Under Pressure
Dec 22, 2016 17:07:56 GMT -5
Post by ChrisMadison on Dec 22, 2016 17:07:56 GMT -5
"What were the odds of Vertigo playing out the way it did?"
"When this beat the clock challenge was thrown together, I doubt anyone even considered the possibility of Ryan LeCavalier and I both finishing our opponents in exactly the same amount of time. I think it's safe to say that the expectations were for us to completely dismantle Kyle Ohio and Danny Diamond; it was only a matter of who could do it faster."
"I set the pace by beating the ever-loving hell out of Kyle Ohio; knocking out the self-proclaimed Knock Out King. As the official pulled me off of his lifeless body and J.A. Aldridge announced my winning time of two minutes and fifteen seconds, I thought for sure that it was a lock that my match at Final Frontier would be a submission match. Who wouldn't be confident with a victory that quick. But as has been the case since I've come back to FGA, Ryan LeCavalier surprised me."
"My expectations for returning to FGA were tempered. I had no glaring rivals chomping at the bits to renew what once was. I wasn't a pillar of the organization looking to reclaim my position on the food chain. My journey back to FGA was strictly focused on myself and a desire to prove that my lack of success was a fluke. But my return seemed to pique the interest of a young woman struggling to find her footing amongst the FGA talent pool. Ryan LeCavalier is one of the last people I expected to take exception with my return."
"But here we are with a Pride Rules Submission Match looming..."
"Why?"
"Because in a perfect 'anything you can do, I can do better moment', she marched down to that ring and disposed of a former FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion in one hundred and thirty-five seconds. As if tying the time wasn't enough, she tapped him out in an effort to show me just how dangerous of a submission artist she can be."
"Well played Ryan..."
"I can't sit here and try to argue that I'm a tougher out than Danny Diamond without completely discrediting what he has accomplished over his time in FGA. You caught him during a time in his career where he's seemingly spiraling out of control. But in this business slumps come and go, and there was no guarantee which Danny Diamond you were going to get at Vertigo; the punching bag, or the guy who beat a two-time Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion to capture FGA gold."
"You made quick work of him and bought yourself an equal say in how our match at Final Frontier is contested..."
"For your sake I hope you can put all of the emotion aside. Paying homage to a friend of yours by competing in a Pride Rules match is going to give you a little extra pressure to perform. Add that to the pressure that you've already felt by not making an impact during your time in FGA and you have a recipe for disaster. It doesn't matter what kind of wrestler you perceive yourself to be. Submission specialist... Endurance wrestler... It doesn't matter; unnecessary pressure has a funny way of stripping you down and exposing all of your weaknesses in that ring."
The mild temperatures and periodic showers were a pleasant change from the blistering cold that had been hammering down on New York as of late. Frankie Morrison shuffled through the Warehouse, Chris Madison's wrestling school/training facility, wearing a long black wool overcoat covering his tailor-made suit. As he closed in on the staircase in the far corner of the facility that led to his second floor office, he slowed down, noticing a new face rapidly approaching. A new student who recently began training at the facility walked up on him and drove his shoulder into Morrison's jarring the briefcase in his hand free and knocking it to the ground. The student never looked back and kept walking as Morrison dropped down to one knee, scrambling to pick up some papers that fell out of the open briefcase.
Hearing the commotion, Chris walked over, covered in sweat as he left the mats and his jiu-jitsu coaches mid workout. "Need a hand," he offered as he squatted down to eye level with his manager.
"No, I got it," Frankie growled while stuffing the loose papers back into the briefcase and snapping it shut. He kept his eyes locked on the back of the student as he strolled away without a care in the world.
Chris's eyes bounced back and forth between his manager and the student, trying to piece together what had happened. "Something I need to know about Frankie," Chris demanded to know.
"Why don't you tell me Chris? I stopped by to finish up a few things before I leave for Nashville and I've got one of your students," Frankie pointed while rising to his feet, "using me as a dummy for them to work on their shoulder tackles," he snapped, his face growing redder by the second.
