As the audience continued to buzz from Eddie Prince's promo—a chorus of boos echoed around the arena—the first riff of a very familiar theme music blared over the speakers.
The lights faded to their red and yellow hue as Hogan Hornet stepped onto the ramp, bandana tied around his head, his bulging biceps flexed for the fans, and his trademark smile on his face. The crowd collectively lost their minds, leaping to their feet and pointing into the air like they had seen a ghost from the golden days of professional wrestling.
Noah: "Would you listen to this place, Irvin? Hogan Hornet has returned!"
Irvin: "This place is going to blow the roof off! You'd think the man hasn't appeared in twenty years, and here he is!"
Eddie Prince was frozen mid-ring, having lost all swagger from his face and simply stared at the legend walking toward him. Sure, Hogan Hornet was not the most athletic of performers anymore as he moved slower and had stiffness in his joints, but there was still something about him that easily captivated the audience. The man's every step had a captivating presence. The man's every smile evoked memories.
In the backstage, Vince leaned down closer to the monitor and squinted his eyes. "Is this the guy that ACW let go?"
Lance nodded beside him. "They said he was too old, and too slow. He couldn't keep up with the next generation."
Vince did not respond to this. He simply continued watching the scene in front of him, his true focus being the reaction of everyone in the venue, not the man in the ring. The pop for Hogan Hornet was not due to a performance by a wrestler. It was love. Love that couldn't be bought or scripted.
Then, Hogan entered the ring, mic in hand, waiting. The noise was deafening, and the crowd overwhelmed him with chants of his name.
"HO-GAN! HO-GAN! HO-GAN!"
Finally, Eddie raised his own mic. "Well, well, look what the old man dragged in. Hogan Hornet. I thought ACW let you go last year. I guess I just kinda expected you to be hosting some other old washed-up talk show for wrestlers by now."
The crowd began booing furiously at Eddie's speech. While Eddie's words were supposed to hurt Hogan; the man in the ring simply chuckled and shook his head, as though he were a disappointed teacher.
"Brother," Hogan said. His voice was deep and calm, but somehow still demanded attention. "I may be old, but I'm still here in your ring. You're simply borrowing my ring for now."
Participants in the lively jest and cheers.
Noah: "Ohhh! That's a burn!"
Irvin: "And he said it with a smile!"
Eddie's face twitched, smug confidence failing. "That's cute. Real cute. Maybe that's why ACW kicked you out; you're all bark now. You're past your prime and everyone knows it."
Hogan leaned in, eyes on Eddie. "You know something kid? I've been in this business longer than you've been alive. I've seen guys just like you, come and go - fast, flashy, loud, and forgotten. You talk about being a prince?"
The crowd quieted, leaning in.
Hogan smirked. "Well kid in this ring, you're the court jester."
The entire arena exploded.
"Ohhhhhhhh!" roared the crowd. Fans jumped to their feet, waving drinks and laughing, and clapping. Tony in the front row almost doubled over in laughter while Luke just softly smiled watching the veteran school the young champ.
Eddie remained speechless, his face losing all its color. He was clutching the microphone tightly, but no words were coming out.
Noah: "That was possibly the line of the night!"
Irvin: "This guy just obliterated him. That was a verbal knockout!"
Eddie tried to regain control of the conversation, but the crowd began to chant "JES-TER! JES-TER! JES-TER!"
Soon Eddie was beyond frustration. He lunged forward, smashed the microphone into Hogan's shoulder, and attempted to punch him in the face.
The first punch connected, and Hogan backed up slightly while everyone in the crowd erupted in boos. Eddie didn't care; he took off again and threw three or four punches that were uncoordinated, and all swung at Hogan.
But he hadn't even finished yet.
Hogan blocked one, two punches, when he landed a right hand that made a loud 'THUMP' – it echoed round the arena and Eddie stumbled back. Hogan followed up with another punch and then a third punch, while the crowd in unison counted out loud.
"One!" WHAM!
"Two!" WHAM!
"Three!" WHAM!
The crowd was now in all-out pandemonium, cheering as Hogan performed each successive move. Eddie staggered against the ropes, disoriented, and trying to find an escape route. Hogan pointed at him, flexed, and the crowd brought the house down.
Noah: "The crowd is going bananas! Hogan can still go, Irvin!"
Irvin: "Eddie's about to find out that experience outmatches arrogance."
Hogan took a few steps back to fire himself up before bursting forward—BAM!—a massive clothesline that propelled Eddie Prince over the top rope, crashing to the ground outside of the ring.
The crowd erupted with chants of "HO-GAN! HO-GAN! HO-GAN!", while Eddie crawled his way to the barricade, holding his jaw.
Backstage, Vince chuckled and shook his head in amazement. "He's… remarkable. He hardly had to move, and look where the crowd is. They're eating it right out of his hand."
Lance lifted his glass. "I told you, you can't replace experience like that. ACW had made an error."
Vince did not answer but let a slow smile come to his face. He's an ink sac full of money.
In the ring, Hogan looked down at Eddie and tried to breathe. His old knees ached, but he felt twenty years younger with the crowd interacting with him.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, something shimmered.
The championship belt.
It had fallen to the ground near the ropes during their fight, glistening in the lights. Hogan turned and studied the title for an agonizing and heart-stopping moment.
The crowd began to murmur—and then cheer.
Hogan bent down slowly and picked up the championship belt by the strap. He ran his hand across the faceplate, feeling its heft, the symbol of IRW's future.
Outside the ring, Eddie's face shifted from anger to panic. He scrambled unsteadily to his feet, yelling, "Don't touch that! Don't you dare!"
But Hogan didn't pay attention.
He stood tall and raised the championship belt up at his side. Then he glanced over at Eddie, a long deliberate glance, and hoisted the championship belt high above his head.
The crowd exploded with excitement.
Cameras flashed in every corner of the arena as the veteran's smirk broke into a full-fledged grin, staring right down at Eddie, jaw clearly clenched with humiliation and disgust.
Noah: "There is your statement! Hogan Hornet just lifted the IRW Championship over Eddie Prince!"
Irvin: "That is a challenge without saying a word, Noah!"
Eddie pointed at Hogan and shouted threats that were not audible above the chants, then walked off the ramp. Hogan threw the belt back onto the mat, mouthing the words, "Anytime, kid."