Always The Hunter, Never The Hunted

[ChrisMadison]

FGA Video Diary: Series 2 - Volume #12
June 22nd, 2017
FGA FrontierCon 2017
Los Angeles, California

[•REC]

The assembly line that was the FrontierCon meet and greet ran like a well oiled machine. Fans from all over gathered, waiting in line for a chance to shake hands with their favorite FGA superstars, and receive an autograph and a picture. Chris Madison sat at the table wearing a pale yellow shirt and blue jeans with a pair of sunglasses resting on top of his head. He was sandwiched in the middle of some of the most recognizable names FGA has under contract. To his left, Chandler Scott and Molly Reid, to his right, Johnny Karma, Noelle Smith, and Heather Lasiewicz, but the centerpiece was the FGA Pride Championship that stood upright on its own on the table directly in front of its champion. The hour block had come and gone, but being the final group of the night allowed for a little extra time to ensure that the fans in line got what they were waited for.

As the line finally began to dwindle down, Frankie Morrison appeared behind his client. He leaned forward, placed a hand onto his shoulder, and whispered, "Whenever you're ready."

Chris just nodded his head and continued to greet the final batch of fans that had been anxiously waiting for the chance to rub shoulders with a FGA superstar. The last fans filed passed the table, escorted by event security and the other competitors began to slip away. Chris stayed at the table, spun the FGA Pride Championship belt around, and stared at the main plate.

Once again, Frankie Morrison reached out, grabbing Chris by the shoulder, and leaned forward. "Come on, you need to go get some rest. It's been a busy couple of weeks and you still have a championship match to get yourself prepared for. You need rest", he insisted as he swung around and sat down in the chair directly next to his client.

"If rest was on the top of my list of priorities, I would have never pursued a career in wrestlin'. I'm fine Frankie, really, I am. As much as Savannah would love to hear that she's facin' a worn down Chris Madison, that's not the case. My time over in Japan, competin' for NJFC, has been doin' the exact opposite. It's been keepin' me sharp. Pointin' out some of my weak spots. I'm ready to defend this championship and prove that bein' chased doesn't change a damn thing about me", he confidently declared while keeping his eyes affixed to the championship belt.

"I'm glad to hear it. You've got a lot on your plate right now. With as competitive as you are, I know it's got to be eating at you that Mitsuo Shimada interfered in your match with Jason Cashe and cost you points in the Pride of Puroresu Crown tournament. But none of that matters right now. Remember how hard you worked to fight through all of the criticism and become the FGA Pride Champion. Remember what drove you, that you wanted to change the landscape of the pride division. You wanted these fans, the very fans that were just lined up for hours just to see you, to have a Pride Champion that was going to fight to make that championship relevant again! That journey wasn't easy, so don't forget! But you have to put Savannah down if you want to live up to your own hype", Frankie cried out in an attempt to rally his client.

Frankie's words didn't fall on deaf ears. Chris knew the magnitude of his match at All-Star Showdown Six. Everything he had preached leading up to his matches against Molly Reid would mean nothing if he were to fall short in his first opportunity to defend the strap. For most people, that kind of pressure could be seen visibly weighing down their shoulders. But the smirk that was commonly seen on Chris's face was reminiscent of a joyful child as Christmas morning narrowly approached. "For seventeen years I have been provin' people wrong. I've never needed the validation of others in order to thrive. Love me or hate me, I go about my business and get the job done! As I chased the belt I was outspoken about the fans deservin' better, and for most, it home. Molly was a hell of a champion, but she was driftin' away from the premise that the division was created for. Involved in a bitter feud with Evan Envi, winnin' by any means necessary, the Pride Championship became lost; nothin' but a footnote. It was supposed to showcase the purest grapplin' this sport has to offer. If Savannah were to find a way to beat me, all of that work I put in to obtain it would be for naught and the division would be back to square one", Chris urged.

"Savannah has only gotten a small taste of what it's like to be in the ring against you. She's always had someone to rely on, someone to bail her out when things got rough, someone to help her get the upper hand. All-Star Showdown is going to be a completely different animal. One on one, she can't compete with you", Frankie enthusiastically roared.

Chris's head instantly tilted and he began chewing on his bottom lip. "You see, that's where you are wrong Frankie. That's where everyone is wrong. Savannah can compete! People need to stop writin' her off as if she's beneath this title shot. Look at the names that were involved in that battle royal: Chris Bond, Evan Envi, Mark Storm, Noelle Smith, Ricky Valero, Owen Gonsalves, Daniel Widdel, Stunray, James Edwards, Luke Jackson. That's no easy task. Then to make it to the final two and beat Mark Storm, a guy that you know I think so highly of, CLEAN... Without question, she's right where she belongs. It's only a matter of whether or not she's ready for that next step", he asked.

"What about the wildcard? Her and Izzy have been attached by the hip for some time now. Think she'll try and play a role in the outcome", Frankie inquired, trying to gauge his client's state of mind.

Chris pulled the FGA Pride Championship from the table and placed it in his lap. He leaned back in the chair, separating himself away from the table. "That's out of my hand. I can't sit here and worry about what Izzy Anders could possibly do. She's got enough on her plate with her first title defense scheduled against Johnny Karma. Plus, gettin' the assist would only prove all of Savannah's critics right. Savannah wants All-Star Showdown six to be her comin' out party; that can't happen if her performance is overshadowed by her relationship with Izzy. I'm fairly confident FGA fans are getting Chris Madison and Savannah Taylor, pride championship on the line, straight up, one on one", Chris proclaimed.

Frankie grinned as he admired his client's ability to stay levelheaded despite the magnitude of his upcoming title defense. "Seeing you this confident erases any concerns I could have possibly had", he joyfully acknowledged. "I'm not going to lie, even I wondered how you'd fare with the role switch. You were on fire while hunting for the Pride Championship..."

"Let me stop you right there Frankie", Chris interrupted while raising his hand into the air and pointing towards his manager. "Nothin' has changed. I've heard the rumblings. I know that one of the biggest question has been how I fare transitionin' from the hunter to the hunted. Frankie, you of all people, should know that Chris Madison is always the hunter, never the hunted! The second I won the strap, the prize of my hunt changed. This time it's somethin' intangible. I didn't want to just win the Pride Championship, I want to cement my legacy by becoming one of the greatest names attached to its history. You saw what I did in 4CW. After nearly a year of unsuccessful title defenses, I won the 4CW Pride Championship by beating your son in a two out of three falls match and immediately defended it against the previous three title holders. I then successfully defended against a damn near unbeatable Erron Wilder. After that, the wily veteran, Brian Hollywood. I didn't want to just become the 4CW Pride Champion, I wanted to change its image in the company. And throughout all of it, the only thing that stood in my way, was myself. The hunter felt it was time to change scenery. I never lost the 4CW Pride Championship, forfeited it when I signed on to compete in FGA. Now I'm not sayin' that i'll never lose this." Chris rose to his feet and flipped the championship over his shoulder. "What I am sayin' is that I never lose the fire to compete. I've never had a problem motivatin' myself and I'm not going to start now!"

Frankie joined his client, rising to his feet. He closed his suit jacket by fastening the top button. After a deep exhale, he began to slowly nod his head with a glowing look of approval as he and Chris locked eyes. "Well then I guess at All-Star Showdown you pick up where you left off in 4CW", he announced.