through the halls of the legendary Madison Square Garden with stars in his eyes, flanked by his long-time tag team partner David Fox. The Dangerous Mix has finally made it to the real big time.

David Fox: …shi? Mushi? You there, man?

The Kaiju is jarred out of his trance, and turns back to the big man in a fast, haughty way, as if to show that no, he wasn’t distracted at all.

Mushigihara: Sorry, man, what?

David Fox: I was just saying that we gotta go out there to the ring and not only win, but also make a case we can build on at the negotiating table. Our contracts are almost up, and we have to really get some juice out of the last few years, you know?

Mushi nods and looks towards us, behind the camera.

Mushigihara: Right. You only get one shot at making a first impression and all that.

Fox shakes his head and starts walking past the mammoth.

David Fox: Maybe not a first impression. Think of it more like a contract year. Making the case for the team to go all out for you. And after something like two Hall of Famers going at it, we better give as good as we get, because that’s always gonna be a tough act to follow. Like I said before. Scramble the Bandits, and send the B-Team into orbit.

Mushigihara: Yeah, man.

The duo gets closer to the center of the arena where all the action unfolds. Fox offers an extended fist towards the big man, which Mushi takes a second to recognize.

David Fox: Osu, big guy?

The Kaiju stares at it, before balling his own fist and pressing it up against David’s, and letting out a big one for old time’s sake…

Mushigihara: OSU!

Fox and Mushi grin toward each other, before walking off-screen with a spirited gait.