" Iāll admit I had my reserves when I declared for this match last month. I wasnāt sure how everyone would perceive me. I know as well as most that the path Iāve taken to reach this level of understanding hasnāt been the smoothest nor has it been without fault. But Iāve made it my mission to attempt to make amends with those whoāve been accepting of that endeavor. From Jay Jerry Johnson all the way to Donovan Duke. We arenāt the best of friends by any merit, but the mutual respect and admiration of one another's craft is there and can be seen plain as day. And Iām thankful for that. I truly am. It means the world to me to know that the past has been forgiven and we can move on with our lives and not dwell on it. Itās a weight lifted off my shoulders. But I have to admit, though I seek to make amends and right the wrongs of my past; Iām still not taking my foot off the gas.
Jay Jerry Johnson.
Facing Chef Viz was the wake-up call that I needed in order to get myself past a plateau. In a sense, I believed this to be the case the moment the bell rang. But it wasnāt until I was mere moments away from beating Daryl Kinkade for a decisive third time that I was made to see what stood before me. The moment Halsey Neel low-blowed me and Pandora Paisley all but ripped my heart out, leaving Daryl the honor of the final blowā it began to make sense. You canāt make everyone happy, and you canāt bring everyone with you to the top. And thatās genuinely what I wanted to do. I wanted to run Showdown with Pandora and Halsey. I wanted us to enjoy the fruits of our labor. But I guess it just wasnāt meant to be. And thatās fine, everything happens for a reason. As much as I attribute everything that I want to the definitive moments that both made and broke me in the past, it should be noted that I donāt wish to change them ( that was the common misconception Ryan Wilson had when I spoke to him. ) I wish to learn from them and change the narrative. So as much as Iām inclined to agree with you, I also believe you and I are far from reaching the same conclusion, Jay. Sure everyone in this match is yearning for something. Some want it for fame. Some want it for respect. Some want it simply just because they need to feel superior and better than everyone else. Then thereās me who simply wants to correct his mistakes and start anew. You tell me which of these holds the most weight? In a match thatās historically been dominated by elitists who have won World Championships and fell off that mountain, tell me why what Iām saying doesnāt resonate with you. Bronson Daniel, Jake Smith, Cameron Ella Ava, Ms. Extreme, all of them are having a pissing match about who deserves what and whose resolve overpowers the otherā but when I stand in front of this camera and I bear my soul, the resistance that I get back is baffling. People telling me that what I seek and what I desire isnāt enough is insanity, especially when you remember that none of you could walk a mile in my shoes. Not all dreams and goals are equal, Jay. And if anyone should know this, itās you. Iāve watched you grow and evolve into the man that I address today, but you didnāt get to where you are without failure. You didnāt get to this point in your career without heartache. You wouldnāt be the man you are right now had you not walked down a path similar to my own. No one will truly ever know what itās like to dig yourself out of a hole. No one will ever truly know the work and dedication that goes into building yourself from the ground up, or in my case, rebuilding yourself up. Itās one of the most challenging things in life, but in the end, itās a necessary evil. I wish you all the luck in the world, Jay because youāre going to need it.
BRAE.
You almost had it. It was right in your face, and it just slipped through your fingers. In this profession, itās not as black and white as you made it seem. Itās not about āwhoās smarterā or āwhoās dumberā. Iāve been in this position for a while. You donāt survive this long in a top spot without possessing shreds of wisdom and intellect. You donāt win a championship without learning and understanding, and you definitely donāt do it four times without possessing a certain level of intelligence. But even with me saying this, I want you to know that I donāt view you as someone who lacks understanding and intellect, BRAE. Youāre approaching the right results, but youāre simply barking up the wrong tree, and thatās a mistake you do not want to make for yourself. To count out someone who has nothing to lose and everything to gain? Thatās a cardinal sin. But youāre new here and I wonāt fault you for it. Beyond the scope of who wants what more. You asked a question that no one else has asked me this entire week. If I lose whatās next? And in truth, Iām not sure. Itās not a possibility that Iāve harped on. Not even when I first declared for the match. But Iāll tell you what, Iāll do everything in my power to prevent myself from needing to figure out whatās next. I know the challenge that awaits, and the probability of me being the last man standing in a match consisting of 29 others but I donāt put my faith in odds or numbers. Iāve wanted to win this match since I was 18 years old. Iāve wanted to atone for all the mistakes Iāve made as a person and as an elitistā and I position this match as being the catapult in helping me do just that. Iām fueled by nothing besides the want and desire to better myself and better the lives of those who still continue to shower me with their love, support, and trust. Thatās who Iām doing this for, BRAE. Everything else? Headlining Pain For Pride, getting another shot at the Answers World Championship? Thatās just icing on the cake.
Ashlynn Quinn.
I can tell this has been on your mind since the moment you saw what happened to me in England. And I expected as much. I know what the general consensus would be to everyone seeing me get my comeuppance. So for that, I want you to know that I understand where youāre coming from. I do owe you and Veena an apology, and Iāll get to Veena on that eventually, but for you, Ashlynn, I am sorry. You donāt have to forgive me, you donāt even have to like me, but I do mean what I say, and I say what I mean. Iām not faking my emotions for anyone. Iām not pretending to be anyone or anything. Every single day that I wake up on this earth, my goal is to be better than I was yesterday. Thatās it. So when I say that Iām manifesting a victory so I can push forward and atone for the past, that doesnāt just extend to the people Iāve hurt and wronged. Itās for everyone who has believed in me and continued to do so even after watching me fail time and time again. I know Iām not your favorite person in the world, but I refuse to fall on my sword and die when it comes to this. Anything else, youāre more than welcome to fight me onābut not this. This means everything to me, and you canāt even fathom the gravity behind it. So maybe I will stay up and experience sleepless nights. Maybe my mind will drift and wonder about what could have been. But Iāll tell you this, when Sunday rolls around and my number gets called, the only thing Iām worried about is making sure Iām the last man standing in that ring once the bell rings. It doesnāt matter if people like me. It doesnāt matter if people believe me. It doesnāt matter if people trust me. All that matters is that they see me and that they see the effort and determination I put behind my words and actions. Iām not the same man I was, Ashlynn, and Iām trying to better myself and forge a legacy that outlives me, a legacy that people can reflect on fondly. Thatās all. Love me, hate me, feel indifferent about me, the choice is and always will be yours, but know that your feelings wonāt stop me from achieving what everyone has deemed impossible for me. "
