PREVIOUSLY

After receiving a knee injury from the hands of Notorious Ned Kaye, I foolishly kept going until I could go no longer and was told by my Doctor to take a month off or risk suffering a career ending injury.

That almost came true after the Leap of Faith Rafter Match, where as I was walking to my car, my knee finally had enough and gave way.

Fearing my career was now in tatters a lot of negative thoughts went through my head as I flew back home to New Zealand and it was then that I realized I needed to prepare for the future. Wether that came sooner or later that had to become the plan.

And now the continuation:

---

MONDAY 5TH AUGUST 2019
NGAWHA MARAE
KAIKOHE, NORTHLAND
UPPER NORTH ISLAND
NEW ZEALAND

I heard the question, but took a quick look out of the window at the people getting ready to go onto the Marae. I had had a few friends in the Wellington Maori community and a few others from around the country, that when I needed their help the most, I called in a favor, and they were all willing to help and so here they were all now, giving me the support I needed for the sake of my future.

Blackie, the XWF camera man, was with me to record this part of my journey, asked the same question as he did just seconds ago!

"When is the timeline for your retirement?"

Maria squeezed my hand, she knew that I knew once I said it out loud then it would be very real.

I looked back at the camera "By 2022 my protege will be ready, if his iwi, sorry tribe, says yes to letting me take him under my wing. If not the 2022 will be when I definetly retire. I will be 48 then,"

There was a knock on the car roof.

"We need to go, the powhiri is about to start, like I said before, you need to stick close to me,"

I opened the car door, and got out, and Maria followed, Blackie was the last out.

Well known Wellington Kaumatua (A Maori Elder), Mr Hone (John) Jacobs, was standing there waiting for me. The rule in Maoridom, you wait for the Kaumatua not let them wait for you. After all they are respected elders amongst their people. The Maori look after their elders unlike some cultures (like mine to be truthful where we lock our elders away in nursing homes or places like that.

"Aroha mai Koro (sorry respected elder), I just had to go over final details with my camera man,"

"Kei te pai (that's okay), ka haere mai matou te tautoko tou kaupapa (we came to support you and your issues at this time."

I shared a hongi with Hone. A hongi is a traditional Maori greeting in which people press their noses together. It is often said that you both share the breath of life.

"You know my wife Maria," I said after we had parted

Hone looked at Maria, and looked at me "He wahine tino ataahua (she is one beautiful lady)

"Ae, he wahine tino ataahua," I replied (Yes she is a beautiful lady)

Hone gave Maria a kiss, then he looked at Blackie.

"Kei te haere mai tera tangata ki te awhina i ahau mo tenei kaupapa. Kei te record aku mahi." (This person (Blackie) is here to help me with my work. He's here to record the work)

Hone nodded and as Blackie gave him his hand hoping for a handshake, Hone pulled him as close as he could go, and gave him a hongi. Hone and I walked towards the group leaving Blackie in shock with the closeness.

Maria laughed at him "If you were here long enough you'd get use to it,"

As we got to the group some of them crowded around me to say hello. As I looked past them for a few seconds to look onto the Marae grounds, I thought back to what brought me to this point.

---

TUESDAY 30TH JULY 2019
JUST LANDED AT WELLINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

We had been in the air a full 24 hours with a quick stop over fuel in the Philippines. My knee had felt better after the first 6 hours because of the ice pack, but after sitting around and then sleeping for the remaining 18 hours, it started to hurt again.

Throughout the flight I had been standing up and using the chairs down the aisle of the cabin of the plane to use to help walk so getting some movement back in the knee was the priority.

But as we flew into Wellington, the knee started to hurt and once again those negative thought started coming back about the end of my career.

The doctor was on hand to recheck the knee.

"It feels fine," he said "We can get an mri scan just so you can ease your mind, but you'll be having a lot of physiotherapy over the next few weeks,"

Even knowing that I would have to go through hours of physio really got me down.

I struggled with this as I was helped from the plane and as we got nearer the car, I got the shock of my life. Standing, waiting for me, was my old mentor, yes, I've mentioned him a lot, Outback Jack. I stopped dead in my tracks.

"What the hell?" I asked turning to Maria

"Is that Outback Jack?" She asked, she had never met him before

I had invited him to our wedding but he had to decline because of prior commitments with competitions.

