On January 9th, it will be my full 8th year since joining EAW, and I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on things. The good I tried to do, and the things I regret doing. What I don’t regret by any means is joining here and spending 8 consecutive years with you guys doing something I love. Something that goes beyond a hobby for me. I get to create, I get to write, and I get to entertain you guys to the best of my abilities. I spend so much time caught up in my own little World that I don’t stop to think of what really makes EAW such a great place to do these things: You.

We just all came together to celebrate the 10th Road To Redemption ever, and that truly does mean a lot to me. For 10 years, through all of the dramas and dark times, we endured and just kept going. The fact that we - both the people that still remain here and those that are gone - have kept this flag flying high for a full decade is a testament to not only how hard we all work not just for ourselves, but for everyone else. To make EAW fun, even in the face of adversity. I don’t just mean the hard work you guys put in every week on the promos page or the scripts the writers put their blood, sweat, and tears into, but also the personal things we overcome to make it all happen. I think it goes without saying that every single person, at one point or another, finds themselves fighting demons, and sometimes it becomes too much and they have to go away, and that’s okay. More often than not, we overcome them well enough to keep doing our best here, and that’s something that I can’t put into words. Words would only diminish it.

2016 was tough, and every year will be, like every year always has been. We focus a lot on the pain because it’s easy to let it get the better of us, and I understand that. I hate holding grudges, and I hate being an angry person, but unfortunately I let many things get the better of me this year. Yet, when I look at it, I think the good outweighs the bad. 2016 is in the past, and the past can hurt, but you either let it keep hurting you or you can learn from it. My friend told me and everyone else that we’re here to have fun, and that’s what we should do. A lot of times I forget that, but I’ll keep trying to get it back on track. I’ll keep trying to remember that I really do love this, and I do. I love spending time with you guys, and I love what I do here. I love working harder to be better as a writer and as a promoer, and I love watching you guys enjoy what I can do and I love enjoying what you guys can do.

I wish all of you guys a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. I’m grateful for everything all of you have done for EAW, and I hope you’ll join me in 2017. Just remember to enjoy it. Remember to have fun.

I'm grateful for everyone though I get into my fair share of arguments no love lost for anyone here. I appreciate everyone here from the writers and to the bunch of great promoers we have. Merry Bhristmas and Happy New Year everyone!

So yeah, reflecting back on things is the name of the game, it seems.

The last almost year and a half have been the most fun, eventful, emotionally-charged, taxing, and rewarding time I've ever spent in a fed. It had been a long time since I'd loved a fed the way I love EAW. I've poured a lot of myself into this place and I don't regret a single second of it. It's wild to think that I came in as someone who had never been in any feds in EAW's orbit and I was just crossing my fingers that coming here would be a good move. Every single day since I signed up, I've been glad that I came here and met all of you. I've been glad to have been involved in so many wonderful in character moments with such talented people. I'm glad every day that I got absorbed into this family. When it comes to this time of year, where we tend to be extra grateful for all the good things in our lives, I can't help but to be grateful for EAW too, because this place is as important to me as any good thing or happy moment that I experience with my family and real-life friends that I can see face-to-face. Thank you, EAW, for helping to make my 2016 what it was. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and may 2017 be everything we want it to be, and more.  

Aw, I love you too Robbie.... No homo.

Thank you for this, Robbie.  

This has been one of the funnest years I've had in a while, but also one of the most stressful.  I'm currently in my Senior year of high school and it's been hard balancing e-fedding and my academics.  Hopefully things get better next year since my college worries are now gone (that's another story).  Thank you to everyone who has given me advice and has pushed me to my limits.  I've become a better e-fedder and most importantly, a better person, because of everyone here.  It's been a lot of crap and love throughout the year, but the love part has mostly come from this e-fed.  I'm planning on staying next year and trying to be as consistent as possible.  I love you all; stay safe and happy holidays!

