- fez_machine
- Nov 27, 2004
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During the 2nd hour of AEW Dynamite tonight, a tiny Japanese independent promotion will be putting on what is my most anticipated match of the year.
Chris Brookes Vs. Lulu Pencil: THE END OF THE PENCIL WAR
Last time they met they destroyed Ichigaya Chocolate Square.
THE MATCH
30 Minute Iron-Man Match. Each pin, submission, or disqualification is a point. Most points wins. If there is a tie at the end of 30 minutes, the match will be extended until a winner is determined.
THE STAKES
Lulu Pencil
- Has never had a pin or submission in Gatoh Move/Choco Pro
- Will never give up trying to be a wrestler despite everything stacked against her
- Surviving is not enough, she MUST pin or submit Brookes and prove Gatoh Move's motto, "Wrestling is for Everyone"
Chris Brookes
- Has never been pinned or submitted in Gatoh Move/Choco Pro
- Will stop at nothing to break Lulu out of her fantasy of being a wrestler
- Winning is not enough, he MUST beat Lulu so badly that she never tries to wrestle him again
The Build
Lulu's blog about the match in English
Chris Brookes' ChocoTalk interview with Emi Sakura
The History
Joshisizzle's in depth guide to Lulu Pencil and the first half of the feud
Karen Watches Wrestling's guide to the rest of the feud and Lulu Pencil
Finally, A DEEPL Translation of Lulu's Japanese Blog
quote:
The Fault Line Between Fairy Tales and Reality
Stories have always been with me. Stories here are not just fictions such as manga, anime, and games, but also general terms that give meaning to each of our actions, such as that it is wonderful to love someone or that it is meaningful to pursue a dream, and the logic we use to explain reality.
But sometimes people arbitrarily move the boundary between reality and story. For example, a person who was talking about justice until yesterday might make an exception for his own actions. The way they do it is surprisingly convenient, and I am quite puzzled. It's not that I want to condemn the people who do this, but that I find myself behaving in such a way.
And eventually, when people say things like, "Look at reality," or "Don't be naive," I can't say anything back. Some people may say that this is what it means to be an adult. I become convinced that reality is, in other words, a place where the strong are worthy, the winner takes all, and it is better to laugh than to cry.
For me, the fault line, the world of believing in the story and betraying it, and dismissing it as a kind of growing up, was so painful that I felt depressed to the point where I couldn't move, couldn't even crawl out of bed. To recognize the strong as strong, you need the weak, the winner always needs the loser, and you can't allow the sad to remain sad. It seemed to me that the story was reliving those realities. I was crying right here and now, and I even felt that I was weak and should not exist as I was.
I thought that everyone pretended to love the story, saying that the story had saved them or something, but in the end they didn't believe any of it. I wish I could just blame them, but I know I'm part of it. Everyone gets emotional and cries when someone is hurt, but the next moment they turn on their heels and easily spit out words that hurt someone else. I even think that stories are what we need in order not to think that we are the only perpetrators. The cruelty of it hits me harder than any reality.
And when I was being beaten down like that, I saw a wrestling match. There was defeat, weakness, and tears, so I crawled out of bed, and once again, I decided to love the story. I decided to believe.
I'm a professional wrestler now. I'm a freelance writer with no sports background, 162 cm and 45 kg. Chris Brooks said it was a fairy tale that I was fighting and competing as a wrestler. I'm not a wrestler, he said, I'm just a guy who people treat as a wrestler. But when you put it that way, to me Chris is part of the fairy tale. In that moment, before the match, I can be there as an opponent, an equal opponent of a six-foot-two man, no matter who thinks I'm not worthy to stand in that place. That's the one thing Chris can't deny. That is the very hope that wrestling has given me. No matter how different we are, there I am qualified to live with my heart on my sleeve. If someone pretending to be a realist tells me that the world is not equal, their words will not reach me. I know from the beginning that we are not equal. But we can live together because we think we are equal, and we believe it and act accordingly. We can at least believe that everyone is entitled to fight and stand up for themselves.
