" In a perfect world, Iโm sure youโd have that notion ring differently. But this world is far from perfect. No amount of pushing, pulling, or trying to force things into shape is going to allow for things to differ. Itโs a futile effort, and all youโre doing is wasting energy trying to fight the inevitable. In a profession that thrives off the friendships, relationships, and the enemies we make along the way, I find it funny that no one acknowledges that the one true enemy, the biggest test for any wrestler whether theyโre in EAW or someone else; time. Everyone spends every hour of every waking day attempting to make moments that immortalize them. You canโt beat time, but you can find a loophole that allows you to live forever through the moments you create. At least this is how I rationalize it. Itโs the sole reason I push so hard for what I want. Itโs the sole purpose for why I connect winning this match to be the kickstart for my bid of atonement and giving me the best chance to rewrite my story. And thatโs exactly what Iโm going to do.
Jake Smith.
Youโre right, we have seen where this exact approach has gotten you. You won the Answers World Championship cashing in on Karl Impact after a hellacious Extreme Elimination Chamber match, and you went on to silence your doubters and critics when youโd gone on to successfully defend your championship, time after timeโuntil you could no longer do that. What youโre doing now is the same approach you gave Adam Lucasโ and that didnโt fare well for you. In the end, you had to swallow every word you uttered, whilst the entire world watched you be exposed for a fraud. That was nearly a year ago, and every single moment since you have been inching closer and closer to reaching that level you once performed. But if it was as easy as you say it is, it wouldnโt have taken you this long to get back there. If you were the man you say you are, youโd have made good on your efforts at Road To Redemption. Or youโd have capitalized on the chance presented to you in the form of Iron Survivor. See I mean no disrespect whatsoever, but if youโre going to play in my face and act as if what I dared to attempt going against Chef Viz is in any way, shape, or form an indication that I donโt belong in that spotlight, then at least have the heart and sense of self to come up with a good excuse as to why you can fail and still believe in the back of your mind that you deserve to be, and still remain โon topโ. Every word youโve uttered to me this week has been comprised of emotion and feeling. You have this false sense of superiority, that I ignore because I have no reason to get into a pissing match with you when itโs evident that weโre both present in this match for a reason. The same sense of superiority you had going into Pain For Pride 15, right before we went to war over the Cash In The Vault briefcase. I gave you your flowers and I acknowledged you were the better man at that time, but can we not agree that weโre different people than we were two years ago, or are we still clinging to that glory? I told you, that I truly donโt care how you choose to approach this match, Iโm not your father, and it is of no concern to mine. But I did find it strange how youโre so eager to put a target on your back and have everyone zero in on you. But as I stated in previous videos, I cannot control you or what you do, and I have zero interest in engaging in a back-and-forth that isnโt going to provide value or insight. Iโm glad youโre excited for this match. Iโm glad that you and I have been able to put the past in the past and move on from it. But it feels to me that you still donโt fully grasp the importance that winning this match holds for me. Iโm sure you understand that everyone competing in this match wants to achieve victory, but itโs different for people like you, Me, Bronson, TLA, Cameron, and so on and so forth. But the same is especially true for me. There isnโt anything I want more in this life. There isnโt anything Iโve expended my energy on pursuing as I have in this way. This means more to me than just being able to say that I "told you so" and that I was better than the twenty-nine others present. I need and want to atone, and if that alone doesnโt connect with you, then Iโm sorry. I canโt act as if my wants and needs outweigh and hold more value than your own, but Iโm prepared to fight until my last breath to achieve them. Iโm willing to die in order to cement my legacy. Iโm willing to die to change the narrative surrounding me. Iโm willing to die to right the ship and erase the past. That is how much this shit means to me. I canโt put it into words. I canโt act as if Iโm better than anyone else in this match, whether they be accomplished, seasoned veterans, or New Breeders getting their first taste of what Grand Rampage truly is. For me, this is all I have, and I donโt know how many more opportunities Iโm going to get to atone. So I have to treat this as if itโs the last because it very well could be.
Donovan Duke.
