"Last week was my version of drunk texting; I drunk promoted. Am I the first to do so? Do I get some sort of award from EAW management for doing so? My redemption arc after losing to TLA ended quicker than Ronan Malosi hitting on a girl on Twitter. I said what would happen in that triple threat, and I once again lived up to my promise. It's almost like I know exactly what I am talking about; I'm not some delusional kid with a dream of being big in the major leagues anymore. I am in the big leagues now; I have eyes in the back of my head and am always two steps ahead, like a swiftie creating a theory about reputation TV. The only difference is that I don't make theories. I tell facts, I tell stories, and I change lives, my life, and my career.
TLA is the only person to beat me since my return, and quite honestly, I can feel myself climbing up the ranks and getting closer and closer to the top of the mountain where I belong. It's only a matter of time before my face is on the posters, before my name is on the marquee, before I am in the intro, and before I hold championship gold. But I know I sound delusional. I sound crazy. How could I feel that? I'll tell you how. It's because there is a former hardcore champion in my way, a former tag team champion.
Hikari Kanno.
I'm starting to see a trend here—a trend involving the Hardcore Championship—and it's a trend I'm starting to enjoy more and more with each passing day. And much like the rest of that trend, I am no stranger to Hikari Kanno. Have we met inside that ring? No, we haven't. But I have seen Hikari for a very long time. She's one of those people who you can't help but keep tabs on for situations just like these, and one of the reasons I feel so attached to her and keep her in my head is because she once said something that lives with me as a life motto. "Fall seven times, get up eight." It's a great quote and one I've taken to heart over the last few months since my return. It reminded me of something my grandmother would tell me as a child: whenever I would go to her house on the weekends to visit, I never wanted to be there. But I did, and she always came up with these quotes to try and motivate me or get my attention, but none of them resonated with me as a child. But more now. The last time I saw my grandmother, we were watching EAW, much like we did anytime I saw her. She always enjoyed seeing the competition in the major leagues and comparing them to me. Roughly around the same time, Hikari debuted in EAW. And I remember my grandma sitting right next to me and saying, "Jamie, how did she get the job before you? You could sell more tickets." And then, I thought she was just funny; I thought it was just a joke, and I felt bad because I could see on her face how hard Hikari worked to get to that stage.
But that was 2021; this is 2024. And in 2024, I feel that I can look up and tell my grandma that she was right; I could sell more tickets. I could do more things; I could be a bigger star. What is Hikari Kanno without IDOL-GUN? What is Hikari Kanno without Miku Sakai? Nothing. I don't need a tag team or an ally to keep me standing on my feet; I've had that, and it just about cost me everything I worked so hard to get. If I let friendship judge where I went with my career, I never would've won at Pain for Pride. I see Hikari in the same light I saw TLA in: a stepping stone. Hopefully one with a different outcome, but it seems as if Hikari gets knocked down and gets right back up. It's an old story. This time will be different because Hikari can't get up a 9th time. You say you get knocked down 7 times and you get up an 8th. I've still got all of those. I'm yet to be knocked down. I'm yet to be knocked to the ground and kept down. But it seems as if that's all Hikari can do these days. It's like her career is hanging on by that last thread, and she just needs one person to cut it and send her crashing to her downfall. But no one has been able to do it.
I can, Hikari. I can not only cut that string and finally send you crashing down; I will personally step over you and go on to do everything you've done and more and better. I will be what this company sees out of you that you can't provide. I will be the face that this brand needs. And once I'm done with you, the entire Voltage locker room will be lined up at my door, waiting to shake my hand and say...
Thank you for the house.
Because it will be because of me that this brand is launched to new heights. It isn't just a nickname anymore; I am the main character. and I've been proving it time and time again and will continue to do so this week, Hikari."