Chris didn't utter a word. He huffed through his nose and took a step forward in the direction that the student walked. Frankie shot his arm out and planted the palm of his hand onto Chris's chest. "What, I'm going to take care of this right now," Chris snarled with his fists clenched by his side.
"Forget it," Frankie said as the initial frustration wore away. He took a deep breath as his head swayed from side to side. "Did you ever find out anything about this kid? There's got to be a reason why he's not too fond of me."
"No, I left it alone. But now I'll have to do some digging," Chris sighed.
"It can wait. Focus on Ryan LeCavalier and Final Frontier first. This Pride Rules Submission Match could be just what you need to get yourself into title contention," he instructed.
"Yeah, I'm not trying to get myself concerned with what could be. Ryan LeCavalier is a hell of a competitor with as much to prove as I have. She's going to give me as tough as a match as I've ever had in FGA," Chris acknowledged with a smirk on his face. "Whatever comes of this match, if anything, will be well earned by the winner. The end game has never been about championship opportunities or adding to my laundry list of accolades. It's about proving that this thirty-seven year old body still has plenty of mileage left to go; that I can hang with the best this business has to offer!"
"You really think this broad can make you tap out twice in one match," Frankie scoffed. "She pales in comparison to you."
"Can or will? Two completely different things," Chris countered.
Morrison shook his head at his client's sarcastic response. "You know what I meant smart ass," he complained. "She doesn't exactly have a résumé to write home about. You honestly thinking she has a chance in this match?"
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again; anything can happen on any given night in that ring," Chris mumbled. "I'm not foolish enough to just dismiss her. Hunger can drive you to accomplish feats you'd normally struggle achieving. She's as dangerous as anyone can be; all because she feels trapped, like her back is against the wall. She craves validation and is on the verge of doing anything it takes to be taken seriously."
"Sometimes I think you give your opponents too much credit," Morrison criticized.
"Most of the time my opponents aren't given enough credit," Madison replied. "People act like Ryan LeCavalier has been digging a hole for herself since joining FGA. Her motives may be off, but her talent speaks volumes. Wins and losses aren't always black and white. Look at the people she's had to face; her losses came against some of the best FGA has to offer! Tony Carmine, Annie Dupree, Dom Harter, not one of them is a slouch in that ring! And it's not like any of those three completely steamrolled her. She put up a fight and gave it her all each and every time she stepped through those ropes."
"Yeah, but you," Frankie began to justify his comments.
"No Frankie," he interjected. Frankie's confidence in his client was always welcoming; but at times it could be perceived as disrespectful towards his opponents. "Don't try to force any comparisons. It's apples and oranges. I've had better luck when it's come to bookings. That résumé of hers that you were so quick to mock, if you actually take the time to look passed the win loss record, is pretty impressive! Ryan has been running through the gauntlet since she decided FGA was the place for her to compete. I give that girl a ton of credit because, whether she realizes it or not, she's forcing herself into the conversation with every performance she puts on."
"Honestly, I don't even think she believes that," Frankie snickered. "In her mind, no one is taking her seriously and she's looking to you for that statement victory."
Chris planted his hands on his hips and looked over his shoulders towards his jiu-jitsu coaches who have been working tirelessly with him on new submissions, escapes, and counters. "If anyone understands that need to prove themselves, it's me. She saw the success that Fujiko Mine has had, and the success that Salem Cartier is achieving, and it eats away at her that she isn't having as easy of a time as her friends. Salem is the current Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion. Fujiko Mine is a former Pride and Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion. She's desperate to join her friends in the hall of champions," Chris declared.
"So desperate that she's overlooking the caliber of wrestler that you are," Frankie asked.
"Maybe. If so, that's her mistake to live with; or maybe more appropriately, die by," Chris warned. "All I can do is prepare myself for whatever tricks she may have up her sleeve. Two out of three falls, submissions only, she better have cleared her head by the time that opening bell rings. That Prayer/Triangle hold she used to take out Danny Diamond won't work on me; Puts me in the perfect position to quickly mount her and secure an arm triangle choke!"