"Yes it is Outback Jack, so it was he who you were talking to when we had just left London?"

"Maybe?" smiled Maria "He's here to help!"

"I don't need help," I said stubbornly

"Yes you do," said Maria, Quincy (who was helping me get from the plane to the car) and the Doctor all together

"Can we continue, please,"p
asked Quincy

I nodded, and continued to the car.

Maria got there first.

"Please to finally meet you, I'm Maria,"

Maria gave Outback Jack a hug.

"Nice to finally meet you too, thanks for calling, I had been watching his matches, and keeping an eye on his knee,"

"I knew you could be the right person for the job,"

I hobbled up with Quincy at my side. Outback Jack looked at the doctor.

"Prognosis Doctor?"

"Severe hematoma of the knee cap with a bit of cartilage causing the issue. It went down with continued ice packing, but the length of time in the air wouldn't have helped either. I suggest we go for an immediate M.R.I scan just to make sure, and physiotherapy start this afternoon,"

"You left that out, Doc," I said "You didn't tell me when I needed to do this,"

"The sooner the better you big baby," smiled Maria

"Agreed," said the Doctor

"Agreed," replied both Quincy and Outback Jack together

I felt deflated right there and then, Maria saw this.

Maria looked back at Outback Jack "I'm sure you are eager to catch up with 'M', why don't you go to the hospital with them, I'll head home with the boys,"

"Yes ma'am,"

Maria turned to me and gave me a kiss "It'll be okay, just behave,"

"Yes baby,"

Maria heaaded over to another car that was waiting.

"Strong woman that wife of yours!" said Outback Jack

"Yes," I replied "It's nice to see you,"

"It's good to see you too 'M',

We went to the car where Quincy helped me into the back, but knew his place and followed the Doc to the front of the car, and I waited for Outback Jack to get in.

"This could my career, Jack....."

---

RETURN TO:
MONDAY 5TH AUGUST 2019
NGAWHA MARAE
KAIKOHE, NORTHLAND
UPPER NORTH ISLAND
NEW ZEALAND

I hadn't realized my name was being called, I snapped back from what I had been remembering.

"'M' kei te rere koe?" came Hone's voice (Are you ready to go, 'M'?")

I blinked "Aye" (Yes)

Hone gave a signal to the front of the group.

"Ka haere ki mua nga wahine katoa," said Hone to me (All females have to go to the front of the group)

"Aye Koro," I replied (Yes sir)

I turned to Maria and looked into the camera "It is custom for all women to go to the front of the group as we walk onto the Marae. It signifies that they are protecting their females from a risk of attack from an advancing army from behind, so that all future generations will stay safe,"

"Wow that's deep," I heard Blackie say

"You haven't seen nothing yet," I replied

I gave Maria a quick kiss "Just follow them, you'll be fine,"

"I'll take care of your wife, 'M'," came a familiar voice beside me

I turned to see an old friend from my NZWC days. It was Kata 'The Maori Ice Princess' Aranga.

"Hey Kata," I said giving her a hug

"Hey 'M' we can't hold the powhiri up too much, I'll catch up with you later... Maria is it?"

"Yes," smiled Maria

"Come with me, I owe 'M' so I'll look after you like you are royalty,"

Kata lead Maria up to where the rest of the women were. I turned back to the camera.

"You'd be surprise who you meet back up with at powhiri,"

And that's when it started. The Karanga or the cry of the wahine (women) if you heard it in person then it would make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

NOTE: EXAMPLE OF A KARANGA

I didn't dare talk during this, as it was very sensitive so I later did a voice over the recording explaining what this meant:

---

VOICE OVER: THE MEANING OF KARANGA (call)

The karanga is the first voice to be heard in a pōwhiri. A female elder traditionally carries out the karanga. The caller for the tangata whenua (home tribe) holds the title of kaikaranga (leader) and is the first to call. The caller who replies for the manuhiri (visitors) holds the title of kaiwhakautu. (Responder).

The purpose of the karanga is to weave a metaphorical spiritual rope around the guests (manuhiri) for safe passage to enter Te marae nui ā tea o Tūmatauenga ('the domain of Tūmatauenga' - the Māori god of war/ conflict) - the courtyard in front of the whare tupuna (ancestral house). This is the place where traditional fighting would take place.