2016 has been a cunt of a year but even then calling it a cunt would be complimenting it. I've never felt so low as I did throughout this year and today, I didn't celebrate Christmas. It's impossible to. Without EAW I'd probably be in a worse position. I try to put on a brave face whenever I come into the chat, whenever I post here, whenever I join a call. This place makes me forget about everything that lies outside my door. It helps me move on. You people bring me so much joy. From bantz on the chat to getting ribbed constantly by Brian, Ken, Aaron, Xav, Nas etc on Skype for not being able to beat Lannister; I laugh and I forget. I live on an island in the middle of fucking nowhere (lets face it, it's all Australia really is) and I hold so many of you as close as I do the people I grew up with despite being thousands of kilometers away. This place means so much to me and I'm grateful that it's only growing, grateful there's no signs of it slowing down.

I hope you all enjoy Christmas and enjoy your New Year. Lets hope 2017 isn't the cunt 2016 was.

I'm marking out, because you joined on my birthday.

Honestly, my first year in E-fed was a wild, sort of good, sort of bad year. From the fantastic people I met to the amazing moments I got to be a part of, it's all been a solid year for me. I got to learn from a bunch of different people by just reading their promos and being involved in matches with them. The support I've gotten from people is something I'm truly grateful for. This year alone, I got an IC/OOC Mentor in Carlos who was there at that point where I definitely needed someone's support to get going, I got a bestie in Brody someone I could always have fun while talking to whether it be ripping at Sasha for "Mia" Jokes or saying how amazing Charlotte has, I got a Chat Mom in HBG who's always been a great person to talk to and we even had fun at the expense of getting too into the Mom/Daugther character, my glorious senpais in Kendra, Robbie and Dub, and of course a lovely waifu in Haruna. To think I was at one point going to leave way before I ever found my footing in EAW. I'm glad, I didn't because I would miss out on meeting some wonderful people.

Thank you for this post Robbie. It was really beautiful. 

I just wanted to say, a lot of people know that 2016 was a hard year for me. It really was. I can sit here and say that I am so happy and grateful for EAW. It has truly became a home for me. I am so happy that I met Aria and she dragged me here. I've met so many wonderful people. People that were there for me through my hard times and really kept me straight. I has such a messy year and EAW never made me feel bad for when I had to leave, and never took it out on me. I ended on such a high note here and I cannot wait for 2017 to begin. You guys, this place, it really made 2016 bearable for me. I can't express it through words how much this place means to me. I gained a friend for life in Eclipse and Lexi. Although things were shaky at first, I gained a good friend and someone I could laugh with in Azumi. I gained a wonder person, I never expected to be great friends with in Kendra. To the chairmen and writers, bookers and admins, thank YOU, for making this fed what it is. You guys dedicate so much to place and is the reason why things are so great for members like me. Your work is always appreciated and it never goes unnoticed! I am so happy to be apart of this place and I am so very thankful. I truly am. You guys are so great! Just like Robbie, January is when I joined this place. The end of January will mark my one year and I can't believe it's almost been a year already, but time does go by when you're having fun. So here's to a great 2017, I hope everyone's year will be amazing and for those who struggles in 2016, let's seriously grab 2017 by the balls and slay! Happy Holidays!

Man go January E-fed babies go! Ya boi will be hittin 3 years of EAW on January 25th and honestly, this place has saved my life. Now I have been through a lot and evolved as a person from the time I signed up in 2014 as a 17 year old boy up to now as I am a 20 year old man. 2016 has been a very mixed year for me, definitely my peak year for E-feds thus far, and even though I do continue to doubt myself at times, people such as Ken, Eclipse, Aria, Tarah, Brody, Jamie, and even my bastard brother Aren (as well as many others) continue to push me on and remain in my corner. I don't want to repeat myself anymore this year with the whole "writer and promoing opportunities" speech that I've used in countless threads, but I do just want to say that I am thankful for all of you from Robbie and DDD to whatever new fuckers joined last night. You are all special people in your own ways and that's only positive. We may all fight at different times over things that are not worth it whatsoever, but we're family and we do that. Family always reconnects and reconciles. And EAW for a lot of us is another Family. I certainly know it is for me. Without this place and all the people in it I'd just be a depressed, lonely gamer with no outlet for his constant thoughts and ideas. I hope you all get what you absolutely wished for and have a blessed day with your families and friends. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Years, and 2017 HERE WE COME!

