I've Heard It All Before

[ChrisMadison]

FGA Video Diary: Series 2 - Volume #8
February 2nd, 2017
Long Island, New York

[•REC]

"Weeks before Molly Reid and I battle it out for the FGA Pride Championship, they have us partnering up against two formidable foes, Izzy Anders and Savannah Taylor..."

Chris smirked as he unloaded a vicious combination of body high strikes to the heavy bag that dangled in front of him. The punching bag swayed from side to side, picking up momentum with each hook that connected flush against the broken-in black leather. Chris reaches out and catches the heavy bag mid swing, stopping its momentum completely.

"Right now... FGA is in a stretch where women reign supreme. Cordy Stevenson, Molly Reid, and Annie Zellor wear championship gold with pride. That age old stigma of women not being able to compete with men couldn't be any further from the truth. Izzy Anders and Savannah Taylor are perfect examples of exactly that."

"These two women are every bit of deserving as they claim to be. They're more talented than people give them credit for, and have been slaying their opponents as of late. They think that they have what it takes to challenge Molly for the FGA Pride Championship, and they might be right. But before either of them are even considered, whether it sits well with them or not, I get the shot that I earned!"

"Ever since I popped up on FGA television back in September I have been proving all of my critics wrong. I heard it all before, 'he was only successful because Morrison and Perry Wallace were good friends', 'he never faced anyone worth a damn'. I left 4CW and toured different promotions, begging them to give me some of their best. And while I celebrated each and every win along the way, I knew the only way I'd be at peace with myself and my career is by succeeding in the only promotion that escaped me. Looking back at the five months, I'm one low blow away from running the table..."

Chris had pulled his fight gloves off of his hands and dropped them down by his feet. He started to unravel the hand wraps as he continued to address the FGA camera crew that was filming him.

"Deserving or not, my Pride Championship opportunity is signed and sealed for Grapple Kingdom. Izzy Anders and Savannah Taylor, they still have work to do in order to convince the committee that they belong in the conversation. But there may not be a better opportunity than the one staring them in the face! What better way to force your way into the conversation than defeating the top contender and the champion in the same match? Factor in the chemistry between you two ladies and the lack there of between Molly and I, and I'd say things are looking up for you two and your quest towards the championship."

"As I look at this match on paper, it's surrounded by red flags. Two hungry opponents, a tag partner that I'm about to go to war with; it spells disaster... But you know what's sick? I look at this and see a challenge that I'm willing to take head on! Worst case scenario, Molly bails, leaves me in the ring to fend off two tough competitors. If I pull it off on my own, I'd be riding an unstoppable wave of momentum into my championship match. Maybe there's something wrong upstairs, but apart of me is hoping that Molly takes a pass and I get the opportunity to prove to you two exactly why I'm deserving of the title match the committee has granted me."

"That kind of motivation is what fueled a fifteen month undefeated streak. It's what drove me to come back to compete in FGA. It's what has gotten me to a Pride Championship match. Disrespect doesn't deter me; I've heard it all before. It only feeds my desire to make those critics eat crow."

"I get the feeling though modesty doesn't really suit you two..."

Chris bends over and plucks a bottle of water from the ground. He twists the cap off and tosses back a swig, swishing the water around in his mouth before swallowing.

"I know I was a little harsh on Molly Reid at the last Vertigo but my intentions were never to diminish the respect that we have for one another. The work she's been putting in as of late is damn near unparalleled. When I saw her grab a handful of Dom Harter's tights, my stomach turned; mostly because I know she doesn't need to stoop down to that level in order to be successful. From finally winning FGA gold against Fujiko Mine, to defending it in a brutal feud against Evan Envi, and while honorably representing FGA throughout Shooting Star Wrestling Alliance's Young Guns Cup, Molly has been building an irrefutable reputation."

"She didn't need a helping hand throughout any of it..."

"At Vertigo she gets a helping hand in the form of a war machine that knows no off switch. I don't need high stakes to compete at the best of my ability. All I need is an opponent that's willing to stand across the ring from me as the official signals for that bell. Izzy Anders and Savannah Taylor want to prove themselves? At Vertigo, Molly and I prove that no matter what, talent always prevails..."

Chris stares into the camera lens and snarls as the feed cuts to static.