9/27/2011:
I usally hate to say it, but these are different circumstances - Icarus: I told ya so. Just a few weeks ago,
I stated that I would leave Manhattan victorious after our match. Sure enough, through
sheer determination, I left with my hand raised. Yet again you underestimated my passion and will to be
successful in CHIKARA.
What makes my second win over Icarus even sweeter is the fact that I won while competing with a severely sprained
ankle. One week prior to the Mahattan event, I rolled my ankle on a Chicago card. By the end of that
night, my left foot had swollen up to be three times the size of my right one, and was completely black and blue. I
tried treating it and resting all week in order to make sure I was 100% for the next weekend of wrestling
competition. Less than 24 hours before I stood face-to-face with the "Winged Ring Warrior," I had a match in my
hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. In the very beginning of this match, my ankle buckled underneath me. At that moment,
I knew that I was going to be at a disadvantage in my bout in Mahattan. Canceling seemed like the best choice...

Now, a lesser man might not have showed up to compete with a bum ankle. A lot of others might have said that the
10-hour journey from Ohio to New York isn't worth the risk of further injury. But not me. Not only did I need to
prove my hated rival wrong, but I was in no way going to disappoint the New Yorkers that bought tickets
to see this match! I had to overcome many great obstacles in my life, and compared to
some of the physical and emotional pain I have endured, a sprained ankle was something I knew I could fight through.
With my foot heavily taped, I drove to The Big Apple to do what I promised to do...shut Icarus up, once and for
all.
In the end, I scored my second win over Icky. As I rolled from the ring,
with my arm held high, I watched as Icarus became enraged. He threw a tantrum like some upset 4-year-old.
He was kicking and screaming, as I soaked in the glory of the moment.
I'm going to need a little time to heal my ankle, but I hope Icarus has finally learned his lesson. It's a
cliche, but you can't judge a book by its cover.
You don't have to be the biggest dog to have the most ferocious bite. I don't back down,
and I never, ever give up. I don't expect an apology or anything, Icarus. The simple truth is a
wrestler who overcame CP and a sprained ankle, overcame you as well.
Deal with it.
GI
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