When the broadcast came back from the commercial break, things had only taken a turn for the worse for the champions.
Axel found himself cornered near the ropes, struggling to stay on his feet as Animal slammed a heavy forearm into his back. The thud resonated throughout the arena. Axel dropped to one knee, grimacing as he clutched his ribs.
The official clapped his hands, "TAG!"
Without missing a beat, Hawk jumped in.
They moved in perfect sync.
Animal yanked Axel up by the arm and hurled him toward Hawk, who met him with a punishing body shot that folded Axel in half. The crowd erupted, the energy completely shifting in favor of the newcomers.
"They're dismantling him!" Noah shouted.
Irvin nodded in agreement. "This is what happens when you throw out open challenges without a plan."
Axel attempted to crawl away, dragging himself toward his corner. Jett leaned over the ropes, shouting and clapping, trying to rally him.
"Come on! Get up!"
Axel managed to push himself to his knees—
But Hawk came crashing down with a falling elbow right into his midsection.
Axel's body jolted from the blow.
Tony winced. "This is bad… really bad."
Justin leaned in closer. "They're really getting dominated."
Hawk hooked Axel's leg.
"One!"
"Two—"
Axel kicked out.
The crowd gasped in surprise.
Jett slammed his hand against the turnbuckle. "That's it! Keep fighting!"
Axel rolled onto his side, coughing and struggling to catch his breath.
Hawk seized him by the head, yanked him up, and then shoved him hard into the ropes.
Axel bounced back.
Hawk stepped in for another clothesline but Axel ducked just in time.
In one fluid motion, he sprang onto the middle rope and launched himself upward, twisting his body—
His foot connected with Hawk's face.
A sudden, snapping bicycle kick.
The crowd erupted.
Hawk staggered back toward the ropes, clutching his head in disbelief.
Noah shouted, "Where did that come from?!"
Irvin leaned in, eyes wide. "That's why they're champions!"
For a brief moment, it seemed like the tide had turned.
Axel struggled to push himself up but Hawk was already on the move again.
He charged forward and shoved Axel with both hands.
Axel flew backward, tumbling out of the ring and crashing onto the floor.
The crowd let out a collective groan.
Tony shook his head. "Just when it looked like they had a shot…"
Noah added, "Hawk shut it down in an instant."
Hawk climbed out of the ring, stepping onto the floor with determination. Axel was on all fours near the barricade, trying to pull himself up.
Hawk let out a fierce roar.
Then he took off running.
The crowd rose to their feet.
But before Hawk could reach Axel, Jett launched himself from the ring.
He collided with Hawk's side mid-run, taking him down hard onto the floor.
The impact surprised everyone.
Hawk hit the ground with a thud.
Jett rolled through the landing and immediately turned to Axel.
"You good?!" he shouted.
Axel nodded weakly.
Behind them, Animal grabbed Jett and spun him around.
A heavy blow landed across Jett's chest.
Jett staggered back.
Animal swung again but Jett ducked just in time.
Planting his feet firmly, he launched a dropkick right into Animal's chest.
Animal staggered back, crashing into the barricade.
Axel was back on his feet.
Now it was two against one.
The crowd roared to life once more.
Jett and Axel charged in together, unleashing a flurry of quick strikes, determined to overwhelm Animal.
For a fleeting moment, the champions had regained control.
Hawk was back on his feet.
He seized Jett from behind, yanking him back with sheer force. Jett slammed into the corner post, his head snapping forward from the jarring impact.
Axel turned and Hawk was already there.
A powerful strike landed.
Then a knee to the gut.
Axel doubled over in pain.
Hawk shoved him toward the ring and rolled him inside.
Animal quickly followed, shaking off the earlier assault.
Hawk climbed onto the apron and stepped back into the ring.
Axel was on one knee, struggling to recover.
Hawk advanced and then, Axel shot up like a rocket from the top rope.
No one had noticed him climb. No one saw it coming.
He came crashing down.
Stomp.
Right on Hawk's head.
The impact sent shockwaves through the entire arena.
Noah shouted, "What a move!"
Irvin slapped the table lightly. "That's desperation—and it paid off!"
Hawk collapsed flat on the mat.
Axel wasted no time.
He dove into the cover.
"One!"
Animal tried to rush the ring—
But Jett intercepted him with a running dropkick that sent him tumbling off the apron.
"Two!"
Animal hit the floor hard.
"Three!"
The bell rang.
For a brief moment, there was silence, then the crowd exploded.
Noah jumped to his feet. "They did it! Apex Predators retain their title!"
Axel rolled off, gasping for breath.
Jett hugged him as they were handed their titles.
----
Tracey Prince's music hit.
With a determined stride, she walked out, her face tense and anger blazing in her eyes.
She climbed into the ring and snatched up a microphone.
The crowd buzzed with anticipation.
Tracey didn't hold back.
"Evelyn," she snapped, "you little bitch."
The word landed like a punch.
The arena erupted—gasps, cheers, and boos filled the air.
Tony's eyes widened. "Wow, this is getting intense."
Justin leaned in closer. "She means business."
Tracey began to pace.
"You cost me my title," she declared. "That belt should still be mine."
Her grip on the mic tightened.
"You got lucky. That's all it was."
She pointed toward the stage.
"I want my rematch."
Her voice rose with intensity.
"And I want it soon."
She let her frustration spill out-about the match, about Maya, about everything that felt like it was slipping away.
Evelyn Sharma's music hit.
The crowd's reaction was electric—cheers, sympathy, and support poured in.
Tracey halted mid-sentence, glaring at the entrance.
Evelyn stepped out, microphone in hand.
She took her time.
Her expression wasn't as fierce as Tracey's, but there was a steely determination in her eyes.
Noah leaned in. "Here we go."
Irvin crossed his arms. "Let's see if she can hold her own on the mic."
Evelyn raised her mic.
"It was a three-way match," she said, her voice steady but not overly polished. "You didn't lose because of me."
She took a few steps forward.
"You lost because you weren't good enough."
The crowd reacted with a roar.
Tracey's eyes narrowed in response.
Evelyn continued her approach to the ring.
"And you never deserved that title in the first place."