That may be just a pretext for running a society, but if we allow ourselves to behave as if we don't even have that pretext, then we can't trust anyone, and people will live in fear that someone will hurt them.
In the ring, I don't want to sound like I understand, I don't want to conveniently move the boundaries of the harshness of reality this way and that. Reality is harsh, even if it is true.
I believe it. The stories I read, see, and feel are not fiction, but reality itself, and although they sometimes hurt us badly, it is because I believe in them that we can be together, from different places of birth and different ways of thinking.
You and I, who cannot understand each other, are in the same place. It's not to hurt each other, but to make you understand me. In order to do so, I must surely understand you as well.
Even if I'm wrong, it makes sense that I didn't move my boundaries. If what I believe is a fairy tale, then the reality that I can laugh at it as a fairy tale is wrong. Stories always change the reality. The stories that we each hold become our strength and basis for confronting the world, changing things that were thought to be unchanging.
I can do that. I can do it, even if I'm weak, even if I'm sobbing.
I will spin such stories, fairy tales.
WATCH TONIGHT HERE ON YOUTUBE FOR FREE
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Jul 21, 2021 18:00
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- fez_machine
- Nov 27, 2004
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Match Guides
From Last Word On Sports:
quote:
On ChocoPro #137, a feud that began over 10 months ago reaches its fever pitch. The ongoing saga between Lulu Pencil, and Pencil Army by extension, and Chris Brookes has been one of the most must-see stories Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling has showcased. Lulu Pencil played the “David” to Brookes’s “Goliath,” constantly struggling against her physically superior foe. All the while, she remained steadfast, which has led to this 30-minute Iron Man Match. Let’s catch up on how this particular story reached such an apex.
ChocoPro 137
30-Minute Iron Man Match: Lulu Pencil vs. Chris Brookes
The feud between Lulu Pencil and Chris Brookes began on ChocoPro #44. On this episode, Brookes, who was DDT Universal Champion at the time, reluctantly defended his title against Lulu Pencil, believing her to be unworthy. Raising the ante, the Pencil Army commanding officer put her trademark pink hat on the line. Despite her best efforts, the earnest Lulu Pencil fell to Brookes, who gleefully took her hat as a trophy. From there, this story took a number of twists and turns, with the pink overalls-wearing freelance writer endeavoring to retrieve her beloved hat.
This finally occurred on ChocoPro #63, as Lulu Pencil teamed with Emi Sakura, AKA “Emi Pencil,” to face Brookes and Yuna Mizumori in an “I Quit” Match. Despite Brookes and “Yunamon’s” best efforts, Lulu Pencil refused to verbally submit. It wasn’t until Emi surrendered for her, as “Emi Pencil” watched her partner helplessly writhe in a submission maneuver, that the match came to an end. In a rare show of respect, Brookes returned Lulu Pencil’s hat. This would be the catalyst for Brookes eventually enjoying Pencil Army as “Chris Brookes.”
The Rivalry Intensifies
Despite optimistic beginnings, this union would turn sour as Brookes found himself losing multiple Gatoh Move matches as a Pencil Army member. Following a loss on ChocoPro #110, which saw the Pencil Army quartet, also including Minoru Fujita AKA “Mino Pencil,” fall to Best Bros and Egg Tart in an eight-man tag team match, Brookes snapped. He verbally ran down Lulu Pencil, regarding her as a loser and accusing that her Pencil Army teammates thought the same. As episodes passed, it was evident that Brookes’ words stung, which made Lulu Pencil’s sadness over losing a friend that much more palpable.
On the Masahiro Takanashi Return Show edition of ChocoPro, the match for episode #137 was made. Originally a standard singles match, Brookes challenged this, proposing an Iron Man Match. In his words, he could beat her as many times as he could in 10 years in a 30-minute window. Lulu Pencil accepted the challenge, knowing that this would be her chance to exorcise her proverbial demon that had become Chris Brookes.
