Madison Island

[Chris Madison]

July 27th, 2013
Smiths Point Beach
08:00 P.M.

The evening summer twilight painted the sky different shades of oranges and reds. In the background the sound of waves crashed onto a beach. It was a beautiful summer night in Long Island and a group of maybe fifteen or twenty people had pulled their trucks onto the beach for what looks like a barbecue. The soundtrack of the night blared from one of the vehicles radio. Guys and girls hung around a large bonfire in typical beach attire: board shorts, tank tops, and tight bikinis. Away from the bonfire two guys stood next to a grill with ice cold beers in hand. The condensation dripped down the bottle into their hands as the fire from the grill danced in through the warm summer air.

The two men working the grill were nearly identical in stature. The only glaring difference from afar was the grizzly beard which masked one of the men's lower portion of his face. As the picture gets closer it's revealed that it is the brothers Madison standing side by side enjoying their brewskis with one another. The rest of the group hanging out are members of the warehouse facility, enjoying some time away from their rigorous training. Standing at each others hips they watched on as the group laughed and enjoyed the night. They took simultaneous sips and let out refreshing sighs.

"You and Tommy looked good together" Nick uttered between sips from his drink trying to bring up a good conversation. "Must have felt good to curb that losing streak before it got out of hand."

Chris looked disappointed in his brother. This get together was about stepping away from it all. Taking some time out of everyone's hectic lives to enjoy some good times with good company. Leave it to Nick to talk shop while scantily clad women stood by enjoying the night. Chris washed down the bad taste in his mouth before answering his baby brother. "Really? I'm home from Nashville no less than a few hours and already talking wrestling. I just want to enjoy the beers and women. Is it too much to ask to have a night off?"

Nick shrugged his shoulders before chugging what was left of his beverage. Deep down he wanted to talk about it. He missed the action, being a coach wasn't the same as going out there week after week. He had no choice but to go along with Chris's wish. "That's fine bro. I'm sure it feels good to be back on the island."

Chris finished his drink and handed the empty bottle to his brother. Nick brought the empties to the truck and came back with two more in hand. He twisted the caps off and handed one to his brother. "Anything is better than that cesspit, Nashville. Did I ever tell you how much I hate country music? I had a fucking migraine the whole time I was down there."

"I could only imagine. Well at least you're here. With this scenery I don't know how anyone couldn't be relaxed" he said while pointing out to group partying. "I know there's no place I'd rather be."

That was easy for Nick to say. For Chris, as relaxing as this could be, he'd much rather be at the warehouse for some training. He'd never admit it though. He continued the charade of just wanting a night away. "Yeah, nothing beats this" he begrudgingly stated.

Nick quickly changed the subject as Chris flipped the burgers and chicken which cooked on the grill. "I know you don't want to talk shop. I'll keep it strictly to training. How'd you feel with the new regiment?"

"Surprisingly better...definitely noticed a difference in my cardio. Felt like I had a little extra in my reserves." As he finished that statement one more person walked up and joined the group. Chris stared, mesmerized by the young woman's natural beauty. Nick talked but all Chris heard was an audible hum.

"CHRIS" he shouted garnishing no responses. Finally after yelling at his momentarily deaf brother, Nick nudges him with an elbow to snap him out of his daze. "Welcome back to planet earth..." he joked while pushing Chris on the shoulder.

Chris still had his sights locked onto this fresh new face. Short and petite with both of her arms and chest covered in tattoos, any living male would snap their necks while walking by. Her fiery reddish orange hair was shaved on one side while the rest was draped over her left shoulder. Large black sunglasses and a septum piercing rounded out the look. "Who the hell is she?" Chris asked while secretly pointing in her direction.

The question was followed up by a moment of silence as Nick took a gander at the young woman joining the gathering. "Which one?" he jokingly asked trying get a rise out of his brother. Unamused by the joke, Chris stared at his brother which quickly conjured up flashbacks of an older brother tormenting a younger brother with wedgies, noogies, wet willies, and the occasional swirly. "Some new girl at the gym. A local Indy wrestler I believe. Trying to sharpen her tools and get noticed. Don't remember her name though. Only been with us just over a week. Something Mayhem..."