---

We continued onwards on to the Marae further. Once both Kai Karanga (callers) were finished, the home group started the Haka Powhiri (ceremonial welcome dance.)

EXAMPLE OF HAKA POWHIRI

Again, I didn't dare talk during this, as it was also very sensitive so I later did a voice over the recording explaining what this meant:

---

VOICE OVER: THE MEANING OF THE HAKA POWHIRI (Welcome dance)

The haka pōwhiri is executed by the tangata whenua (home tribe). The purpose of the haka pōwhiri is to use the rope woven during the karanga to pull the spiritual waka (canoe) of the manuhiri (guests) onto the marae and to uplift the mana (prestige) of the tangata whenua, their marae, iwi (tribe), hapū (sub tribe), and their tūpuna (ancestors).

---

Because it was a bright sunny warm day, not bad for being in the last month of winter here in New Zealand. But the further North you tend to go, the dryer and warmer it is, compared to going South where it's wet and colder. But hey I'm going off topic.

Anyway because it was nice and fine we directed to the seats where they would traditionally begin their Mihi (speeches) or Whaikorero was the old term.

Once again I didn't feel comfortable talking into a microphone, so I chose to do a voice over later.

---

VOICE OVER: THE MEANING OF MIHI / WHAIKORERO (Speeches)

Traditionally only the experts in the art of whaikōrero (oratory) would stand to speak to the opposite group. The purpose of the mihi is to acknowledge and weave together the past, present and future, by acknowledging the creator, guardians, the hunga mate (the dead), the hunga ora (the living) and laying down the take or kaupapa (the reason) for the pōwhiri or event that will take place.

---

Because I intended to speak I had to sit at the front. The rest of the guys who werent speaking sat behind us, while the women always sat behind us or to the side on the grass. They never spoke, their job was done during the Karanga or when they would back up the speakers by helping sing a song. We will get to that part soon.

Now there are two traditional methods of speaking. Tu-atu-tu-mai (which the North Island Maori uses) where one person from the Tangata Whenua speaks first followed by a person from the Manuhiri speaks and so forth. The first and last people to speak would always be The Tangata Whenua.

Whereas the South Island Maori would use the Paeke method. Where the Tangata whenua goes first and then the Manuhiri goes next, with the last speaker also being the Tangata whenua.

As I sat there listening to the speeches, I won't bote you all with any of them because sometimes thry could speak for hours. I rememember the longest I ever sat through a Whaikorero on was 3 hours. 3 HOURS I'M TELLING YOU!!! Talk about a sore bum.

The only time you got to move was when each speaker on your side finished and yiu wiuld stabd to perform a waiata (song). I'll get to that part shortly.

Anyway I was sitting waiting for my turn to speak trying to remember what I wanted to say. Then it finally came my turn.

Hone had started first from our side, then it went across to their second speaker and then he finished. I was looking diwn at the ground, when Hone gave me the signal to start.

I started with the whakatauki (a proverb). My favourite one.

"Whakarongo ake au ki te tangi o te Manu
(I Listen to the sound that the bird makes)
Ma tui, tui, tuia
(Chirp, chirp, chirp)
Tuia ki runga
(The chirping above - in the sky -)
Tuia ki raro
(The chirping below - on the ground -)
Tuia ki roto
(The chirping inside - possibly from birds in cages)
Tuia ki waho
(The chirping outside - while we are inside listening)
Tuia ki te herenga tangata
(The chirping sound that we make as people)
Tihei Mauri Ora,"
(Which is the breath of life)

I stand up

"Mihi atu ki te hunga mate, haere, haere, haere atu ra
(I want to acknowledge the dead that have passed on. Go in peace)
Mihi atu ki te hunga ora, mihi mai, mihi mai, mihi mai.
(I want to acknowledge the living, acknowledgements to you all)
Mihi atu ki te Marae nei
(I want to acknowledge the Marae that we are on)
Mihi atu ki a Papatuanuku, me Ranginui hoki
(I want to acknowledge the Earth mother and the Sky father)
Mihi atu ki a koutou o tenei whenua,"
(I want to acknowledge, you the people of this land)

I paused to state my reasoning for being here.