"I'm sure she's got a team working with her, just like you are, trying to perfect counter's and escapes for your Peruvian Necktie," Frankie suggested as the two slowly began to walk back towards the mats where the jiu-jitsu coaches were patiently waiting for Madison's return.
"That's fine by me; I'm not a one trick pony," Madison confidently boasted as he stepped onto the gym mats. "I've got a guillotine choke that's tighter than Fujiko Mine's Ecstasy version. A lotus lock that puts that imposter full nelson rip off used by Salem Cartier to shame. I can roll around on that mat for hours, twisting Ryan into a pretzel, straining every joint and ligament on her body. Two weeks isn't nearly enough time to prepare for everything I've got in the arsenal. She'll just have to learn the hard way."
Chris moved forward on the mat and received pats on the back from his coaches who wore their gi's which were secured by their advanced black belts. Madison dropped down to his knees and watched as the coaches went through a progression of moves, ultimately culminating in an arm triangle choke that forces a tap. One of the coaches steps aside as Madison rises to his feet. He squares off with the other coach, grasping at his gi in an attempt to gain control. The coach works into a front face lock and drives Madison down to the mat. The coach flips over and bridges while pulling back on Madison's head and neck, securing the Last Chancery that Ryan LeCavalier has gone on to master and call Prayer/Triangle. With his back arched awkwardly and his head pulled all the way back, Madison pushes off of the mat with his free hand and whips his inside leg over the body of the coach, forcing his back down onto the mat. Madison breaks his coaches grip and shimmy's up his body. He slides his left arm behind the head of the coach and presses his shoulder down against his head. He takes his free arm and works it under the coaches left arm, eventually pushing it up and sliding his head against his upper arm. Madison secures his grip and bring his leg back over his coaches body, sliding to the side as he finishes off the arm triangle choke. Unable to fight free the coach quickly taps, getting Madison to break the hold.
Morrison watched on in admiration of Madison's work ethic and whispered to himself, "You've got this all wrapped up."
"Final Frontier is around the corner and all of this uneasy competitive tension between Ryan LeCavalier and I can finally be worked out!"
Chris smirked as he opened the rear driver side door of his black Chevy Avalanche and threw his gym bag inside. He slammed the door shut and turned around while shoving his hands into the front pocket of his sweatshirt; his hood pulled over his head, shielding him from blistering winds.
"I left 4CW with a huge contract extension on the table; guaranteed money to stay in a position perched atop of the food chain. I was undefeated and I was their Pride Champion. The problem is that I'm at a point in my career where it's painfully obvious that my final days in this business are creeping up. Throughout my career I have accomplished so much, virtually leaving me with nothing left to prove. If I were to hang up my boots and walk away tomorrow, there'd be no regrets. My competitive nature won't allow me to spend the twilight of my career just getting by. I needed something different. I needed to keep challenging myself."
"FGA presented me with that opportunity. As the old saying goes, iron sharpens iron. For years FGA has been a promotion that has showcased competitive wrestling while conducting themselves with class; cementing their position in the upper echelon of wrestling promotions. It's roster is undeniably littered with some of the toughest in the industry. If I'm to go out with guns blazing, there may not be a better stage to do so..."
"I had kept my expectations for my FGA return fairly low. This company didn't owe me anything. I had a forgettable stint that lasted just a few months; which was highlighted by Tommy Knox and I defeating Annie Zellor and Laurel Anne Hardy in a tag team title match at Capitol Combat by disqualification. I didn't come here feeling like I was owed anything. In fact, it was the other way around. I was indebted to FGA. I owed FGA and their fans so much more. I was capable of so much more; and I had every intention of earning whatever was thrown my way."
"But timing is everything."
