A roundup after Viento's unmasking
Viento: Last year I went to Mexico on excursion. I embarked full of dreams of a bright future. But reality isn't that easy, and I started to fear pro wrestling, started wanting to quit, and started wanting to run away from everything. But after today's match, the fog is starting to lift a little, and I felt like I can face it. I will become strong as Viento Maligno of SLC.
(He's since changed his Twitter handle to Viento Levante of course, but that was a few days after all this.)
Viento: Aoki-san, thank you. I will become strong as Viento Maligno, alongside my teammates in SLC.
Shinya Aoki: I want him to keep going. Because I love him.
Aoki: Everybody loves you!
Aoki's had some long blog posts about why he did what he did, which I'll maybe do some other time; interestingly, the gist of it is that he felt that Viento was having trouble connecting with the audience since coming back and not being able to emote through the mask, so he wanted to trigger a situation where he would have to show his emotions and capture the audience's heart. He's giving him a chance to start a new story, basically.
Kimihiro: On exactly the same day that I joined SLC, he was flying to Mexico. These last few months since he came back. I've seen him struggling in the green room so many times. Not getting the results he was hoping for. Not having anywhere to express his feelings while living as Viento. To be honest, there were times I thought maybe continuing to be Viento was too painful. All the same, he chose Viento, and he chose SLC. So let me also say this to Aoki-san. Aoki-san, truly, thank you so much. You showed him a new path. You gave him a place where he could once more steel his resolve. So, Viento Maligno. Let's turn today's typhoon into a tailwind and run riot even more. I'll keep running alongside you as part of SLC.
(Wonder if the "tailwind" phrasing was foreshadowing Viento Levante?)
Kanon: He's the only one at DDT with the same length career as me. But hearing about him going overseas, coming back, and going forwards as Viento Maligno, I think his resolve is incredible. Now we're in the same unit, and I'm happy that we can keep working hard together. Let's win! It all starts now!
Yuzuki: I love SLC. After the rain, the sun is bound to come out. Shadows make us shine. Pain will become your wings.
For some reason Twitter has decided that this picture is adult content so the embed doesn't work:
Mao: If you've decided to live as Viento after all that, then let's go all out! You know, I'm the one who's been the most stressed out about you! Ever since I got your message from Mexico, and since you got back, the whooooole time I've been thinking about nothing else, even more than you! From now on, we're moving on up! Whether you like it or not, we're lifting you up! Everyone, be nice to Viento!