"Kei te haere mai ahau mo tenei ra to korero atu ki a koutou
(I came today to speak to you good people)
E pa ana ki a kaukapa tino tata ki toku nei manawa
(About a subject that is close to my heart)
Akuanei ka korero tatou e pa ana ki a koutou Rangatahi - Ko Manu
(We will speak later regarding your teenager, Manu.)
Engari naianei kei konei matou te noho ki waenganui a koutou ki te korero tahi
(But for now we would like to sit in with you as one and speak as one)
Noreira tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tatou katoa,"
(Therefore mihi to you, to us, to us all.)

I finished and that was when the Women got up, and helped me with a Waiata (song).

Once again I didn't feel comfortable talking into a microphone, so I chose to do a voice over later.

---

VOICE OVER: THE MEANING OF WAIATA (SONG/CHANT - SUNG AFTER EACH SPEAKER)

The purpose of the waiata is to show that the people support the speaker and what has been said. Waiata often reflect on what has been said and the occasion surrounding the pōwhiri. It acknowledges the speaker’s whakapapa (genealogy) or the group itself.

---

I felt really good after my little mihi. During the waiata, Hone gave me an envelope. He trusted me to end our sides mihi. And by doing lay down a koha.

Once again I didn't feel comfortable talking into a microphone, so I chose to do a voice over later.

---

Example of placing of a koha

VOICE OVER: THE MEANING OF KOHA (GIFT)

Koha is given by the manuhiri to the tangata whenua. The koha is laid by the last speaker of the manuhiri to indicate their speakers are all finished. The koha is the first contact between the tangata whenua and the manuhiri. Traditionally koha were in the form of precious materials - pounamu, whale bone, korowai (cloaks) and other taonga. Today, money is the normal form of koha. The size of the koha (pride, prestige) shows the mana of the manuhiri and the significance of the occasion. And to help them buy food for the meals.

---

As the Waiata finished, I stepped forward.

"Anei he koha ma matou mo katou,"

(Here is our koha from us to you)

I placed the envelope on the ground, and stepped back.

"Noreira ko te mihi ki a koutou, ki a matou, ki a tatou katoa... kahuri,"

(One last time, our greetings go to you, us, and to everyone here. We are finished speaking,)

We stood standing as their elder speaker came forward, and picked up the envelope and walked backwards back to his side. (It was bad luck to show your back to your visitors (or in the old days your enemies.))

We sat down, and listened to their last speaker talk, and then their last waiata. That was when the official powhiri was almost over.

We had to do the Hongi next which is the traditional form of greeting between the home tribe and their visitors. I quickly found Blackie, who looked out of his depth, and explained the next method on camera.

"The hongi is the first physical contact between the two groups. It is the gentle pressing of nose and forehead."

So we got in line and did a hongi with everyone on the Tangata Whenua side.

The final part of the powhiri was the Hakari / Kai (The feast). And as we being led into the Wharekai (the dining room). I explained this side to the camera.

"The final stage of the pōwhiri. It is the stage where the tapu (sacred nature) of the pōwhiri is removed by the sharing of kai (food). The tangata whenua and the manuhiri are now one,"

Maria found her way back to me and we sat down at a table. Just then, the boy at the centre of all this, came running up to the table, and showed me his pad.

---

"Mastermind"

---

I smiled at him and nodded.

He again wrote on his pad.

---

"I can't wait to start training under Outback Jack, I looked him up online,"

---

Maria looked at me.

"Manu meet my wife Maria, Maria this is my future protege, Manu,"

---

PRESENT DAY
WEDNESDAY 28TH AUGUST 2019
PREPARING TO DEPART WELLINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
NEW ZEALAND

The camera fade in on board Mastermind's private jet. As it's getting ready to take off back to the U.K.

We see the co-pilot talking to Mastermind, and Mastermind looking at a piece of paper. He then signs it, and hands it back to the co-pilot and the co-pilot heads back to the cockpit. Mastermind looks at the camera.

"Hi BigD, Hi Peter. I wanted to say hello to you both. Do you know what you two remind me of? Well I will tell you.