Iโm more than aware of your stubbornness, and youโre right to assume that I view you as a threat. You are. You always have been. And whether or not people choose to acknowledge that same viewโ well then, thatโs just unfortunate for them. But I know better than to count you out and act as if you donโt possess the skillset necessary to win this entire match. Iโve made that same oversight once, and it cost me everything. But I want to clear the air, or at least make an attempt to. When I tell you that thereโs always next year, I donโt do it to sway you from believing you can achieve what you set your mind to. In fact, Iโm more than aware that you know this to be true. But again, all this simply boils down to is your dreams against my own. Your backstory against my own. Your goals and ambitions against my own. When you put it that way, when you slow down everything and you compare yourself and I, itโs difficult to weigh who wants it more. Itโs difficult to weigh whoโs deserving of what. But I want you to remember that I have been running around aimlessly for fifteen years trying to make a name for myself. As important as winning is to you, it is infinitely more important to me. I cannot stress this enough Donovan. Although I wish you well and all the luck in the world, luck wonโt be enough to overcome sheer willpower and determination. As badly as you want to win this match, you just donโt know or understand the lengths Iโm willing to go. You donโt understand the sacrifices Iโm willing to make. Iโm trying to be a better man, Donovan, Iโm trying to build a legacy that isnโt stained in blood and betrayal, and that is what's motivating me right now. Whatโs fueling you, Donovan?
Usagi Senshi.
And this is exactly why I didnโt resort to mentioning you, but only name-dropping you to show an inkling of respect and acknowledgment. What of value do you have to say to me? I gave you the spotlight you were looking for and you spent the vast majority of your fifteen minutes yapping about the past of Devolution as if I werenโt there to witness it. Tone aside, know that I donโt mean any disrespect towards you, but can we be honest? What conversation is there to be had between me and you? You put forth this idea of mutual respect and admiration between the two of us, but when I was betrayed you were silent. In my opinion, you picked your side. And whether or not you agree on that matter, itโs what Iโm going to take it for. I harbor no ill will or hate towards you, I just donโt care to give you a response. You arenโt truly saying anything that matters, and for someone who hates ARIA, you sure do know how to follow in her footsteps. But again, I digress, whatever problems you have with me, I hope youโre able to solve them alone. Because as far as you and I are concerned, there is nothing that needs to be said. As Iโve aforementioned, Iโd rather leave the past in the past, and you can be left there right along with it.
ARIA.
I waited before I gave you a response because I wanted to see if you could somehow change my perception of you. And if Iโm going to be honest, you have. At least to a certain degree. I can tell that you want to win this match, as much was proven when you decided to take it amongst yourself to spam the EAW YouTube repeating the same sentiments over and over ( that still doesnโt equate to having a work ethic, btw), until youโre blue in the face. But what really sold it for me is the fact that despite everything youโve said and done over the past few months, you somehow managed to find it in your heart to apologize to me, even though Iโve tried to murder you on countless occasions. Itโs hilarious because thatโs not even an exaggeration. Iโve literally tried to rip you from your mortal coil time and time again. So it doesnโt baffle me that you werenโt quick to accept my initial offer for us to team up, however, what does bother me is that you attempted to save face after the fact. It seemed like a slap in the face for you to do what you did, just to turn around and present the idea that maybe I was correct, knowing that I just bore my soul to you and the rest of the world in an attempt to atone for what Iโd done. You only force the idea that maybe you were wrong for not accepting now, that the entire world has seen you fail to do the one thing youโve been attempting to do this entire season. You failed to stop Devolution and youโve failed to stop The British Invasion, and only now do you begin to see the error of your ways. I donโt like that. I donโt like that at all. For someone who once claimed to be โThe Sacred Detectiveโ your track record in solving the mystery of what plagues you and stops you from overcoming your own plateau baffles me. For you to be three years deep into the company and unable to see that you are your own worst enemyโฆ itโs shocking. But what's even more damning is that you continue to press forward with this narrative that you have no idea why these things happen. Youโre the architect of your own demise, ARIA, and itโs been this way since the beginning. I can acknowledge the part I played in your struggles and your tribulations. I can acknowledge the wrong that Iโve done throughout the entirety of my career. Acceptance, understanding, and admitting are the vital elements needed for one to move on from the past and embrace the present and future, Iโve done that for myself, so why canโt you? Why canโt you admit the wrong youโve done, not just to me, but to yourself and everyone else? Why canโt you see past whatโs right in front of you? Iโve been wanting to know this since the moment you slapped me, but the more I hear you speak, the more I realize, I will never be any closer to understanding you, than I was from the moment we first crossed paths. "
