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Tumanako Te’i opens episode 2 of how he got the call to join the NZ Dojo.
Opening credits.
They show the recruits cleaning and sweeping the NZ Dojo house. Fale explains that NZ Dojo house was his former home which he converted into a dormitory. In his Tongan family, he was raised with eleven family members. In their culture, he had extended family member who would come to live with them. You could have 20-50 people in the house at one time.
Tumanako Te’i is introduced. He is from California. His mother is M?ori and from New Zealand. Despite being born in the U.S. and New Zealand’s ban on U.S. travelers into the country, Tuamanako was able get into the country and the NZ Dojo with dual citizenship.
Fale shows the house and how he expanded the rooms. The five bedroom house was decreased to three large bedrooms, with 4 - 5 recruits per room. Fale said the space is limited but he lived in smaller areas in Japan, so these recruits cannot complain. They added another toilet and a bigger bathroom. The “senpai” or person of a higher rank, will have a room to himself.
Tumanako says that specific house rules, in particular no muddy shoes in the house and the toilets should be clean that you can eat off of it.
Welcome to Mangere.
The scene changes to Mangere Town Centre in Mangere, South Auckland. Fale says that wrestlers like to eat and funds can be limited due to the pandemic. He comes to the market to try and get deals on fruits and vegetables.
6 Stars.
Michael Richards is interviewed. He reflects on the Wrestle Kingdom match between Kazuchika Okada against Kenny Omega. He saw the fighting spirit of both wrestlers. He there were no chairs or tables like in American wrestling.
A Redemption Story.
Michael Richards continues as he remembers his the New Japan young lion tournament in 2019. His match with Ren Narita was not good and when he got backstage, Rocky Romero, whom he called “Rocky-San”, ripped into him. He felt embarrassed because he was representing Fale Dojo and the young lions at the LA Dojo had surpassed him. He points to his heart and says “I still have this”, so despite the embarrassment he is not giving up.
After that poor performance, he returned to the NZ Dojo to train every day since. Richards speaks of redemption for New Japan, for Fale-san and for himself. He has a lot to prove and wants to show the doubters that he can perform at a high level.
Tumanako says that this three month investment of his life in this Dojo for a chance to be working for New Japan as a pro wrestler. He shares some expectations for living in the Dojo house. If one cannot get his own affairs in order in the place he lives, how can he expect to make it on the road traveling from town to town.
Senpai.
They flash to a match between Bad Luck Fale and Yuji Nagata in 2017 during the G1 Climax. Fale pinned Nagata and both men showed each other respect after the match. They saluted each other and Fale left the ring. Nagata had tears in his eyes.
The next scene is at the NZ Dojo. They review the proper Japanese vocabulary when addressing each other. Michael Richards is the Senpai of this class of recruits, as he is elder young lion. He explains the rules of what to do and not to do as a member of the Dojo. Fale teaches them a proper greeting when a trainer walks in the room. He expects them to follow this by Monday.
Monday.
Richards tells a story of how he met Fale in 2014. Fale hand picked him to be one of the leaders. Richards explains the there is a lot stretching in the morning then the work out really begins.
While Richards is speaking the recruits are carrying weighted bags and running in a straight line through South Auckland.
Richards tells another story of growing up in New Zealand playing soccer. When he wanted to be a pro wrestler, his family did not like it. He was a shy kid and at the time did not fit the mold of a wrestler, but when he gets into the ring the shyness disappears a little.
Richards states that there is no wrestling training like Japanese training. He say some may think they are doing the same but it is not.
When the running laps are done, one recruit is exhausted and collapses to a knee. Richards tells him to get up and ask others to come help him up.
1000 Squats.
Fale reminds the recruits about the greetings and addressing the trainers. He repeats the rules. The next lesson is 1000 Squats. Richards says why he first heard of 1000 Squats he thought it was a joke. Over he said your body will adapt to the pain and you get used to it. In the middle of the squats, Fale yelled at them as some were using chairs. He said if you are using a chair then you don’t know how to do a squat. He told them to get rid of the chairs and continue. Mark Tui wanted everyone in sync doing the squats, if not they would have to start over. Fale told them if you see someone falling behind help them up, encourage them. When they finished, Fale told them they did about 2000 squats. He told them if they listened they could have done 1000 easily. He said some were trying to go too fast. He said if you are not in sync with your opponent in the ring then no one will want to work with you.
Richards quotes Hiroshi Tanahashi who said, “Never show them you are tired”. Richards says you have to show them this and he points to his heart again. He said that’s why he loves Japanese pro wrestling.
Tumanako speaks one the simplicity of the process. He feels he is in the best place to learn, with his fellow recruits.
Arrival.
Richards and Andrew Villalobos are at the airport in Auckland. AV describes himself as the “nice mom” while Richards is the “angry dad”. Richards says he has no problem yelling at the young recruits.
Richards says he has spent thousands of dollars on wrestling, and has almost no money to show for it. He spent 4 years at the Dojo but he will continue. He does not care if it takes 10 years but he will sacrifice everything for this dream.
Richards and AV pick up Jake Taylor, another New Japan young lion at the airport.
Richards puts all his trust in Fale. When Fale tells him he is ready, then he will go and improve upon what he did in 2019. If Fale says nothing then he won’t go.
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 Peru (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)
My review:
I remember watching Michael Richards in the 2019 young lions tournament. I did not think he was terrible. I did not think he deserved that type of treatment, by someone who did not train him, but I understand why he went back to the NZ Dojo.
It is very cool to see his loyalty to Fale, and how he expects the other recruits to live up to that standard.
The comparison between Richards and Tumanako is interesting. Richards is a veteran and Tumanako is the wide eyed new comer who thinks he can wrestle in New Japan in 3 months. I think there is a wake up call coming for Tumanako.
Now, I am invested in Michael Richards as a wrestler and person. He is completely honest about experience in New Japan, as a young lion and deciding to go back to basics. He is in control of his destiny and putting his trust in Fale that he will tell him when he is ready for the next level.
I highly recommend this series. You can subscribe to New Japan World to check it out.
PREVIOUS LION'S ROAR COVERAGE
NJPW LION'S ROAR EPISODE ONE REPORT & THOUGHTS ON NEW JAPAN'S NEW ZEALAND DOJO SERIES
by James Kurokawa
1/17/2022 2:57 PM
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