"Firstly you BigD. Let me give you a scenario first of all. Here in Wellington we can have up to real big gale force winds. The city is known for it around the country and it is nicknamed Windy Wellington. It gets the biggest gusts of winds that other places in New Zealand don't. I've been in a few of them having lived here for over 15 plus years.

"Getting back to you BigD, you remind me of gale forced winds. You tend to breeze in and breeze out of situations without a care in the world, and that can also mean certain matches. You breezed into the XWF with a bang, and then you started talking like you had wind coming out of your ass, like you being guided by it. Just like Sarah Lachlan does all the time. You've toned it down a bit, but there was a wee bit of time, that after a few matches, you started expecting and wanting more. You wanted big, matches. Title matches. Without even earning them first. You expected to be given to you on a silver platter.

"You are not royalty BigD! You are not a King or a Queen! You are not even a head of state! You've been here only five minutes and you expected to be in the Universal Title scene. Do you have ants in your pants or something BigD? Because that's what I see. You get bitten by an ant so you need to react to it to make the pain go away. But can't you see that because you remind me Gale Forced winds that you leave damage behind you. Whether that means you win or lose. In a way that's not good. And I'll come back to you shortly.

"And as for you Peter. You last promo shows to me that you doubt yourself all of a sudden. You are what we call a doubting Thomas. What's a doubting Thomas only Peter Gilmour will ask! Well Peter I'll tell you. It someones who doubts themselves very much, who is a skeptic, who refuses to believe in what he is doing. It comes from the bible from one of the Apostles. Thomas. He had refused to believe that Jesus, who had resurrected himself, had appeared to the other 10 apostles until he could see the wounds and feel them. He felt they were lying. So hence the word Doubting Thomas.

"You Peter. You showed that you doubt yourself. If you thought by standing in front of a mirror makes you look different well it made you look weak. It made you think more negative things. And for that I'm not sorry that you will be eliminated early. I can clearly see that happening,"

Mastermind smirks as he walks over to the cabin door, and looks outside into the sunlight. He breathes in the last of the air, and turns to one of his aides. He nods to them and lets them close the door, as he heads to his seat.

"Where was I? Oh yes. BigD, I said he was a Gale Forced Winds, and Peter I called a doubting Thomas.

"Now let me get something straight to you both before I continue with each of you individually. You both brought up the issues that I have been having with my knee. Well done for pointing that out guys. Very well done. I'll give you an A for..... boring. Yes I have HAD a knee problem but that's the key word. I overplayed it in my head, anyone would if they were forced into that situation. They see their lives and careers flash before their eyes like I did. But all I had to do was let it settle down and get some physio work on it. The two and a bit weeks off was what I needed. I felt I needed a month off, but boss man Vinnie was desperate to have me on Anarchy and get back on the horse so to speak and test my knee out, that I obliged and look what happened. I broke my 7 match losing streak.

"My knee feels fine. There's no problem with it. And that's now past tense. The fact that you both brought it up meant you fear me on what I could do on one good leg, let alone two. So you got it into your heads that a one legged Mastermind was simply yours for the taking. Well guess again. My knee is 100 percent better. I'm a fast healer like I always have been, and you are both are going to get taught a lesson why you should never feel that I have knee issues. Because by the time you realize that I don't, the match will be well and truly over.

"BigD I admire you. Don't get me wrong. You have made some grave mistakes in your past. Like I said you remind of hurricane winds. Your biggest mistake was not doing your homework on Peter. When I first got here, I heard all about Peter. How useless he was on a team. How he let others do the big jobs, and all he does is sit back. That's why when I was given responsibility like you were as a Team Captain at War Games. As a Captain I chose what I thought was the strongest team possible, and that's not Peter Gilmour.

"In fact I chose a team which consisted of Gator and boss man Vinnie Lane, prior to him becoming owner of the XWF. Sorry Theo, co-owner. I worked with them and a couple of others on my team, and never shirked any responsibilities once. Had the match been an elimination like it was this year we would have won, but it was a straight out 1 fall, and well we were robbed. Peter was on the other team. He hardly did much work. Left it to the big captain and his so called co-captain and well they won it with him being on the team and he rarely played a part. Like he did for you.

