Double D.E.E. (Doubt Echoes Empty)

What do you do when your confidence gets absolutely shattered? Because man…I really thought I had something going at War Games. I could feel it in my gut, I tell ya. I thought for sure the Red Army and our Pretty Pink friends were on route to take out the first of our foes…and then some beefcake comes walking out to the cage, lookin’ like a big salmon shooting out of the Atlantic. This big boy comes rushing at my man Ivan, and you know I’m not gonna let the fearless leader get taken out by someone not even in the match! And what do I get for my troubles? I get destroyed by the Egg Bandits. As I got carried to the back by Stanislav, I found myself asking what the hell I was gonna do with my life…and I very quickly came up with an answer. If you’re wondering why I’m recounting my trauma from Culture Shock, let me tell you the answer I came up with that night…because I’ve got a real problem with how things went down in War Games, and I’m gonna make it everyone else’s problem going forward. And it all starts with one of the other men in that match, one Dabney Doubleday. You may not be the main target of my vitriol, but as one of my opponents that night you’re right there on the periphery, bud. I told you ahead of Culture Shock that I didn’t know you well enough to hate ya, but I’ve been studying up since that fateful night…and now I’ve got a reason to dislike you. You’re too nice for your own good, pal…and that’s saying a lot coming from me. It’s no wonder you were teaming up with the likes of Jared Sykes. I used to be so much like you, man…you know what changed? Seeing just what being so nice does in the end. All I ever got out of being nice was doubt bubbling up every time I’d go out there, give it my all, and find myself counting the lights because I didn’t have a killer instinct. Where’s your killer instinct, Dabney? I see a man who had a chance to finish the job against Bobby Dean back in February…only to turn to his brother with that big “what do I do now” look on yer face. That’s what cost ya, in the end…if you’d paid a bit more attention you could’ve avoided Jiles coming after you with that superkick. Could’ve avoided Bobby getting the drop on ya…but no, you hesitated. That’s a mistake worth learning from, one I’ve had to learn from myself…especially after War Games. Going after STRONK got me in the crosshairs of the Bandits and out of the Match Beyond, and that’s why I’ve had to put my focus back where it belongs. That’s what the Red Army’s been aiming for. We took out the dead weight so we can focus on taking control, and I’m gonna take control of my destiny here in PRIME. Because that’s how I’m gonna stop this doubt from defining who I am. That’s how I recover from my confidence being shattered. I bear the pain, muscle through, and take back my respect…and it’s coming at your expense at ReVival 47. See you in Paris, Doubleday.