I can't believe we started e-feding in the same year. Yes, you started earlier (I started at August 18th) but you have accomplished so much accolades, lol.

Anyway, Happy Hollidays and (soon) Happy New Year to all of the rosters (H).

That's the way all of us should feel about our time here: grateful. I think we've all learned so much here, we've made friends here, we've all lived special and cool moments here. It hasn't always been sunshine and rainbows, yeah, but that's life in essence. I often compare life to a coin. You know, coins have two sides.. So does life in a way. There's positivity and there's negativity. Sometimes good things happen and sometimes bad things happen. I know you made this thread to express YOUR gratitude but I feel I should express mine as well. 

I'm very grateful I found this place. I've made that perfectly clear more than once before I think, lol. The person I was when I started out can't even be compared to the person I am now. Like, efeds changed me in such a dramatic way. And positively too. My English was crap back in 2009. Sometimes I mess up when I write stuff still, I can't deny that, but the improvements I've made are notable. I would say guys like IMP (Especially him, dude is younger than me but that motherfucker is so smart), Robbie, DDD, etc. were like my English teachers cause promoing against them or simply reading their work helped me express my thoughts better. Not too long ago my cousin came to visit with her American husband and I actually managed to have a coherent convo with him. For me that is a big accomplishment. I owe it all to EAW and my "teachers" who have also taught me more than to just properly speak English. I have to admit that as well.

It's not just because my English skills improved that I am grateful and happy I found this place and do not regret joining the fed. I've learned more than just English. And I've met some rad people here. That's something to be grateful and happy about as well. Sadly, some of them are not around anymore like ADV and Vic Vendetta. They're two of the greatest friends I've made in efeds. But luckily, others are still around. And... I keep meeting great people which is awesome. Senn, Aaron, Aria, Tarah, Brody, the ones I forgot to mention, basically everyone who is nice to me or has put up with my shit for so long. 

More than an escape from the adversity I face in life when I am not on here and more than a hobby this is like... Man, I don't even know how to describe this place. I don't think the right words to describe EAW exist man. This place has done so much for me and I feel like it deserves better from me, all of you deserve better from me, I know. Part of the reason not everyone is nice to me like the peeps I mentioned before is because of things I've done. I made mistakes and I fucked up. I lost the respect of pretty much everyone. The faith that people once had for me is gone. I got nobody to blame but myself for all of that. I'm the reason not everyone is respectful towards me. But to all the people I let down and to all the people who have lost faith in me I tell this: I'm going to earn your trust again, I promise that as long as I am healthy, as long as I am able to be here, I will do everything in my power to restore your faith in me. Even to the ones that could care less about me or what I do, I will earn your attention and your support. 

I'm sorry for everything bad I did this year. Even if I didn't do some of the things I did because I wanted to. I truly am. Thank you for letting me be here after all I've done. Thank you for the opportunities you've given me. And thank you all for, idk, everything. The good and the bad, I am grateful for everything. Merry Christmas, guys. Let's make EAW's tenth year it's greatest.

Great thread, Robbie.

For any holiday, I try to share it with my "2nd" family here in EAW, for any expendable time I can, because you guys absolutely mean a lot to me. This community is honestly something to be held sacred. I once admittedly, long time ago by now, used to be ashamed to be an efedder, but how foolish of a mindset that was. Because what we have here cannot be replicated, nor duplicated. If EAW/Efedding is ever deemed "wasting time" - I wouldn't want to "waste" it any other way. This place is seriously special, and if/or when I ever have to leave it for good, a good portion of what makes me who I am will be left in a void. I don't plan on leaving any time soon, as there is just too much good happening here to leave behind, anyway. There are too many people to call out, so you know who you are, but thanks for all the entertainment, laughs, and friendship that you give me on a daily basis. I've never had as much fun in an E-Fed than I have the past three years, as I think this even trumps the 07-08 era. 2016 was a bit rough for me, like it was for many others, and it's just great to lean on one another in whatever troubles we happen to go through. The great attribute about EAW is that regardless of who you are, you seem to be accepted, appreciated and admired. So with that in mind, never change. For it is this welcoming and appreciative community that keeps me coming back for more. Just proud to be a part of it all.