"At least Ned had the idea, go with a team without Peter on it, and with hard workers on it. You failed to get me, am I bitter about that? No. I was expecting to be picked towards the bottom half of the field, I didn't even think I would be picked first. But boy I was grateful that Ned chose me first. And I gave him everything I had. That's why I was the second to last left.

"Yes I did pin you, but lucky for you, your team mates won which gave you the opportunity as Captain to fight for the big one. A Universal Title shot, and that's where I think it went to your head. Like your giant big brain of yours. You are exactly like Peter. Have others do the job for you and clean up after you, and you take the lollies with the win. And you are still screaming out for a rematch for a universal title shot. Come on BigD know your place. That's the cold damn truth right there and then. Others won on your behalf, you go to the big dance. Lost. Asks for a rematch? What the hell for? Because you are entitled to it? You lost the first fucking time. Get over it, and get on with things.

"At least I know my limitations. I know I'm not Universal Title worthy just yet. I know what I want. I can focus on. I can get. Those are the minor titles that I'm always happy to get my hands on. Like the x-treme. Like the Television and when I ever get a chance of the Hart I'm sure I'll take it with everything I have.

"Don't get me wrong. If and this is a big IF. If Robert Main offers me a title shot. I won't turn it down. Because other former Uni champs have offered me title shots in the past and I never turned them down even though I thought I was out of their league. I pushed them to their limits like I know I can push Robert. But he has Chris to deal with for what is like Chapter 100, then he'll have Lux to deal with, and on top of all of that he was to worry about people like Vita, like Ned, who all have briefcases, and can strike at any given time.

"Know your place BigD. Until you do, you'll just be that gust of wind blowing in and out, hot and cold, and never knowing where you'll end up. I know my place, That's why I am going to go to Relentless to take on Unknown Soldier so I can reclaim the X-Treme Championship. I'm ready. You aren't because you are all over the place. Anyway that's enough about you,"

Mastermind smiles and sits down in his seat next to the window, as he hears the jets engines starting up. He takes out his cell phone.

"Peter, back to you. Peter, Peter, Peter, you are so thick sometimes that you don't even know when you are giving some one ammunition to use against you. But you are absolutely correct like I reminded you about. I have beaten you in one on one matches. I am unbeaten against you. And yes Peter I do have your number,"

Mastermind starts dialing.

"Now let's me see it's 123 4746 968. That comes out as 123 I Pin You. Get it? Get it? Na you wouldn't get it, because you are too thick, but others who will see this, including your so called fans, and my fans, know what I just did to you. I've got your number fairly and squarely. There's no room for doubt Peter. Even I know that. Because the slightest doubt and your gone. That's why I KNOW that my KNEE will hold up, and there's nothing that you and Big D can say or do about it. Go after it all you want, but that will just be your biggest down full.

"Keep staring at yourself in the mirror Peter, because we both know that you are only focused on yourself. You are vain. But your problem is what you see is true. You see a reflection of a hasbeen. Hasbeen Peter Gilmour who can not reclaim the X-Treme Title that he so craves. You may have had your hands on it for seconds previously but that is where you and I differ. Not only do I get my hands on it, I keep it for as long as possible.

"You need to realize the only way you are getting to Relentless is by taking a spot on the undercard. Against other opponents who aren't in any title picture, and only then will you wake up and smell the roses Peter. Only then will you know that your time has come and gone.

"It's my time Peter. It's my time. You've had your many chances. So has Big D. The both of you need to realize that I am at full strength, and a full strength Mastermind is dangerous. He's had to go through tough times, rough times, hard times, losing times, to come out the other side better off. I broke my 7 match losing streak on Anarchy so I'm into a winning streak and that will continue this coming Wednesday.

"Hey Doubting Peter, Big Gust BigD I'll see you both in Belfast, Northern Ireland where the IRA once had a it all. That's where I'll be leaving all the doubters behind. You Peter. I'll be leaving you behind, just like I will be leaving the Big Gust of Wind that is Big D to die out. I will be heading to Relentless knowing that I have just taken out two people who think they have what it takes to beat me, because they don't. I know I'll be facing Unknown Soldier or whoever soon enough for that title, and I don't MasterMIND that at all."

Mastermind laughs as he sits back and looks out of the window as the Jet is about to take off. The camera fades out.