"Much to everyone's surprise, the FGA World Champion, Zero McHanon decided to take his title and walk, leaving the company champion-less and the committee with a big decision to make. Much to my surprise, I was included and given an opportunity to fight my way to the top of the FGA mountain. That's where all this began Ryan. We both found ourselves in the same tournament with the same opportunity. You and Tony Carmine took on Johnny Cannon and Kevin Hardaway while Annie Zellor and I locked up with Molly Reid and Ruby Tyler. We both found victories in the first round, tossing us into second round matches against our tag team partners. On that night we both came up short."
"For me, it was the first time I've tasted defeat in nearly fifteen months of competing. But I've always felt you learn more about yourself in defeat than you do in victory. I could have stomped my feet and threw a fit. Annie Zellor used a low blow to set up her Rough 'n' Tumble two; which in turn, ended up being the catalyst of this budding rivalry."
"I'm not quite sure why, but you seem to have taken offense by my eagerness to put that loss behind me and move on to whatever the next opportunity is. You made that perfectly clear when you interrupted my interview on Afterburn with Spencer Burke. Opportunities are a dime a dozen in this business, especially for those of us that consistently put on top-notch performances. Ryan, you've been in this business long enough that you've had to realize that by now."
"It doesn't matter which one of us comes out with the win at Final Frontier. As long as we go out there and give them a fight that they'll never forget, our efforts and hardwork will be rewarded. Stringing together a few wins isn't the only way to impress the powers that be."
"But I don't have to reiterate that point with you. You've been in FGA for months, slaving away; your words not mine. And despite never being able to string together more than a pair of wins, you're looked at as one of the upcoming bright spots on the FGA roster. All because they know that every time you climb into that ring, you fight with an unmatched passion."
"For some reason, people in this industry struggle with showing respect to the people they're about to lock up with. That's not me, Ryan; and I wholeheartedly believe that's not you."
"One thing that has become blatantly obvious over these last couple of months; you and I, we're cut from the same cloth. We want the same things, we fight for the same reasons, we have the same take on the industry. Even our paths in FGA have been eerily similar. We both kicked off our FGA careers with failure in the tag team division. You lost in the opening round of the Dynamic Duos tournament with Salem Cartier by your side while I joined the tag team ranks with Tommy Knox thinking that winning the championships would be like taking candy from a baby. And now, we're fighting tooth and nail seeking validation."
"This Submissions only Pride Rules match may not be exactly what you thought you were going to get at Final Frontier. But just think about what it could mean for your career if you are able to figure out how to make me submit not just once, but twice in the same match. There's no better way to assert your dominance over another than physically making them quit."
"But which of us will break first? Which of us have enough tricks up our sleeves to keep the other off balance? You're a hundred percent right when you said this is going to be a match of endurance, a true war of attrition. I just hope you're as good as you say you are when the pressure is piling down on you. History states otherwise and you've dug yourself a bit of a hole by paying homage to your friend, former FGA Pride Champion, Fujiko Mine!"
"The pressures of performing in the Dynamic Duos tournament resulted in failure and a first round defeat."
"Months later, the pressure of a singles debut ended with Dom Harter dropping you on your head and neck with his version of an Impact Driver to keep you down for three!"
"The pressure of competing in the FGA World Championship Wildcard Lottery Tournament, led to you coming up short against Sunshine Scandalous Tony Carmine."
"Now you have to deal with the pressure of performing on a higher stage. I can't help but wonder if your first Supershow with FGA plays out like every other time you've been faced with pressure; ending in disappointment."
"I'm no push over. I hope for your sake, you haven't been angling into this match with the perception that I'm some walk in the park. At Final Frontier you are going to be given one of the most grueling fights in your lifetime. I'm a grinder. I will wear you down and have you questioning yourself and the path you took to get into this Submissions Only Pride Rules match. Nothing you can do will prepare you for what's coming."
"I hope you're ready for a war because I always am!"
Madison nodded his head and exhaled through his nose as he stared into the camera before it cut out and faded to black.