"God Damn! She is gorgeous. I'm definitely gonna have to introduce myself later on..." It was almost as if she had mental telepathy. As Chris finished his sentence she looked at their direction and flashed a flirtatious smile. The two bumbling brothers quickly looked away like a couple of adolescent boys.

"Is she still looking this way" Nick questioned while looking down at the grill, speaking out of the corner of his mouth.

"I don't know...why don't you check..." Chris barely moved his lips an focused on the cooked meat in front of him.

"What are we twelve? We've got to look like a couple of idiots right now" Chris and Nick lifted their heads in unison and looked forward. The young lady chuckled at them as they waved, smiled, and nodded their heads in one series of synchronized moves.

The young woman broke away from the group of girls she was gossiping with and started to make her way towards the brothers. They tried to seem occupied by working the grill but it didn't deter her from making an introduction. Coming to an abrupt halt on the opposite side of the BBQ she lifted her sunglasses and sat them atop of her head. "You guys are the Madison brothers, right?"

Chris shook his head and replied, "Uh-huh"

She extended her arm out and received dainty handshakes from both brothers in return while introducing herself. "I'm Maria. I'm new to the gym. I'm a local Indy wrestler just trying to learn a few things, hopefully from a couple of local legends like yourselves."

If her goal was to butter them up so they can teach her, flattery was definitely a viable option. Just as Chris was about to respond he was cut off by his brother. "Well I'm half owner and the head instructor. I could definitely show you a thing or two. Unfortunately Chris's schedule doesn't allow time for him to teach. He's always traveling and still active in the industry."

"I know, I'm also a huge fan. Shame though...I definitely would love some one on one time..." The two locked eyes and it was as if Nick wasn't even standing there. She slowly strolled back to the group while looking over her shoulder at Chris.

"Man I love Long Island..." Chris muttered loud enough for only Nick to hear.

Nick failed to respond to Chris's statement and perhaps was completely oblivious to what truly unfolded during that brief introduction. "I think she's into me...I don't know how I feel about dating a student though. Not really good for business." After a brief pause he follows up his blind rant with, "Eh...what the hell. You only live once right?"

"You know Nick, I think you may have taken one too many shots to the head during your short career..." They continued to drink together as they watched on. A brotherly bond shared in a setting unmatched by most. The party continued as the scene cuts.

July 28th, 2013
Smiths Point Beach
12:00 A.M.

The night had simmered down. The group had become noticeably smaller and the people that were left had tapered off into more intimate pairings. Chris was apart of one of those pairings. He sat with Maria in the tailgate of his blacked out ford 150 raptor. Their feet dangled off the end above the sand below. Off in the distance, about twenty yards, his brother laid face first, passed out drunk. The two noticed and shared a laugh.

"I've got to apologize for him...he rarely drinks..." He looked over at his brother and shook his head with disappointment.

"It's okay. Really. Not the first person that I've seen drunk." She broke up the moment of silence with a giggle. After leaning back her hand gently brushed up against Chris's which sent a tingling sensation through her body.

Chris searched for the words. He didn't know anything about her and didn't know what to say. "Did you grow up on the island?"

"No." The answer caused Madison's ears to perk up. Long Island wasn't known as a hotbed of wrestling. "I grew up in Philly. I know, I know. How did I end up here. Well I've been traveling all over from one gig to another. Somewhere along the lines I met Manny. He told me about the warehouse. He told me about your brother and you. I thought this would be a good place for me fine tune some things"

Madison looked ahead where Manny sat alone with a young woman and snickered at his longtime friend and training partner. "Funny, he never mentioned you before."

"Yeah, we've done a few shows together. I wrestle under the name Miss Maria Mayhem. It's been surreal" she rationalized while thinking of her short pro career. "I've only been doing it for a year."