2016 has honestly ended on a pretty big high note for both personally and EAW-related, so the least I can do is tell you all Merry Christmas, and hope that your day is stress free and full of laughter, with good times. I'm glad to be able to share another holiday with you all, and hopefully New Year's happens to be just as admirable as the others.

Happy holidays everyone! Thank you all for making EAW what it is. Every one of you from the newest person who signed up to the longest tenured fart are what makes this place function. Never feel like you aren't important to this community, this game doesn't function without the player. I love being able to connect to people in ways I sometimes can't connect in every day life! The outlet I'm given for expression through creative writing and conversation is irreplacable to me which is why I've been here for so long. Never forget the reason why you signed up here and never lose sight. Treat each other well and your family better. Much luv, much blessings.

I don't have anything cool to say except this: you guys are awesome. Even with all of our differences, we come together and bring the public the best in efedding week after week. Doing this for ten years straight speaks volumes about the product and the dedication of the people involved. My only hope is that EAW continues on for 10 more years so that younger people like us will have a place they can express themselves in the fictional squared circle.

I had already posted earlier this month in a separate thread, but I am grateful for what this place has to offer. When I signed up in November 2015 I only been efedding for a few months. I started in another fed, but one where the pace wasn't suitable to my liking. I preferred more consistent activity, and this place met my desire for that. 

Since I've been here, I've found myself the hobby I could enjoy until, like most hobbies, I can't enjoy it anymore. This place is so much fun. Lately I've found myself embracing the more personable side of me. There are so many cool, laid back people in this community that make it an easy transition coming into this thing. I love the overall culture here, as well as the morale level which is second to none in efeds, and I am definitely glad I found this place.

In real life 2016 has been a true blessing. In February I got a promotion at my job after nearly a year in a half of hard work as an IT Help desk analyst. In May, me and my wife of nine years had our third kid, our first girl. In EAW, I couldn't ask for better in terms of character direction. There are a lot of great people here that are so dedicated to making this machine function on all cylinders. Everybody for the most part that i have seen looks out for everyone. The morale here, as i stated, is great. The writers here are top notch, and like I said I am real glad I stumbled upon this place when I did. I look forward to 2017 in RL and here in EAW. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Everyone have a blessed and Happy New Year!

You all have a safe holiday season.

I'd also like to use this thread to thank you, Robbie, for what you've done for this place. It's pretty hard running an empire like this on your back like a badass MC, and it came to a point where I just couldn't do it alone. You stepped up to the plate even moreseo and knocked it out of the park as Co-Chairman. You make up for a lot of things in which I lack. You're mature, forgiving, disciplined - probably more in all of those things than my own self when I was Chairman. You make EAW a safer environment and you've done fantastic as head of creative too. You organized Pain for Pride tremendously. I'm grateful to you and Brian for giving me confidence in EAW's survival for the years to come.

Thank you Brian, than you Matt, for murderingn it with Showdown this year and completely turning around the reputation of the brand. Also thank you to Senn and Oasis who are the grindhouse workhorses who have been the staple of their respective brands in terms of assuring stability and putting in countless hours on their show. Brian and Matt are KILLERS with Showdown and deserve all the praise they get for making SD the flagship that it's notorious for being, but you guys have also done tremendous work and deserve to have your praises sung. Kendra, you've been a rock for the Vixens and now Womens division. Your ideas and direction have done SO MUCH for every last person in the division. You, Nasir, TLA have all done amazingly in making Empire my personal favorite weekly show to read. Maybe its a little bit biased considering all the work I did with the girls division this year but you guys have made the sometimes disorganized and directionless careers of many of the Vixens into so much more. Impact, we talk all the time, and I'm grateful for the service you've done in writing for SD and now Voltage when you were needed. No one can ever call you self centered, you work sometimes begrudgingly and thanklessly and I'm grateful and hope my words can motivate you. Special shout out to Ken too who is just a go-to for advice, insight, roster management, mediation. You are the fucking man. And Jamie O'Hara, you God and savage, you deserve a salary from us. I love you dearly and your message you wrote on this thread hit me in my soul. Thank you for even being us and loving us this much bro, you contribute to EAW's beauty in sheer genius.