This War Must Come to an End
It may surprise newcomers to know that this is only the second Iron Man Match in ChocoPro history. The first dates back to episode #17, in May of 2020, which saw Yuna Mizumori and Mei Suruga do battle in a 30-minute encounter. The fact that it took over one year for another Iron Man contest to take place in Ichigaya Chocolate Square speaks volumes about this match’s importance. Based on Lulu Pencil’s struggles and Chris Brookes’s dominance, one would immediately consider the nefarious Brookes the favorite to win.
This isn’t to say that Lulu Pencil is down and out. Since the inception of ChocoPro, she has grown by leaps and bounds, learning from not only her Pencil Army teammates but the opponents she’s faced. Furthermore, her confidence has only grown with each match. Though she has won tag team matches, her partner technically picking up the win, she has yet to secure a singles pinfall or submission. Even if she ultimately loses on ChocoPro #137, the idea of her securing her first pinfall or submission over her towering rival couldn’t be more poetic. This is going to be an episode not to miss.
From superfan Dogglesnake on Reddit
quote:
Record of the Pencil War: The Story So Far
War is upon us once again. This is a Special One Match Episode, featuring one of the longest running sagas in ChocoPro: The Story of Lulu Pencil. She has overcome many trials and tribulations, having grown from a weak wrestler who would tap out to her own submissions, into a passionate leader who "never gives up"! She lost and regained her hat, built herself a real army (including the Oni, Emi Sakura, and living legend Minoru Fujita), and inspired many fans around the globe. However, as much as this is a story of Lulu, it is also a story of Chris Brookes. The tall & charismatic (but generally wicked) frequent guest has been a part of the colorful tapestry of ChocoPro for most of its lifespan. Though he usually presents himself as a ruffian that cares little for the joy and chaos that Ichigaya brings, Chris could not truly overcome Lulu. This has eaten away at the treacherous "calamari" and led to him temporarily following Lulu. After all, she saw in him...potential. Hope. A bigger destiny, along side the Pencil Army. Despite everything he had done to her. While it was glorious while it lasted, Chris could not handle the Unit's inability to win matches (as a Unit that is, each member has scored victories in other combinations) and abandoned his allies after a particularly devastating loss.
It was declared that Pencil Army would prove itself against the villain, but the new War was postponed due to the injury of rising deathmatch icon Drew Parker (An ally of the Betrayer who has yet to debut in Ichigaya). Instead, another independent star that isn't afraid to get their hands dirty came in his place. VENY! (ASUKA for the Japanese fans) Chris and VENY were joined with long time Brookes cohort Yunamon...the Tropical Idol showing a crueler side whenever inspired by the Betrayer. The Battle was long and violent...and the Betrayer stood tall in the end. But the victory was not enough. He hadn't truly beaten down the spirit of Lulu. He could not kill hope. Now, having been challenged directly by the Leader of Pencil Army for single combat, the Betrayer will attempt to evade justice once again...in a 30 minute Iron Man Match! Chris Brookes has declared that Lulu will not score a single point against him, while he will score countless against her. Who will prove themselves in this bout? Will the Saga of Lulu & Chris finally reach its finale?
Record of the Pencil War: The Final Chapter
Leader of the Pencil Army: Lulu Pencil
VS
The Betrayer, Chris Brookes
Lulu Pencil is the quintesential underdog. The struggle of good versus evil is getting rarer and rarer in a world full of shades of grey, but Lulu's journey has led us to this clear cut example. Clad in Pink overalls and a rather important Pink Hat, Lulu certainly cuts a unique image against what one expects a wrestler to look like. (Though heroes tend to look unlike the common people they are among!) The Leader of the Pencil Army is not strong in brawn, but definitely in passion and heart. The determination of this physically weak writer turned valiant wrestler is beyond measure. She has a mastery over what tugs at the heart strings, what motivates a fan to cheer despite the odds. That unknowable hidden emotion she invokes within the viewer...the indescribable hope that we felt as children. It is earned by Lulu Pencil. Lulu has found ways to fight without strength or agility, to weaponize her deep well of charisma, intelligence, and creativity. She has brought much more powerful opponents to their knees without every scoring a singles win! While she has been able to sway other dark hearted individuals to follow her (including an Oni and a Deathmatch Champion) the towering villain known as Chris Brookes couldn't truly understand her ways and broke away from the group. In spite of her admiration, her loyalty, he cast her aside. He cast them aside. The Betrayer has made it his goal to bring down the cheerful faction known as Pencil Army in some mad crusade to prove that he is right: that Lulu is nothing more than a sham. That her passion couldn't possibly be endless, that her dreams are false. He can't understand why he respects her but despises her so much. Because he himself cannot accept failure...
