~With Anthony; Later On~

We were at the CWC and we managed to help each other with some exercises before the match.

It wasn't like, where I was pushing onto the bar for the chest inclines and Eimi was yelling at me, in Japanese or Italian, whatever language she prefers,

"JUST GIVE ME TWO MORE! IT'S NOT THAT HARD! YOU WANNA GIVE ME YOUR BEST TONIGHT? THEN YOU BETTER GIVE ME YOUR BEST, YOU FAT SACK OF-"

It wasn't her cursing and screaming at the top of her lungs, it was more so of encouragement and soft spoken words, like she always is.

It was basically stretching with a rubber strap and we took turns doing that.

Anyway, when it was all done, we put on our jackets and we saw that Corbin and Lola were already out there as I saw that on Twitter that our match was dubbed a mixed tag team match, but there was a "surprise partner" for me, when I clearly know that it's Eimi, which I'm all for.

When my music played, I entered to a big pop as I had a mic in my hand.

Announcer: And their opponents, first, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, CARLO MANCINI!

I'm not that great at promos, but I've been improving since I signed with NXT, so I think I can pull it off.

Me: So, Shawn Michaels allowed me to choose my partner for this match and it can be anyone. And, uh, I don't know, I think this girl is not that bad when it comes to wrestling.

That last part was a bit of a troll move. I know what Eimi is capable of, I just like to pull ribs however I saw fit.

However, as soon as I gently put the mic down, the lights went out and this theme plays...

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

When the first notes of the theme played, the fans didn't recognize it right away, which is what I wanted, but when the beat started to go hard, that was when the fans started clapping along to it.

When the beat hit with whoever was singing the song, the name came up with Eimi standing in the entranceway, with her arms spread out and looking down...

...and the crowd immediately lost their minds and popped so loud we could barely think!

Lola and Baron were both stunned as Lola had her hands on top of her head, just in shock and in fear of who I brought to the game.

Announcer: And his tag team partner, from Tokyo, Japan, GIULIAAAAAA!!!

Joseph: Giulia! Our newest signee is here!

Booker: I love it! I love it! Giulia and Carlo are teaming together and I am all for it!

Joseph: Former World of Stardom Champion, one of the best wrestlers in the world is tagging with, based on my sources, one of her best friends in the form of Carlo Mancini!

Eimi and I fist bumped as we walked out to slap some hands and I saw that Eimi approached a child who she left hanging. To compensate for that, she gave her a souvenir in the form of a towel that had her ring name on it while giving her a high five and a smile as well.

We both entered the ring as Eimi went to the top rope to spread her arms again, basking in the roar of the crowd who was excited to see what she's gonna do in an NXT ring.

As she got off the middle rope, Eimi came towards me and looked to take her entrance jacket off, but I had to stop her.

Me: Aspetta, aspetta! Lascia che ti aiuti con quello. (Hold on, hold on! Let me help you with that.)

Eimi: Va bene. (Okay.)

She turned around and I helped her take her jacket off and once it was all the way off, I swung it onto the ring post, where it was hanging, so it didn't get dirty.

I wanted to treat her entrance gear with respect and not trying to have a repeat of what happened to one of my closest friends when some idiot thought it was a good idea to clean ring gear and ruin what was wearable in the process.

As Eimi's entrance gear was on the post, it looked like Baron was gonna start things off, so Eimi and I agreed that I should go first.

Before the bell rang, Eimi and I hugged and then she stepped through the bottom rope, that was stretched out a bit by yours truly, wanting to be a gentleman.

After that, the bell rang as this match was gonna be a blast.

~5 Minutes Later~

Just as I was about to give him a few forearms, Corbin tagged in Lola, who was wanting a fight with Eimi.

The only thing I gotta say about is that's a bad idea. Eimi is the type in the ring that would beat girls up like the bitches owed her money, and Lola was not gonna be an exception soon because Eimi stretched out her own hand with a smile that I adore so much, and said...

Eimi: Taggami, Carlo! (Tag me in, Carlo!)

The crowd was wanting me to tag her in and Lola was actually scared about facing off against her, and to tell you the truth, I don't blame her.

If I was a woman wrestler and I was forced to fight Eimi, I'm running until the cows come home. They're never gonna see me again, nor are they gonna want to book me for a show ever again because if they did and it's Eimi as my opponent, I'll knock them out with one of my mom's cast iron skillets!

However, I pointed at Eimi, who got the crowd riled up and when my stuck my hand towards her, she slapped it causing the fans to pop as I stretched the bottom rope for her and she entered as I went out through the middle rope.

Eimi stretched a bit and before the two could lock up, the fans were chanting...

Crowd (chanting): GIULIA'S GONNA HEADBUTT YOU
DOOH DAH, DOOH DAH!
GIULIA'S GONNA HEADBUTT YOU
DOOH DAH, DOOH DAH, DAY!