"When this beat the clock challenge was thrown together, I doubt anyone even considered the possibility of Ryan LeCavalier and I both finishing our opponents in exactly the same amount of time. I think it's safe to say that the expectations were for us to completely dismantle Kyle Ohio and Danny Diamond; it was only a matter of who could do it faster."
"I set the pace by beating the ever-loving hell out of Kyle Ohio; knocking out the self-proclaimed Knock Out King. As the official pulled me off of his lifeless body and J.A. Aldridge announced my winning time of two minutes and fifteen seconds, I thought for sure that it was a lock that my match at Final Frontier would be a submission match. Who wouldn't be confident with a victory that quick. But as has been the case since I've come back to FGA, Ryan LeCavalier surprised me."
"My expectations for returning to FGA were tempered. I had no glaring rivals chomping at the bits to renew what once was. I wasn't a pillar of the organization looking to reclaim my position on the food chain. My journey back to FGA was strictly focused on myself and a desire to prove that my lack of success was a fluke. But my return seemed to pique the interest of a young woman struggling to find her footing amongst the FGA talent pool. Ryan LeCavalier is one of the last people I expected to take exception with my return."
"But here we are with a Pride Rules Submission Match looming..."
"Why?"
"Because in a perfect 'anything you can do, I can do better moment', she marched down to that ring and disposed of a former FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion in one hundred and thirty-five seconds. As if tying the time wasn't enough, she tapped him out in an effort to show me just how dangerous of a submission artist she can be."
"Well played Ryan..."
"I can't sit here and try to argue that I'm a tougher out than Danny Diamond without completely discrediting what he has accomplished over his time in FGA. You caught him during a time in his career where he's seemingly spiraling out of control. But in this business slumps come and go, and there was no guarantee which Danny Diamond you were going to get at Vertigo; the punching bag, or the guy who beat a two-time Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion to capture FGA gold."
"You made quick work of him and bought yourself an equal say in how our match at Final Frontier is contested..."
"For your sake I hope you can put all of the emotion aside. Paying homage to a friend of yours by competing in a Pride Rules match is going to give you a little extra pressure to perform. Add that to the pressure that you've already felt by not making an impact during your time in FGA and you have a recipe for disaster. It doesn't matter what kind of wrestler you perceive yourself to be. Submission specialist... Endurance wrestler... It doesn't matter; unnecessary pressure has a funny way of stripping you down and exposing all of your weaknesses in that ring."
_______________________________________________________________
December 17th, 2016
Long Island, New York
Long Island, New York
The mild temperatures and periodic showers were a pleasant change from the blistering cold that had been hammering down on New York as of late. Frankie Morrison shuffled through the Warehouse, Chris Madison's wrestling school/training facility, wearing a long black wool overcoat covering his tailor-made suit. As he closed in on the staircase in the far corner of the facility that led to his second floor office, he slowed down, noticing a new face rapidly approaching. A new student who recently began training at the facility walked up on him and drove his shoulder into Morrison's jarring the briefcase in his hand free and knocking it to the ground. The student never looked back and kept walking as Morrison dropped down to one knee, scrambling to pick up some papers that fell out of the open briefcase.
Hearing the commotion, Chris walked over, covered in sweat as he left the mats and his jiu-jitsu coaches mid workout. "Need a hand," he offered as he squatted down to eye level with his manager.
"No, I got it," Frankie growled while stuffing the loose papers back into the briefcase and snapping it shut. He kept his eyes locked on the back of the student as he strolled away without a care in the world.
Chris's eyes bounced back and forth between his manager and the student, trying to piece together what had happened. "Something I need to know about Frankie," Chris demanded to know.
"Why don't you tell me Chris? I stopped by to finish up a few things before I leave for Nashville and I've got one of your students," Frankie pointed while rising to his feet, "using me as a dummy for them to work on their shoulder tackles," he snapped, his face growing redder by the second.
