My Challenge

I sit in my chair. For the first time, I'm alone in the room. I could do this. I was determined. I didn't need someone's help this time. This time, I had the words all planned out...I just needed to get them on tape.

Chad Mason: "I did it. I did exactly as I said I would do. I beat Kevin Hardaway, and now I advance in the Battle for the Briefcase Tournament, against....you.

Chuck Matthews. You and I have fought on several occasions. We've exchanged wins and losses. Now, we have another battle. Now, student and teacher fight once more.

I wonder...does that eat you up inside, Chuck? Knowing that here I stand, with some moderate success to my name, with a world championship reign under my belt, a couple mid-card titles to my name, some massive upsets, some great matches...all because of the things you taught me?

I remember what I was like before I met you, Chuck. I was struggling. I was a loser. I had never won a match. I met you, I joined in your Dynasty with the O'Days and your daughter...and suddenly, my career turned around. I was entered into NLWF's Rookie 2 Legend competition...and I won the thing. I went on to fight you in your own match...and I won. I retained that title, and went into a triple cage match with all three world championships on the line. I walked out the World Heavyweight Champion...though I lost it ten minutes later.

All of that, I can trace right back to one person. And that's you, Chuck.

I remember a time, you and I used to be cool. I don't know if we were friends...but I could trust you, man. I could go to you with my problems, knowing you'd give me sound advice. I always said "Everything I need to know, I learned from Chuck Matthews." I stand by that. You trained me, not just in the ring, but you showed me tricks to help my social life. You helped me with my girlfriend issues. You helped me with family problems.

THen you changed, man. And not for the better. Suddenly, everything was all about you. It was all about your mission for the "greater good." Don't get me wrong, Chuck. You had a good cause, I think, and your plan went well...hell, you even did exactly what you'd set out to do. But you lost your friends along the way. You were admired in the eyes of the fans, you were praised by the critics, loved by the locker room...but at the end of the day, you were alone. You were popular among the faceless masses. What happened to the people who had respected and admired you before all that? Before it was all about you and your master plans?

They slowly backed away, slowly faded into the woodwork, and slowly severed their ties with you.

While you did absolutely nothing to stop them.

Since then? You've been this bitter, angry dude.

I hope, someday, we can get back the Chuck we knew. The one that wasn't such an angry jackass all the fucking time.

That's why I need to beat you this week, Chuck. In beating you, I can not only move on in the tournament...but maybe I can show you exactly what you fail to see. I've got myself a girlfriend. Brandon and Ashley are two of my closest friends in IWF...hell, my two closest friends in general. I have things that you don't, Chuck. I have people who care about me. I have people who want to see me succeed. If I can beat you, maybe you'll see that. Maybe you'll make an effort to change, and go back to the way things were.

Maybe...but I don't have my hopes up. I'm starting to think that perhaps you're a lost cause. You don't want to change. You'd rather sulk, and be miserable and lonely for the rest of your life. It's not going to stop me from trying, though. This week, Chuck...I move on. You don't.

From there, the choice is up to you."