I really liked that as Lola, surprisingly, was wanting Eimi to shake her hand.

This was surprising to me because Lola is a bit of a bitch, so for her to try something this incredibly dumb and just stupid all around, it's not gonna end well.

I mean, Trish Adora, a female wrestler, fell for this and almost got suplexed on the back of her neck, so I wouldn't call this move smart because Eimi just that mischievous like I am.

Since she's half-Italian of course.

Then, Eimi decided to smile and take up on the handshake, but instead of her almost getting a suplex, Lola slapped her face, causing the audience to groan in disbelief, telling her that what she just did was a bad idea.

Lola: You think you're new here? Huh? You think you can walk in and say that you own the place? You're not gonna get any special treatment here! So how about you go back to Japan and focus on that pissant promotion instead!

I then had to scream at her, letting Lola know, as Eimi continued to glare at her...

Me: Lola, listen to me, you better be careful about what you say next because the look on this girl's face means, that the next time you insult her father figure, she will reach down your throat, pull out your insides, and play jump rope with your entrails!

Eimi still had a glare that could kill just by anyone looking at her, but she then smirked and nodded, probably understanding what I just said to heart.

I've known her for years at this point and I've seen it all in Japanese wrestling, so I can tell what the expressions on many wrestlers can mean. Eimi is no exception, solely based on the fact that while she doesn't speak English that well, expressions can tell the story more so than words themselves.

Then, Lola slapped Eimi kept taking it, but what Eimi did shocked me: she slapped her own face and gesturing Lola to slap her again.

I knew that she wasn't gonna take that comment very well, considering that she trusts Rossy so much, almost seeing him as a father figure, and for Lola to dunk on her like this, that's not gonna sit well with Eimi.

Glaring at Lola, Lola looked to escape the ring, but Eimi picked her up and gave Vice an Exploder Suplex!

Eimi then got her up and chopped her very hard on her chest, sounding like a rifle crack!

I've taken her chops before and they hurt, so I pretty much know what that feels like, but whenever I hear sounds like that, my PTSD comes back to haunt me.

However, if I'm seeing it in front of me, like at ringside, I'm okay.

Then, Eimi gave Lola her signature headbutt and it was as loud as it can be because when I looked closer, I see a strand of blood coming from Lola's head!

I cringed on the inside when I heard that sound and this is just a repeat of the "Headbutt Heard Around The World", featuring Katsuyori Shibata, one of my longtime friends from Japan.

However, I think Eimi has the best headbutts, my personal opinion.

Anyway, Lola decided to try and kick her in the gut, but Eimi threw the leg down and looked for a suplex, but Lola got behind her and did a waistlock. However, Eimi elbowed Lola and looked to run the ropes, but Lola grabbed her hair and pulled her down on the mat.

Lola decided to pose for the crowd, making them boo at her, mercilessly.

Then, Eimi got up, grabbed Lola's hair and pulled her down with a scream!

The crowd erupted as Eimi smiled and looked to put in a submission hold, but Corbin had to come the other way and pull Lola out of there.

However, Eimi and I looked at each other and nodded, as we came up with a plan on the spot.

Eimi performed a suicide dive onto them as she moved out of the way and it was my turn.

Corbin stood up and I leapt off the top rope with a crossbody, but as I flew, I had a flashback of when I was falling out of the sky with a parachute, during my time with the military.

This made me shake my head as Eimi came over to check on me.

Eimi: Stai bene? (You okay?)

Me: Sto bene, grazie. (I'm okay, thanks.)

She patted my shoulder and we refocused on our opponents as Eimi took Lola back into the ring and covered her, but when Lola kicked out, she performed a Hammerlock DDT!

Lola would slowly get back up to her feet, but she gave Eimi a forearm and that was when they started to exchange forearms as well.

Meanwhile, Corbin and I fought on the outside as he looked to Irish Whip me into the steps, but I countered and I sent him into the steps.

In the ring, I saw that Eimi had put Lola into the corner, spread the arms out, and chopped her in the chest!

Then, she ran to the other side, looking for a splash, but Lola looked to push Eimi away with her legs, which failed as Eimi pushed the legs away and performed a neckbreaker on her!

After that, she went to the middle rope and performed a missile dropkick onto Vice.

She pulled her into the middle of the ring, covered her, but Lola kicked out at two.

When Lola kicked out, Eimi quickly transitioned that into a crossface clutch, causing Vice to scream in pain!

However, Corbin came in to make the save by pulling Eimi off of Lola, causing her to stand up and glare at Corbin, who made the biggest mistake of his life, if not career.

Then, she moved out of the way as I attacked him with forearms into the corner.

After that, I gestured Eimi to Irish Whip me into him, and we did as I pulled him over to the bottom rope, where Eimi ran to the ropes and gave him a big boot!