Chris didn't utter a word. He huffed through his nose and took a step forward in the direction that the student walked. Frankie shot his arm out and planted the palm of his hand onto Chris's chest. "What, I'm going to take care of this right now," Chris snarled with his fists clenched by his side.
"Forget it," Frankie said as the initial frustration wore away. He took a deep breath as his head swayed from side to side. "Did you ever find out anything about this kid? There's got to be a reason why he's not too fond of me."
"No, I left it alone. But now I'll have to do some digging," Chris sighed.
"It can wait. Focus on Ryan LeCavalier and Final Frontier first. This Pride Rules Submission Match could be just what you need to get yourself into title contention," he instructed.
"Yeah, I'm not trying to get myself concerned with what could be. Ryan LeCavalier is a hell of a competitor with as much to prove as I have. She's going to give me as tough as a match as I've ever had in FGA," Chris acknowledged with a smirk on his face. "Whatever comes of this match, if anything, will be well earned by the winner. The end game has never been about championship opportunities or adding to my laundry list of accolades. It's about proving that this thirty-seven year old body still has plenty of mileage left to go; that I can hang with the best this business has to offer!"
"You really think this broad can make you tap out twice in one match," Frankie scoffed. "She pales in comparison to you."
"Can or will? Two completely different things," Chris countered.
Morrison shook his head at his client's sarcastic response. "You know what I meant smart ass," he complained. "She doesn't exactly have a résumé to write home about. You honestly thinking she has a chance in this match?"
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again; anything can happen on any given night in that ring," Chris mumbled. "I'm not foolish enough to just dismiss her. Hunger can drive you to accomplish feats you'd normally struggle achieving. She's as dangerous as anyone can be; all because she feels trapped, like her back is against the wall. She craves validation and is on the verge of doing anything it takes to be taken seriously."
"Sometimes I think you give your opponents too much credit," Morrison criticized.
"Most of the time my opponents aren't given enough credit," Madison replied. "People act like Ryan LeCavalier has been digging a hole for herself since joining FGA. Her motives may be off, but her talent speaks volumes. Wins and losses aren't always black and white. Look at the people she's had to face; her losses came against some of the best FGA has to offer! Tony Carmine, Annie Dupree, Dom Harter, not one of them is a slouch in that ring! And it's not like any of those three completely steamrolled her. She put up a fight and gave it her all each and every time she stepped through those ropes."
"Yeah, but you," Frankie began to justify his comments.
"No Frankie," he interjected. Frankie's confidence in his client was always welcoming; but at times it could be perceived as disrespectful towards his opponents. "Don't try to force any comparisons. It's apples and oranges. I've had better luck when it's come to bookings. That résumé of hers that you were so quick to mock, if you actually take the time to look passed the win loss record, is pretty impressive! Ryan has been running through the gauntlet since she decided FGA was the place for her to compete. I give that girl a ton of credit because, whether she realizes it or not, she's forcing herself into the conversation with every performance she puts on."
"Honestly, I don't even think she believes that," Frankie snickered. "In her mind, no one is taking her seriously and she's looking to you for that statement victory."
Chris planted his hands on his hips and looked over his shoulders towards his jiu-jitsu coaches who have been working tirelessly with him on new submissions, escapes, and counters. "If anyone understands that need to prove themselves, it's me. She saw the success that Fujiko Mine has had, and the success that Salem Cartier is achieving, and it eats away at her that she isn't having as easy of a time as her friends. Salem is the current Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion. Fujiko Mine is a former Pride and Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion. She's desperate to join her friends in the hall of champions," Chris declared.
"So desperate that she's overlooking the caliber of wrestler that you are," Frankie asked.
"Maybe. If so, that's her mistake to live with; or maybe more appropriately, die by," Chris warned. "All I can do is prepare myself for whatever tricks she may have up her sleeve. Two out of three falls, submissions only, she better have cleared her head by the time that opening bell rings. That Prayer/Triangle hold she used to take out Danny Diamond won't work on me; Puts me in the perfect position to quickly mount her and secure an arm triangle choke!"