Chris had a thousand thoughts racing through his head. He had only known the girl for a few hours so he tried to be supportive without being overbearing. "We all have been there. This isn't an easy industry to succeed in. If it was, everyone would do it. Just stay the course. You'll have obstacles along the way, just fight trough them. The reward is well worth it. Not to mention, Nick is one of the best coaches out there." The two looked over at Chris inebriated brother and shared a laugh. "He may not look it at the moment but I promise he is. He really knows how to motivate you to fight just that much harder when you feel like you have nothing left."

She innocently smiled and slunk down a bit. "I'm sure he's great. Manny talks up a storm about him. Honestly I'm thankful for the chance to even train with you guys!"

Chris looked down as her hand crept towards his. He could feel her nervous energy as she fought her feelings. "It had to be hard just packing up and moving away from everything you know. It's only about three hours away but I'm sure it feels a lot further."

He could tell he struck a nerve with her. She quickly went from gutty as a school girl to a bit shut in. "It was rather easy. I don't have any ties there."

Something told him to stay off the topic but he barely knew the girl and didn't know where else to take the conversation. "No family? No friends?"

Chris was quick to offer up his condolences. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

"It's okay, really." This set over a feeling of relief for Chris. He tried to earn some extra points in her book by looking thoroughly concerned. It worked as she ended up explaining her situation to him a bit. "My parents passed when I was young. I was an only child. Never knew anyone else in my family. I bounced around in foster homes until I was eighteen. As for my friends. I guess I travel too much for them. They have kind of phased themselves out since I started."

Now came the worldly advice from a seasoned veteran. She didn't seem to mind as she was smitten with him. "Friends will come and go. It's tough to keep relationships when your on. The road for nearly three hundred days a year. Normal people don't understand that. How could they? The main thing for you to do is just try and find happiness. It goes a long way in making this whole experience easier."

She inched closer and rubbed up against Chris, nudging at his right arm. Madison lifted his arm and placed it around her tiny body, pulling her in closer. "Thanks Chris, that really means a lot to me."

Chris struggled within trying to figure out if this was for real or just another groupie looking for a love connection. Regardless the contact was a nice change of pace from rolling around the mats with sweaty men. "You should come to a few shows with me. See what it's like at a higher level. Beats school gymnasiums and bingo halls."

Much to his surprise she respectfully declined. "I couldn't. Thank you, but I just couldn't. I want to do this on my own. I don't want to be known as Chris Madison's little gal pal. I want my own identity in the wrestling world."

"Well the offer is always there. I'm flying to Richmond Virginia in a few days. After that Halifax for a new promotion. Hopefully we can get to know one another a little better in these upcoming days." Chris pulled her as close as possible.

"I'd like that..." she whispered into his ear bashfully. The two enjoyed each others company as the rest of what was a normal summers night on Long Island dwindled down.

-----------------------------------------------

The documentary filming stylings come into play after a short audible static and some snowy picture on the screen. Madison stands alone with the camera pointing at him.

"Last week the Black Hand did exactly as we said we would. We put NewGen Rising in their place. We forewarned you guys that battling us wouldn't be wise. Our numbers are vast. Although some remain lurking in the shadows. Undercover agents of our chaos, there are more of us. We represent a generation of pissed off adults who don't want to just stand by and be told what to do. We are not good ole boys. We take what we feel we rightfully deserve, it doesn't matter who stands in our way! I mean I don't see Envi walking around other promotions with Lady Overdrive anymore."

"There is no stopping us. Hell you can't even slow us down. So quit while you still can boys because the war that's brewing between the Black Hand and NewGen Rising won't end favorably for you guys. Hollywood and Savage, it would be beneficial for you to move one before you get yourselves into some serious trouble with us. Jennings won't be the last surprise. I can promise you that. Our army is too large and far more skilled than anything you can muster up. Stay amongst your own level to save yourselves the embarrassment of losing to us again."

Madison ran his fingers through his short wavy hair before letting out a mischievous grin.

