[Liam's Thoughts]

[NOW PLAYING - OPM - "Brighter Side]

I hope you enjoyed reading this RP. It was intended to try to incorporate the in-character injuries of Christian Phoenix and Exterminator, and showing how the in-character Steve Jason would react to the fall of an all-round good guy like Andrew. I've always been a storyteller, and I think one of the best ways I could express myself and my admiration and respect for Andrew would be to tell the story of how SJ returned to the XWF in a heartbeat because of AJ and Christian. That is very much how I felt signing up for this show. I was in PDW at the time, and I'd even promised myself to stay away from XWF until I was kind of forgotten, but as soon as I saw that invite I knew I would be there. Many others have done the same. That's how much we care for this man and how much we miss him and want to do one last thing for him.

Before I talk to and about Andrew further, I want to thank some people.

Zach Rizza. Thank you so much for putting this forward. It was a great idea, and the goodness in your heart is to be commended. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this also. Jonathyn Brown, I also thank you for your own work in making this come to pass. You two are awesome people, and I thank you for your kindness in doing this.

I'd also like to thank Ian, AKA Lee Stone. I couldn't have picked a better person to square off against for this, and regardless of the outcome I'm thrilled and honoured to be doing this with you. I know for a fact that you'll make this a match worthy of its dedication to AJ, and I hope I can do the same.

Everyone taking part in this, no matter who you are, no matter how well you knew AJ or how you felt this particular week- thank you for doing this. What we have done here is a beautiful thing, paying tribute to a man who's touched our hearts. You are all good-hearted, wonderful people, and this is one of the moments I can honestly say I'm so proud to know all of you.

Andrew, what can I say. The entire time I'd known you, you have been an amazing person here. I don't think you've ever had a bad thing to say about anybody in this federation, and your contributions were always appreciated here. You are the all-round good guy, and it is a tragedy to lose somebody like you. Like the song says, I can't believe it's been a year since you were taken from us. Seems like only yesterday you were reffing that insane match with me and Jem, and not too long before that we had an amazing contest over the tag titles that you made so much fun.

AJ pretty much touched the lives of everybody here and enriched our experiences here in XWF. Perhaps the best way to describe it is to describe the difference in location between us. AJ and I were pretty much as far away from each other as one can get. God knows how many miles of water's between us. Even on incredibly fast vehicles, it takes a day to get to each other. And yet even I, a man so remote and isolated from him, have nothing but positive experiences from him.

This may come as a surprise to some people, but October 18 is in fact my birthday. I'm twenty-three on Saturday. And while I do intend to go out and have a good time with my friends and enjoy the day, I plan to spend at least a little piece out of my day sitting and remembering the life of a great human being. I'm not sure if I'll be sad remembering he's been taken from us, or if I'll feel happy remembering the fun times we've had with him. I'll probably feel both to be honest. But as I celebrate another year of my own life, I will celebrate his life as well. That I promise you.

I feel it's only right that I should finish off with the very same words that SJ himself said to AJ and Christian.

See you on the other side, mate. I miss you, I love you, and I hope you rest easy. Thank you for everything.

-Liam Johnston