"I'm sure she's got a team working with her, just like you are, trying to perfect counter's and escapes for your Peruvian Necktie," Frankie suggested as the two slowly began to walk back towards the mats where the jiu-jitsu coaches were patiently waiting for Madison's return.
"That's fine by me; I'm not a one trick pony," Madison confidently boasted as he stepped onto the gym mats. "I've got a guillotine choke that's tighter than Fujiko Mine's Ecstasy version. A lotus lock that puts that imposter full nelson rip off used by Salem Cartier to shame. I can roll around on that mat for hours, twisting Ryan into a pretzel, straining every joint and ligament on her body. Two weeks isn't nearly enough time to prepare for everything I've got in the arsenal. She'll just have to learn the hard way."
Chris moved forward on the mat and received pats on the back from his coaches who wore their gi's which were secured by their advanced black belts. Madison dropped down to his knees and watched as the coaches went through a progression of moves, ultimately culminating in an arm triangle choke that forces a tap. One of the coaches steps aside as Madison rises to his feet. He squares off with the other coach, grasping at his gi in an attempt to gain control. The coach works into a front face lock and drives Madison down to the mat. The coach flips over and bridges while pulling back on Madison's head and neck, securing the Last Chancery that Ryan LeCavalier has gone on to master and call Prayer/Triangle. With his back arched awkwardly and his head pulled all the way back, Madison pushes off of the mat with his free hand and whips his inside leg over the body of the coach, forcing his back down onto the mat. Madison breaks his coaches grip and shimmy's up his body. He slides his left arm behind the head of the coach and presses his shoulder down against his head. He takes his free arm and works it under the coaches left arm, eventually pushing it up and sliding his head against his upper arm. Madison secures his grip and bring his leg back over his coaches body, sliding to the side as he finishes off the arm triangle choke. Unable to fight free the coach quickly taps, getting Madison to break the hold.
Morrison watched on in admiration of Madison's work ethic and whispered to himself, "You've got this all wrapped up."
_______________________________________________________________
FGA Video Diary: Series 2 - Volume #6
December 20th, 2016
Long Island, New York
December 20th, 2016
Long Island, New York
[•REC]
"Final Frontier is around the corner and all of this uneasy competitive tension between Ryan LeCavalier and I can finally be worked out!"
Chris smirked as he opened the rear driver side door of his black Chevy Avalanche and threw his gym bag inside. He slammed the door shut and turned around while shoving his hands into the front pocket of his sweatshirt; his hood pulled over his head, shielding him from blistering winds.
"I left 4CW with a huge contract extension on the table; guaranteed money to stay in a position perched atop of the food chain. I was undefeated and I was their Pride Champion. The problem is that I'm at a point in my career where it's painfully obvious that my final days in this business are creeping up. Throughout my career I have accomplished so much, virtually leaving me with nothing left to prove. If I were to hang up my boots and walk away tomorrow, there'd be no regrets. My competitive nature won't allow me to spend the twilight of my career just getting by. I needed something different. I needed to keep challenging myself."
"FGA presented me with that opportunity. As the old saying goes, iron sharpens iron. For years FGA has been a promotion that has showcased competitive wrestling while conducting themselves with class; cementing their position in the upper echelon of wrestling promotions. It's roster is undeniably littered with some of the toughest in the industry. If I'm to go out with guns blazing, there may not be a better stage to do so..."
"I had kept my expectations for my FGA return fairly low. This company didn't owe me anything. I had a forgettable stint that lasted just a few months; which was highlighted by Tommy Knox and I defeating Annie Zellor and Laurel Anne Hardy in a tag team title match at Capitol Combat by disqualification. I didn't come here feeling like I was owed anything. In fact, it was the other way around. I was indebted to FGA. I owed FGA and their fans so much more. I was capable of so much more; and I had every intention of earning whatever was thrown my way."
"But timing is everything."
