Friday 9 April 1996.
Even though Zaboru has been receiving widespread media attention in Japan, he doesn't pay it much mind. At the moment, he's focused on a much more important matter—a high-level meeting with the infamous WWF CEO, Vince McMahon.
In this world, the WWF remains in what many consider its "Golden Era," reminiscent of 1986 in Zaboru's previous world. Iconic Superstars like Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage are at the peak of their fame, bringing electrifying charisma and larger-than-life personas to the ring. For Zaboru, it's more than just entertainment—it's a nostalgic, thrilling experience that he genuinely enjoys. He often finds himself glued to the screen, captivated by the action, the storylines, and the energy of the crowd.
Although wrestling is often criticized for being fake and scripted, Zaboru firmly believes that this doesn't make it any less valuable. In his eyes, it's a unique form of performance art—an intricate blend of storytelling, choreography, athleticism, and charisma. To him, wrestlers are entertainers in the same vein as actors and actresses, captivating audiences through their characters and in-ring drama. With this mindset, Zaboru is now eager to sit down with Vince McMahon to negotiate for the official rights to produce WWF-branded video games. At this moment in time, WWF has not yet gone public and remains entirely owned by Vince McMahon, making this a crucial window of opportunity for Zaboru to strike a deal directly with the man at the top.
Zaboru stepped into the iconic WWF headquarters, known as "Titan Tower," located in the United States. With purpose in his stride, he headed directly toward the chairman's office. He had specifically requested that the meeting take place inside the WWF building—not out of convenience, but out of sheer curiosity. He had always wondered what the nerve center of this entertainment empire looked like.
As he made his way through the halls, he couldn't help but chuckle. The entire office exuded a bold, unmistakable wrestling vibe—from the posters of legendary Superstars to the life-sized statues and memorabilia lining the corridors. Every corner radiated the passion and theatrics that made WWF a global phenomenon. It was exactly what Zaboru had hoped for—and more.
Before long, Zaboru found himself inside Vince McMahon's office. Vince stood up from behind his imposing desk, offered a firm handshake, and greeted him with a charismatic smile. "Mr. Renkonan, it's a pleasure to meet you," he said.
Zaboru returned the smile and shook Vince's hand confidently. "Nice to meet you too, Mr. McMahon. Please, feel free to call me Zaboru."
Vince chuckled and nodded. "Then you can call me Vince too, Zaboru."
With mutual respect established, Vince gestured toward the chair across from him. As Zaboru took a seat, Vince leaned back slightly and added with a welcoming grin, "Welcome to Titan Tower, Zaboru. So, what exactly does ZAGE want with us?"
Zaboru smiled. "First of all, let's talk business, Vince. Are you interested in expanding WWF even further—like, making it truly massive?"
Vince McMahon chuckled and replied, "If I said I wasn't, I'd be lying, Zaboru. But if you're talking about investing in WWF, I'm afraid I'll have to decline for now. I still want to keep it private." He spoke casually, yet firmly.
Zaboru nodded in understanding. "Hahaha, I get it. But if the day ever comes when you decide WWF wants to expand and you need capital to make that happen, instead of going public, I hope you'll consider coming to me first. We could negotiate something mutually beneficial, Vince."
Vince grinned and said, "Well, if it ever comes to that, we'll definitely reach out to you." He knew full well that ZAGE wasn't a company to be taken lightly—they were serious players in every venture they entered. With that thought in mind, Vince leaned forward, curiosity flashing in his eyes. "So, aside from business investments, what brings you here today, Zaboru?"
Zaboru leaned forward, his tone firm yet enthusiastic. "First, I want to secure the rights to develop official WWF video games. What do you say, Vince?"
Vince raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Alright. What's your offer?"
Zaboru smiled confidently. "I'm offering $7 million for exclusive rights over a ten-year period. In addition to that, WWF will receive a 10% share of the net profits from every WWF-themed game ZAGE develops."
Vince's heart skipped a beat. That was no small sum. Seven million upfront, plus a revenue share from every game sold? It was an undeniably lucrative deal—especially since all he needed to give up were the video game rights, not any part of the actual WWF product or shows. The 10% stake in each title's success only sweetened the pot.
To Vince, the offer wasn't just financially tempting—it was strategically smart. His instincts as a businessman told him that forging a strong relationship with ZAGE and Zaboru could lead to major opportunities down the line. The potential for international exposure, marketing synergy, and cross-platform branding was huge. And most importantly, ZAGE had a stellar reputation for quality.
Vince grinned. "Honestly, that's a really good offer. I tend to agree with most of it… but let's throw in one condition."
Zaboru raised an eyebrow, curious. "And what's the condition, Vince?"
Still grinning, Vince leaned forward. "You need to appear as guest stars in a WWF match. Come up with your own gimmicks. Make it entertaining. Are you in?"
Zaboru's eyes widened, but a huge grin spread across his face. "That's an amazing condition. I've been a huge WWF fan since I was a kid. Stepping into that ring? Hell yeah—I'm in."
Vince laughed, clearly amused and impressed by Zaboru's enthusiasm.
"My legal team will start drafting the contracts," Zaboru added. "We can get this deal wrapped up before the end of the week."
Vince nodded. "Sounds good. I'll get my legal team on it too."
Zaboru leaned back in his chair, thoughtful. "But Vince… are you absolutely sure you don't want to collaborate with ZAGE after selling your shares? If I take over, I could really elevate the shows. I've got ideas—crazy ones, big ones—all up here." He tapped the side of his head.
Vince paused. He knew Zaboru had a reputation for wild creativity—hit games, memorable songs, and bold storytelling. Vince had even caught himself enjoying some of his work more than he'd expected. The thought of what Zaboru might bring to the WWF wasn't unappealing. In fact, it stirred a spark of excitement. But Vince still wasn't ready to give up full control. Not yet.
"Alright, Zaboru," Vince said. "Let me talk it over with my wife first. We'll give you an answer once the contracts are ready."
Zaboru stood and gave a respectful nod. "Fair enough. I'll wait to hear from you."
He turned and made his way out of the Titan Building.
"Heh… a wrestling game, huh?"
On the way back to ZAGE USA Offices, Zaboru sat deep in thought, reflecting on the WWE video games from his previous life. Those games had their own unique charm—creating custom superstars, the wild story modes, and the thrill of playing with friends. They were chaotic, creative, and just plain fun.
Now, with the rights to WWF just one step away, he could finally bring that same energy to this world. His own wrestling game. His vision. And this time, he'd try to do it even better.
Now Zaboru will go to the next event to do a Live Talk Show.
To be continued…
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