It was a cold winter day in December of 2007. I hopped in my 1979 Mercury Grand Marquis with a couple of other wrestlers, and made the three hour trip from Cleveland to Pittsburgh. It's funny, because back then, especially in snowy weather, a three hour drive seemed like a lot. Now, the average eight to ten hour commute to events seems to fly by...it's amazing how being a traveling wrestler really messes up your perception of what a "long drive" actually is...

Anyhow, this particular three hour drive seemed to fly by unusually fast. Me and my tag team partner at the time, Matt, were very excited to face off with our opposition. On that particular evening, the team of Matthew Justice and Gregory Iron would face off against graduates of the famed Chikara Wrestle Factory, Amasis and Ophidian - The Osirian Portal.

That night, the four of us battled back and forth, in a very fast-paced, high energy contest. Matt and I were still trying to figure how to be a well-oiled duo. But it was clear that Amasis and Ophidian were already a cohesive unit. At some points, I began to the think the two shared the same brain, as everything seemed to be done with pinpoint accuracy, timing, and precision. After the bout, we all shook hands mid-ring, to the applause of the fans. In the locker room, Matt, Ophidian, Amasis, and I chatted for a bit. We instantly bonded, as we were all basically rookies, having all been competing for just over one year. As I listened to the Portal, you could tell that they not only had a mutual love and respect for professional wrestling, but they held each other in the highest regard. Even with their faces hidden behind masks, you could almost see the glimmers in their eyes...like two soldiers who experienced the crucible of combat together, the comraderie that they had for one another was evident. When the evening ended, and it came time to head down I-80 back to Ohio, we all made sure to shake hands once more, thanked each other for a hard-fought match, and went our separate ways. On the drive home, I thought about how good those two would inevitably become.

As time passed, Matt and I chose to go separate ways and embark on singles careers. Amasis and Ophidian continued growing, becoming one of the hottest young tag teams ever, not just in CHIKARA, but in all the world. They toured Europe and Japan, became overnight internet sensations. Knowing that those two were like brothers, I felt, in my mind, that the sky was the limit for them. Nothing, no one would ever separate The Osirian Portal...

But I could not have been more wrong.

I am still shocked and appalled thinking about it. I don't even want to go into detail about it. It has to be seen to believed. All I can say is, on November 13th, 2011, when Ophidian assaulted his best friend, Amasis, AND removed his mask...he proved he REALLY IS a snake. In front of the entire world, on internet pay-per-view, Ophidian showed the world the coward that lurks beneath that mask.

On December 3rd, in Everett, Massachusetts, I will face Ophidian one-on-one. It's going to feel like I am meeting him for the first time again...as far as I can tell, it's not the same individual I met four years ago. He's more ruthless...more cold-hearted than I could have ever imagined. Ophidian, you claim that my inspiration will meet its expiration...? I beg to differ. "The Handicapped Hero" has a long shelf life left, but your new scales have already gotten stale. Amasis deserves redemption, and I hope I can give him a small bit of satisfaction when I leave you to gulp down the agony of defeat.

Be ready.
GI