"Much to everyone's surprise, the FGA World Champion, Zero McHanon decided to take his title and walk, leaving the company champion-less and the committee with a big decision to make. Much to my surprise, I was included and given an opportunity to fight my way to the top of the FGA mountain. That's where all this began Ryan. We both found ourselves in the same tournament with the same opportunity. You and Tony Carmine took on Johnny Cannon and Kevin Hardaway while Annie Zellor and I locked up with Molly Reid and Ruby Tyler. We both found victories in the first round, tossing us into second round matches against our tag team partners. On that night we both came up short."
"For me, it was the first time I've tasted defeat in nearly fifteen months of competing. But I've always felt you learn more about yourself in defeat than you do in victory. I could have stomped my feet and threw a fit. Annie Zellor used a low blow to set up her Rough 'n' Tumble two; which in turn, ended up being the catalyst of this budding rivalry."
"I'm not quite sure why, but you seem to have taken offense by my eagerness to put that loss behind me and move on to whatever the next opportunity is. You made that perfectly clear when you interrupted my interview on Afterburn with Spencer Burke. Opportunities are a dime a dozen in this business, especially for those of us that consistently put on top-notch performances. Ryan, you've been in this business long enough that you've had to realize that by now."
"It doesn't matter which one of us comes out with the win at Final Frontier. As long as we go out there and give them a fight that they'll never forget, our efforts and hardwork will be rewarded. Stringing together a few wins isn't the only way to impress the powers that be."
"But I don't have to reiterate that point with you. You've been in FGA for months, slaving away; your words not mine. And despite never being able to string together more than a pair of wins, you're looked at as one of the upcoming bright spots on the FGA roster. All because they know that every time you climb into that ring, you fight with an unmatched passion."
"For some reason, people in this industry struggle with showing respect to the people they're about to lock up with. That's not me, Ryan; and I wholeheartedly believe that's not you."
"One thing that has become blatantly obvious over these last couple of months; you and I, we're cut from the same cloth. We want the same things, we fight for the same reasons, we have the same take on the industry. Even our paths in FGA have been eerily similar. We both kicked off our FGA careers with failure in the tag team division. You lost in the opening round of the Dynamic Duos tournament with Salem Cartier by your side while I joined the tag team ranks with Tommy Knox thinking that winning the championships would be like taking candy from a baby. And now, we're fighting tooth and nail seeking validation."
"This Submissions only Pride Rules match may not be exactly what you thought you were going to get at Final Frontier. But just think about what it could mean for your career if you are able to figure out how to make me submit not just once, but twice in the same match. There's no better way to assert your dominance over another than physically making them quit."
"But which of us will break first? Which of us have enough tricks up our sleeves to keep the other off balance? You're a hundred percent right when you said this is going to be a match of endurance, a true war of attrition. I just hope you're as good as you say you are when the pressure is piling down on you. History states otherwise and you've dug yourself a bit of a hole by paying homage to your friend, former FGA Pride Champion, Fujiko Mine!"
"The pressures of performing in the Dynamic Duos tournament resulted in failure and a first round defeat."
"Months later, the pressure of a singles debut ended with Dom Harter dropping you on your head and neck with his version of an Impact Driver to keep you down for three!"
"The pressure of competing in the FGA World Championship Wildcard Lottery Tournament, led to you coming up short against Sunshine Scandalous Tony Carmine."
"Now you have to deal with the pressure of performing on a higher stage. I can't help but wonder if your first Supershow with FGA plays out like every other time you've been faced with pressure; ending in disappointment."
"I'm no push over. I hope for your sake, you haven't been angling into this match with the perception that I'm some walk in the park. At Final Frontier you are going to be given one of the most grueling fights in your lifetime. I'm a grinder. I will wear you down and have you questioning yourself and the path you took to get into this Submissions Only Pride Rules match. Nothing you can do will prepare you for what's coming."
"I hope you're ready for a war because I always am!"
Madison nodded his head and exhaled through his nose as he stared into the camera before it cut out and faded to black.