"And that brings my focus to this weeks task. Adam Mumford...The Mad Mumf. When you arrived in APW there were whispers in the back that this guy is for real. Hell, you had Terry Marvin going to bat for you. And in the offices around here it seems that his word is as good as gold. I couldn't help but wonder how good this guy is? And of course, if he's from Long Island, how come I have never heard of him? My name has been the staple of the wrestling industry in Long Island for years. Then here comes Mr. Mumford to the APW with quite a reputation already, claiming the island as his home. Let me get one thing straight with you. I don't care who you're friends with. I will not bow down to anyone, especially if you are from my hometown. This is my sanctity. This is my paradise. And I will defend it to my deathbed!"

"Since coming to APW I must say you've almost lived up to that reputation. A couple of impressive wins for sure. But most importantly you failed to come through on a golden opportunity. You had a chance to strip Lady Overdrive from Evan Envi. You had a chance to be a hero. It was your moment to make a lasting impression with those suits that control your destiny. You failed miserably. You and five others, including one of the Black Hand's own couldn't outlast Envi. Once again he won and gets to stroll around under contract in another company while calling himself the APW Overdrive Champion. At least my boy Tommy was able to physically remove that strap from Envi's slimy paws."

"Now after your first loss you'll be looking for some retribution. Well let me put this in plain English for you. I am nobody's rebound. If you think for one second that you can get back on track with a win over me you are foolishly mistaken. Overlook me and I'll snatch your damn career right out from under you! Adam I have done it all in my career and I have competed all over. I've faced Adam Mumford's in the past. There is nothing about you that is special. You are the same decaying organism as everyone else in this wretched industry. You are not unique. Before you there were other quote unquote edgey good guys. I'm not impressed by your military background. I'm not intimidated by anyone. The sooner you realize that the better off you'll be!"

"Supposedly you're the kind of guy who's looking for a fight. Well count your lucky stars and thank whatever god you pray to because your wish has been granted. I'm a fighter. I've been competing in all forms of hand to hand combat since I could walk. It's a family tradition for me, right up there with Sunday dinners, Fourth of July barbecues, and the feast of the seven fishes on Christmas Eve. It comes natural to me. So you're looking to quench the thirst you have for blood?" Madison extends his free arm out perpendicular to his body with his palm facing up. "I'M RIGHT HERE!"

"I'm not the kind of guy to back down from a fight. I never have and never will! I've been outmatched, outnumbered, and straight up outclassed throughout my career. One thing always remained a constant, my heart. I don't care how the odds are stacked, I'll go out there and give you one hell of a fight! The only thing that holds a man back in a fight is fear. And I let go of fear along time ago. It's the only way to be truly free...to fear nothing! And you Mumf, are nothing to fear!"

"I look forward to Thursday Mumf. This fight means a lot to me. We may have never crossed paths before but there is a bit of bragging rights at stake. Over an over this match has played through my head since your arrival. It was an inevitable pairing. Our geographical connection was too much to ignore for the bookmakers. I don't know about you but I am proud of where I'm from. I would defend Long Island to my death! My pride runs deep, I am just going to have to prove it to you by showing who the superior long islander is!"

"Just do me a favor Adam, next time spare me the therapy session. If I wanted your opinion on my groups dynamics I would have asked for it. Same goes for who we choose to pick our battles with, okay Dr. Phil? You claim we are similar in so many ways but truthfully, if it wasn't for the turf that we both call home there is nothing that's alike. I have strong values that make me what I am today. One of those values is friendship. Tommy and I go back and when he pitched the concept of the Black Hand to me it was hard to resist. It's not a mob, it's a brotherhood. It gives me the ability to do as I please with good people watching my back incase I need it. People that I know I can trust! Don't worry, they'll stay out of it in Richmond. I don't need them to settle my business with you!"

"I will make it abundantly clear for you! Overdrive isn't the show for you! APW isn't the company for you! Consider me you're guardian angel. I'm going to help point you in the right direction. I'm going to help you get on a course which you can succeed. It's just not going to be here in this company!"

"When all is said and done Adam, from Montauk to the midtown tunnel, every single soul that lives on this island, Madison Island, will know who the face of pro wrestling is in these neck of the woods."

"Chris Madison is Long Island pro wrestling...not Adam Mumford!"

The scene cuts to the sound of static and the familiar picture of white snow.