I get a lot of credit but you guys as a board are THE KEY. Make sure your motives are always for the betterment of the fed in 2017 because you all helped this place grow and prosper in 2016.

2016 was a weird year for me. While nothing particularly bad or painful happened, there was no true "progress" either for me personally. It was frustrating and at times I was in a pretty deep depression. This place, my family and my job are the three things that keep me sane.

Sometimes, I don't think we quite understand the impact we have on others, positive or negative even on a basis of limited interaction. Today I wanted to try to recognize some of the people who have had this impact for me personally on a large or small scale.

DDD. Amazingly enough, you are one of the most prominent on this list. When I sat back for a moment and thought about people who have gone to bat for me personally or "professionally" in terms of writing or promoing, your name probably deserves to be near the top. When things were WAY worse for me several years ago, you played a part in helping me navigate the waters. When I had ideas for the brief time I was writing for the Vixens, you threw your weight behind it full force along with Robbie. It's been well-documented, but when I couldn't contribute consistently writing you took on the weight of making sure the division got transferred to a stable team (Kendra, Nas, TLA) that has performed admirably. When less than savory details about my personal life came out, you were one of the first along with Ken to offer support. I don't forget stuff like that. Thanks.

The writing team in general, of every show that I have been on regardless of character I have portrayed. I'm grateful for the opportunities that I have been given. I understand that sometimes I'm difficult and stubborn and haven't always rewarded confidence with promo consistency, but you all have done everything to make my stay here in EAW enjoyable. You've calmed me down when I was frustrated, called me on bullshit when necessary and in some cases been there to lift me up when I was down after some of the tough matches that didn't go my way. I won't mention names but I appreciate those of you who talked to me privately especially about the last two PFP matches that I was apart of. Each were tough pills to swallow (competitively at least. O'Hara and Aren both were deserved winners) but you guys made dealing with those a lot easier.

Cailin, Nasir, Cloud, Eclipse, Brody, Oasis, Aria and Kendra. I have a lot of people that I consider friends, but you guys I consider a foundation to my support system. You've always have been willing to listen to me, you put up with my odd sense of humor and smartass behavior. Yall are appreciated more than you know.

Nobi is one person that is always friendly, always asking how I'm doing. He is one of the kindest people I've ever seen from efeds and someone who I consider a good friend. I'm truly grateful to have met him.

Lioncross, PB (Candle) and SK (Chris Elite)...I'm thankful to see all the progress that the three of you have made in EAW and I'm especially thankful to LC and PB for the advice and time they have lent to conversations with me especially when I was at my lowest of lows. SK, good luck to your Falcons in the playoffs (Obviously not on New Year's Day though).

I'm thankful for all the new people who continue to join EAW. Every time that I think that I've seen everything that there is to see in terms of characterization or writing style someone comes along to expand my horizons and make me anticipate going against them. You new people, even though some of you may find it difficult to adjust here and succeed here in terms of win/loss record, are more inspirational and essential than you realize. Along with the tenured people, the Senns, Impacts, DDDs, Ares, etc., you are the life blood of this place. Many of us have and will eventually move on to other things in life but your presence helps to ensure that EAW will continue going forward.

I'm also grateful to some of the people with whom I have had tough times with. TLA, RRS, DDD to a lesser extent, Impact and a few others, I'm grateful to have had some chances to just talk to you guys and keep learning how to resolve issues with others without being an asshole or always getting what I want.

I could go on writing this forever but I just wanted to tell all of you how grateful I am to be here and how I plan to be apart of EAW as long as I can. 2017 may very well be the last year for me and I intend to enjoy it to the fullest.

