OOC: FORMAT + VIDEO

The news shocked Ned, even though he honestly expected to hear it.

"IRAN LAUNCHES MISSILES AT US MILITARY BASES IN IRAQ"

He had never liked to get political, however he felt this matter was pertinently separate. His country, something he tried desperately to be proud of, had just failed to stop its unpredictable figurehead from taking a dire action. Within the borders, people argued about pronouns and genders and fake news and corruption, but they did so without staring at the children in bedding worse than those given to convicted killers. And even with all of their bipartisan screaming, the genders of the drones didn't matter, nor did it matter if the missiles agreed with another implementation of Reganomics. The explosions weren't too concerned about all of that.

Ned thought about all of the people this would put in danger. About all the people who were about to die. It was, in short, an unpleasant line of thinking. Although he saw various citizens and television personalities attempt to rationalize the US strike, he had found Centurion's reaction to be very poignant and honest. But Ned hadn't spoken just yet. Not out of cowardice, but because of distress. Kaye wasn't naive. He had lived to see the towers fall in the city that defined much of who he considered himself to be. Though he would only begrudgingly admit it, Ned had been very supportive of the war on terror when he was younger, mostly due to anger; a misplaced thirst for vengeance thinly veiled as justice. But he had matured and found only shame and embarrassment on those old thoughts. Yet, it seemed like a similar event would repeat right in front of him. Young men and women eager to fight a war that was in a word: needless. He considered the unlikely possibility of a draft and his best friend Ethan being forced overseas to serve, possibly die, for so little. Is this what The "New Engineer" meant when he said the "world needed to be more like the XWF?" Was this indirectly the work of , Dyson, their demented child, and an ancient God. Or was this instead a far more dismal truth? Did the world lurch- no, sprint towards armageddon without the slightest push of a third party?

It was in that second it hit him. This is what he was "waiting for." This moment was the motivation that would propel him forward, whether he had wanted this prior or not. It was now or never. And never hadn't got shit.
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Ned sits against a large chair, his index finger resting on his bottom lip. Taking a long, deep breath, he looks into the camera for what feels like an eternity, though it's merely seconds.

"Now, I would like more than anything to speak about Tony Santos and engaging in the long held tradition of the wrestling promo, I feel there is something more important to address first. Last week I made it a point to talk about being a fighter and my views on it being something you're pushed into and how I see it in an admirable light. Now, with the new context of the growing US-Iranian conflict, this could easily be viewed as an endorsement of the kinds of actions taken by our president. Without making a big deal out of my personal opinions: it isn't. If you've ever seen my Twitter or my usual promos, you'll know how much I talk about my supporters. The pride that I take in earning the belief of others. I take it very seriously. I also don't discriminate in where members of the "Society of Notoriety" come from. I try to talk and connect with everybody from different views, countries, backgrounds, races, sexualities, you name it. I mean, if you consider America to be primarily a melting pot where all types of humans come together to create something greater, I would argue that New York City is the purest form of America! That's why I volunteer as soup kitchens and donate to homeless shelters. That's why I try to give money back to my community and care for my fellow man. Because I see human first and everything else later. As a result, I'm not the kind of guy who's going to champion war efforts and if that's too much for you, then I'm sorry, but I can't betray my morals to be more marketable. Say what you will about me, but I'm firmly in the belief that Warfare is at its best when its merely a wrestling show on Wednesdays."

"That out of the way, let's talk about Tony Santos, because I find this strangely relevant. My issues with the acts of America and my personal problems with how Tony handles himself. You see, when you're a prominent figure, your actions have greater influence than normally. You can't just act how you like to. There are certain examples you have to set, whether you feel you owe it to anyone or not. Did the US lead by example here, putting aside petty bloodlust for the correct moves? I don't think so. Tony's failure isn't having problems, we all do. Tony's failure is his outright insistence that this is the only path when anyone with slightest bit of optimism and confidence in him knows otherwise. It's a shame that he clings to the very things that lost him the Hart Championship because you know that, deep down, Tony must think that without his flaws he's some nothing performer. I mean, that was his view of me."

Ned sighs, shaking his head.

"But that's Tony's thing. And I understand that. Defeating himself before he steps foot in the ring. I've done the same before. It's an easy trap. But even then, that's not why I'm going to be the last man standing here. I'm going to be left standing because, simply, Tony, I have something to stand for that isn't the desperate desire to keep myself looking the way I want to be seen. I'm not fighting for the opportunity at a belt or for future contendership. I'm fighting because we're living in a time where everything is crumbling around us and people are scared. And if I can do just one thing to assage those fears by fighting another man in competition, bringing even the faintest hopes to others, you're damn right I'll do it. That's why I'm standing, Tony. Just try and knock me down."

"You can't run from yourself."