10 Things We Learned From Dark Side Of The Ring: Collision In Korea
8. Masahiro Chono’s Fears
Scott Norton only found out about the trip when he heard some guys talking about a 'big match in North Korea' that was coming up. Later, he learned that he'd be going on the jaunt over too, and he was naturally worried about the whole deal when one of his friends expressed some doubts.
Masahiro Chono, who teamed with Norton against Akira Nogami and Takayuki Iizuka on the event's second night, told him they were only going over at all because "they want us dead as they don't like us very much". Yikes. Chono was concerned about how he'd be greeted in the country, and cited the long-term hostilities between North Korea and his native Japan.
That's terrifying.
That piqued Norton's attention. He suddenly started to wonder if heading over for the two-day "peace festival" was a good idea at all. The big man's swirling sense of fear and trepidation would only heighten when he actually touched base in North Korea a few weeks later.