Thank all of you.

Much luv for all y'all. We gonna cause some ruckus in 2017 for sure. Get ready EAW takin' over yo hood. 

I want to say that I am personally greatful for those who introduced me to EAW. Since coming here has been an overall positive experience. 

The writing team kicks ass and always delivers the best damn show possible. In fact the entire roster (At least those who stay around) are perhaps some of the most dedicated I have seen in a fed. I look less for whether or not I can dominate a fed and more so for how dedicated the roster is. EAW has always delivered.

I'm greatful for my KOTD brethern Laura Laine and Finnegan Wakefield. Laura, I've known her for a long term, perhaps more than anyone else in EAW. As for Finnegan he and I have known each other for much shorter, yet that doesn't matter. What matters is everything else going on. 

There are so many names I want to mention but don't simply have the time. I'll add them in time but for now, Twenty Seventeen is going to kick some serious ass with the roster this dedicated.

This past year has been an incredible journey for me in efedding. When I first came to EAW, I didn't have experience with any thing of this nature. This sort of promo style. I would be lying if I said I didnt feel a little overwhelmed at first. But what hooked me in was the community. We aren't perfect and we have our issues, but we really are so much like a family. When you go on a live chat during an FPV you only need see the excitement from the whole chat when a brand new champion is named. That's true community support.

My 2016 started with me just a few weeks into a reign as Specialist's Champion. There were so many unknowns, but I wanted to make sure no matter what that I promoed my ass off no matter the match. I wanted people to take this new title seriously. I'm so proud to know people think of me and that title in the same name. I'm happier to know that the title has become such a big piece of the women's division. I can't even describe the happiness of seeing it fought over in a chamber at Road to Redemption. I appreciate every person who has given that title a chance.

When I joined EAW I was told the Vixen's division was somewhat small, yet established. I was warned it could take some time before the newer girls broke into the top. Aria won EoE, and I won a title two months later. When we were both a part of a main event at Fighting Spirit 2, I'd say it felt like we had really arrived as this sort of new breed. It was memorable to me because it really signified how far so many fresh faces had come in such a short time. And then you look at the recent EoE and the growth in the numbers of this division. It's incredible. I'm not sure anyone ever expected it. But we got to a point were Elitists were making alts because they wanted a chance to promo against some of the newer Vixens. That's amazing to me. I'm so honored by the decisions of the board to make the Vixens such a bigger part. I'm so proud of Kendra, HBG, TLA and Nas for the work they did to make Empire function as well as any other show in this fed.

This past year I have gotten the opportunity to become friends with so many people because of EAW. Carlos, Eclipse and Haruna have been there since the beginning, guiding me along the way. I greatly appreciate DDD, Kendra, Cloud, Tarah and Aria for the relationships we developed during 2016. I know I can talk to any of you about anything. I have also come to know some really cool people like Nas, Azumi, Brody, Nate, Alexis and so many countless others.

2016 has been a great year for me in the fed, and a somewhat mixed year personally. But this place has become such an important part of my day-to-day routine. I enjoy all the stories and jokes. EAW is so fun for me. I would urge everyone to never lose sight of that basic fact that this really is about the fun and the story. Enjoy every moment of it. Every win and loss and learn to appreciate the little things. We'll all go through lows and highs here, but never stop telling your story. Never stop working for the reward. Your work will more than likely be rewarded with some sort of great story.

I hope 2017 brings everyone even better times. EAW is a great place to be. And together, we always make it better and better. <3

There are always reasons to be grateful, and one of them for me was a near miss.

I spent Christmas in Houston, and apparently, some drivers there don't know that if a traffic light is malfunctioning/out, the intersection becomes a four way stop. I was THIS close to having my right side - I was in the passenger seat - hit at a solid 50 or so miles per hour. So, yeah, I've never been one to throw out the "always be thankful, because shit could end just like that" cliche, but I nearly experienced it. I had - or well, have - a lot of things to look forward to in 2017 too, both here and in life.