At the commentary desk, Noah kicked off the broadcast while Irvin smoothly slid in their first plug, gesturing toward the Eden 1 resting next to his notes.
A camera zoomed in for a quick close-up of the sleek, futuristic device before shifting its focus up to the entrance ramp.
Suddenly, Mason Brooks' theme blasted through the PA system, and the crowd went wild.
Mason strode down the ramp with undeniable authority. Just moments later, the heavy guitar riffs of Hogan Hornet's theme filled the arena, drawing an equally thunderous reaction from the fans.
The two titans squared off in their respective corners, locking eyes until the bell rang.
Neither man took an immediate advantage. Hogan's brute strength allowed him to dominate Mason in the early collar-and-elbow tie-ups, but Mason's technical finesse helped him slip out of tight situations before Hogan could take control.
It didn't take long for the match to turn into an all-out brawl. After Mason shoved Hogan back into the turnbuckle, Hogan wiped his mouth and flashed a grin. "Is that all you've got?"
Mason responded with a vicious knife-edge chop across Hogan's chest. "Try asking again."
The crowd erupted. Hogan retaliated with a forearm that sent Mason reeling, whipping him across the ring. Mason ducked a wild clothesline on the rebound but ran straight into a shoulder tackle that knocked him flat.
Hogan flexed for the crowd, soaking in the cheers. Mason sat up, rubbing his jaw, and shot him a fierce glare. "Are you done showing off?"
"Not even close," Hogan shot back with a grin.
In a flash, Mason swept Hogan's legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the mat.
Noah chuckled from the desk. "These two are talking just as much as they're throwing punches!"
"And neither one seems to know when to keep quiet," Irvin chimed in.
The match was a back-and-forth battle for a while, but Mason's unyielding aggression started to take over.
He landed a solid kick to Hogan's midsection, pushing him into the corner with a barrage of punches. Hogan attempted to fight back, but Mason blocked a right hook and countered with a quick two-hit combo that left Hogan reeling.
Mason then delivered a sharp knee to Hogan's gut, causing the crowd to gasp as they recognized what was coming next.
He locked Hogan in a headlock, pulling him into position.
"Brooks Law is coming up!" Noah shouted excitedly.
Just as Mason was about to unleash his finisher, a loud, unfamiliar theme blared through the arena.
Mason froze in his tracks. The crowd erupted.
Eddie Prince stepped out onto the stage, the IRW Championship belt casually draped over his shoulder.
Mason let go of Hogan completely, his head snapping toward the ramp where Eddie was striding down, his expression turning into one of pure fury.
Eddie didn't utter a word. He simply stood there, a slow, arrogant smile spreading across his face.
He lifted the title high above his head, then lowered it to pat the gleaming center plate.
Mason's jaw tightened. He pointed a finger at the champion now standing outside the ring. "Stay out of this!"
Eddie's grin only grew wider.
That was the last straw. Mason climbed through the ropes and dropped to the outside.
The referee yelled at him to get back in the ring, but Mason ignored the count, striding straight up the aisle toward Eddie. Eddie stood his ground, not backing down an inch.
As soon as Mason reached him, the two erupted into a heated shouting match. Mason shoved Eddie hard in the chest, and Eddie retaliated with a shove of his own. Then Mason swung.
The arena erupted into chaos as the argument escalated into a full-blown brawl right next to the barricade.
Referees and officials rushed down the ramp, frantically trying to break things up, but Eddie ducked a wild punch and landed a heavy forearm right into Mason's jaw, sending him crashing headfirst over the barricade and into the front row.
With Mason sprawled out among the fans, security quickly swarmed around Eddie.
The champion raised his hands in mock innocence, grabbed his title belt, and began to backpedal up the ramp with a smirk.
Meanwhile, back in the ring, Hogan had managed to shake off the cobwebs.
He slid out of the ring, reached over the barricade, and yanked a dazed Mason Brooks back into the ringside area by his boots.
Mason attempted a desperate strike, but Hogan easily overpowered him, dragging his limp body back under the bottom rope.
Noah gasped, "Mason took his eyes off the ball, and now he's going to pay for it!"
"Never forget the guy who's actually in the ring with you!" Irvin shouted.
Hogan scrambled back into the ring just as Mason staggered to his feet, completely out of it.
Hogan was ready.
As soon as Mason turned around, Hogan caught him, lifted him up in reverse, and slammed him down hard.
"Powerslam!" Noah exclaimed.
Hogan sprinted toward the ropes, rebounded, and leaped into a leg drop on Mason.
The crowd went wild as Hogan made the cover.
One!
Two!
Three!
The bell rang.
"Hogan Hornet snags the victory!" Noah shouted over the roaring crowd.
In the ring, Hogan pushed himself up, but his moment of celebration was cut short. He glanced past the referee and spotted Eddie Prince still standing at the top of the ramp.
Eddie gave Hogan a nod and a smirk, silently acknowledging him for capitalizing on the distraction.
Hogan didn't smirk back. He knew exactly why he had won—and he clearly didn't appreciate Eddie turning his match into a circus.
Eddie rested the IRW Championship over his shoulder, his eyes locked on the ring. Hogan stared back, his gaze shifting directly to the title belt. For a long, tense moment, neither man moved.
"Mason Brooks was no longer the only threat coming for Eddie Prince's crown. And judging by the look in Hogan Hornet's eyes, the champion had just handed himself a whole new problem." Irvin pointed out.