OOC: Obviously not my ideal level of writing, but I have had a doozy of a week and would like to retroactively apologize to Kieran and Tony for not really being able to focus on writing like I'd like to. Without going into much detail, my girlfriend is going through some problems involving shitty housemates, so I've been off my writing game. Hopefully, by Anarchy, I'll be back on the ball, but thanks for understanding and being patient.

The scene fades in from black, revealing Ned Kaye in an undisclosed location, appearing visibly worn. He hesitates a moment before looking into the camera.

"Hello all! Ned Kaye here! I'm aware this whole quick promo thing isn't really my forte or preferred method of promoting the fed, however big things are in play currently and my time is a lot more consumed than I'd like it to be. Still, I absolutely despise staying silent, so here's the bullet points summerized."

"Firstly, yes, I lost to Tony Santos. As regrettable as that is, it's best to just take the loss on the chin and keep going forward. I'm also doing my best to prepare for my future match at Noah and Fuzz's little degenerate burning man, so I've not been on my A-game as much as I wish I was. Does this concern me about my match with Kieran? Not one bit. Kieran's one helluva competitor and a true trooper when it comes to the ring, but I've managed to squeeze a win out of him prior and I plan to do so again tomorrow night. Is he bad competition? Not at all. But he's the same old kind of brute force banality the XWF has grown used to. Kieran loves being this hardcore beast and talking up his X-Treme demeanor, but the most X-Treme thing he does all day his take his trash out. He doesn't know pain, so how could he fight through it? He doesn't know how it feels to have to work through painful weeks when you can't be at your best and that's fine. But I do, Overton. It's why a loss to Tony is little more than a minor slip up in my eyes. It's why I'm undeterred in the face of Fuzz. It's why I'm spending most of my time training, knowing that I might fail in that ring, but taking solace in the fact that I'm still doing what I can, even when I can't do much. Sometimes that's what you're handed and if that's all I've got in front of me for the time being, dammit, that's what I've got."

"But don't mistake an off week or two for some admission of defeat, Kieran. I'll take whatever beating you plan to try on me in stride. I'll fight however hard I have to and I'll do it with a smile. Because people don't need a grim reminder of tge pain going on in the world. They've had their fair share of destructive beasts this year already. They need someone who can smile, even when all odds point to defeat. Someone who always shows up, even when they've got a lot going on. Sometimes, they just need Ned Kaye, dammit, and win or lose, Kieran, you can bet your ass I'll be there. And that's as simple as I can make it."

"You can't run from yourself."