While the Betrayer, Chris Brookes, has left the Faction that simply cannot win...his own luck hasn't been exactly stellar. Now belt-less in his home promotion of DDT (his No Submission match against Shinya Aoki was awesome!), he has only his returned Calamari Drunken Kings Tag Partner (Masa Takanashi) left in his corner. Speaking of which, Masa battled Lulu Pencil recently...only for Lulu to receive ChocoPro's first DQ loss to prove her will to Chris! A will the Betrayer hopes to break. While Chris's vile antics last season might have earned him that season's MVP status, he hopes to up the ante with this display of villainy! The tall submission specialist has a knack for inflicting pain (both physically and emotionally) and we will probably need to endure some of the most heart wrenching sights in Ichigaya's history. That is not to say Chris isn't incredibly talented (he is) or that he is also underrated (he very much is)...but what is the point in all that technical prowess if it is applied in such wicked ways? (I wouldn't be surprised if an absolutely ugly shotgun dropkick is in Lulu's near future...) It is important to watch the Hero take on the Villain however, no matter how hard it is to do so. No matter how hopeless it might seem. Chris is not above dirty tactics, not above attacking people uninvolved in the bout itself...What sort of sadism does he have planned for Lulu? How will he attempt to overcome her unbreakable spirit? Will he finally see the error in his ways? It is never too late to be redeemed, as Mei Suruga's hero would surely tell him. How will this story end? Or will the Song of the Pencil War continue unabated...
fez_machine fucked around with this message at 22:22 on Jul 21, 2021
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Jul 21, 2021 18:00
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- Penguin Patrol
- Mar 3, 2005
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by Fluffdaddy
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chris brookes you're gonna get loving murdered tonight you piece of poo poo
after dynamite tho
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Jul 22, 2021 00:37
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- fez_machine
- Nov 27, 2004
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I heard Daniel Bryan is going to be the guest ref for the match
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Jul 22, 2021 01:18
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- fez_machine
- Nov 27, 2004
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We're on and Akki is wearing the bad hat
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Jul 22, 2021 02:01
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- Dangerous Person
- Apr 4, 2011
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Not dead yet
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So loving excited for this one
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Jul 22, 2021 02:02
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- fez_machine
- Nov 27, 2004
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He’s covered pencil wars, you know
kekekekeke
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Jul 22, 2021 02:03
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- fez_machine
- Nov 27, 2004
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Helooooooooooooooooooooo
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Jul 22, 2021 02:08
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- Sticky Nate
- Jan 9, 2012
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want that shirt
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Jul 22, 2021 02:09
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- fez_machine
- Nov 27, 2004
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No bouquets for Brookes. very good!
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Jul 22, 2021 02:13
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- fez_machine
- Nov 27, 2004
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BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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Jul 22, 2021 02:15
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- fez_machine
- Nov 27, 2004
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game face Lulu
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Jul 22, 2021 02:16
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- fez_machine
- Nov 27, 2004
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shake her hand Brookes!
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Jul 22, 2021 02:18
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- fez_machine
- Nov 27, 2004
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and we have a lock up!
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Jul 22, 2021 02:19
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- fez_machine
- Nov 27, 2004
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the size advantage is killing lulu with the mat breaks
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Jul 22, 2021 02:20
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Jul 21, 2021 18:00