Eimi: Ichiban! (Number one!) HAI! HAI! HAI!

The crowd chanting "hai" as Eimi looked for another one on Corbin and she connected, making the fans cheer and applaud as the chemistry between us is just awesome.

Lola then turned me around and slapped me, causing Eimi to ambush her and then throwing her onto the outside while I focused on getting Corbin out of the ring, which I did.

Then, Eimi looked for another suicide dive, but Lola caught her and knee'd her right in the jaw!

Lola then threw her back in the ring, she covered her, but when the ref was about to count three, I managed to get up and pull Lola off of Eimi, making her look back at me as I gave her the "no-no" gesture with a smile.

Lola looked to kick me, but I backed up, leading to Eimi having a rollup, but when Lola kicked out, Eimi locked in the Bianca, a variation of the Rings Of Saturn.

Lola was screaming in agony, but in the end, she had no choice but to tap out, leading the ref to call for the bell and Eimi's music played.

Announcer: Here are your winners, Carlo Mancini, and GIULIAAAAAA!!!

I managed to get back in the ring as Eimi and I had our arms raised.

We then hugged as she looked to get on the middle rope to pose for the fans, which I was all for since it was her moment and not mine, but when the show was off the air, I quickly asked for a microphone, and I was given one.

I started to talk, as it mainly has to do with us reuniting after a whole year, leading us to a tag team match against Corbin and Vice, that might not make sense on paper, but it worked because we managed to pull out a great match.

So, I started talking on the mic,

Me: You know, there are many times where I feel like I don't deserve Giulia as one of my best friends, but she is. You see, back in Philly, I had the privilege of surprising her at Stand And Deliver, making her break down into tears and just finally getting back together again.

Whenever I watch that footage, I tear up, only because of how long it's been since we've seen each other and how long it's been since we hung out, and Eimi right now is just smiling and her eyes were watering, and I don't blame her.

Me: It's been a great night tagging together, Giulia, and it's that much of a pleasure, but not as much as the first Marigold show.

Eimi nodded at me, letting me know that I can promote it for her, but I got something even better.

Me: I did learn that the first show is on May 20th, I believe, and you're gonna be in a traditional tag team match. Now, if you're gonna be performing on that show, then I gotta be there to see it!

The crowd popped as Eimi covered her mouth in shock as she was now about to burst into tears as I proclaimed that I was gonna be at the show, but I didn't say how and what my role is gonna be yet.

Personally, I want to be backstage, watching the match, but if I have to sit at ringside as a fan, I'm okay with that. I'm willing to put up with whatever we have in mind.

Me: With that said, Giulia, I hope to see you over there.

The fans applauded as Eimi walked over and hugged me, as she was now crying, just about me promoting the show and proclaiming that I was gonna be there.

I plan on buying a ticket if that's gonna be the case because I want to be there and support my best friend.

And when we finally had to go our separate ways, for now, it was hard.

~A Few Days Later~

When we arrived at the airport, and through the gate, we had to say goodbye while a fixer was waiting for Eimi to board the terminal.

I hated seeing her go, but I know that it's only a couple months before we reunite again in July.

Before she left, we hugged as I can just tell, she wanted to start crying, knowing how special our reunion was back in my hometown of Philly, and now she had to leave to go back to Japan for the Marigold conference and show.

After a few minutes of hugging, she looked at me with a tear in her eye, I wanted to burst out crying too.

Eimi: ショーに来ると約束してください。お願いします。 (Promise that you'll be at the show. Please.)

Me: 私はあなたの親友です。何があっても、いつもあなたのそばにいます。 (I'm your best friend, and I'll always be there for you, no matter what.)

Attendant: ミス、もう行く時間です。 (Miss, it's time to go.)

She nodded at the attendant and looked at me with a smile, as if she's trying to stay positive.

Eimi: それでは、またお会いしましょう。すぐですね？ (So, I'll see you again. Soon, right?)

Me: もちろん。またね、エイミ。 (Of course. See ya later, Eimi.)

She smiled and said...

Eimi: さようなら、アンソニー。 (Bye Anthony.)

We hugged once more and Eimi started walking with the attendant as I waved and started to walk away.

However, as I was walking, I felt her running, wrap her arms around me, and she kissed the underside of my cheek from behind.

It was a long kiss because after a few seconds of feeling stunned, she released stood back a bit, I turned around to see her starting to tears coming down her face.

After some time looking at each other, Eimi walked back to the terminal, and she was gone.

I was stunned by her giving me a kiss on my cheek. Instead of standing still, I felt the cheek that she kissed, and it felt warm with a touch of coldness.

I bet it had to do how sad she was to leave and how hard it is for her to say goodbye, for now at least because I'm gonna be in Japan as a fan in attendance for Marigold.