Steel Titans came out first.
Their music didn't need fireworks or flashy lighting; it rolled heavy and steady through the speakers. Gunnar stepped onto the stage with his usual cold expression, jaw tight, eyes locked on the ring. Brocke followed a step behind, broader, thicker through the shoulders, his hands flexing once at his sides as if already imagining what they would grab.
The crowd stood for them.
Tony rose to his feet. "If anyone's taking those belts tonight, it's these two."
Luke nodded slowly. "They look like they mean it."
Steel Titans walked straight down the ramp without acknowledging the crowd, without slapping hands. They slid into the ring, climbed opposite turnbuckles, and raised their arms only once before dropping back down.
Then the music changed.
A sharper beat. Confident. Swaggering.
Apex Predators stepped out with a bounce in their stride, golden glasses catching the arena lights, red open vests hanging loose over their torsos. The tag team titles rested proudly on their shoulders. They didn't rush; they strutted.
They clapped hands on either side of the ramp, exchanging quick grins with fans. Jett added a small hop to his step as if feeding off the energy. Axel tapped the plate of his belt and pointed toward the ring.
The reaction was mixed but loud.
Justin clapped enthusiastically. "That's champion energy!"
Tony grinned. "They're owning this look."
Luke shook his head. "They don't need all that."
Inside the ring, the champions removed their sunglasses in sync and tossed them into the crowd. Their jackets came off next and were carefully placed at ringside. The referee took the belts and held them high as Noah's voice rang through the building.
"For the IRW Tag Team Championships!"
Twenty thousand people roared.
The bell rang.
Jett and Hunter started.
They circled cautiously at first, but Hunter wasted little time. The lock-up ended with Hunter muscling Jett backward into the corner, pressing his forearm into his chest. Jett slipped out and tried to use speed, darting in with quick forearms, but Hunter barely moved. He caught Jett by the arm and hurled him across the ring.
Jett popped up fast, refusing to look shaken.
He shot in again.
Hunter caught him mid-move and drove a knee into his midsection. Brocke tagged in, and the Titans began working together with disciplined efficiency. Quick tags. Heavy strikes. Corner pressure. Jett was lifted, slammed, and dragged across the mat before he could regain rhythm.
Noah spoke over the action. "The Titans are setting the pace early."
Irvin added calmly, "They're cutting the ring in half. That's how you neutralize speed."
Jett absorbed punishment for nearly two minutes before finding an opening. As Brocke leaned in to pull him up again, Jett slapped him across the face.
The sound echoed.
The crowd gasped.
Brocke's head turned slowly. The look in his eyes shifted from focused to furious.
Jett dove toward his corner and managed to tag Axel just as Brocke lunged.
Axel exploded into the ring at full speed. Brocke swung for a clothesline, but Axel ducked without breaking momentum. He shot past and shoulder-slammed Hunter off the apron, sending him stumbling backward to the floor.
The crowd erupted.
Axel spun around, facing Brocke, who charged again. Axel sidestepped and delivered a rapid combination—forearm, hook, spinning backfist with a kick to the knee—that forced Brocke to one knee. Axel hit the ropes and came back with a stiff kick to Brocke's chest that dropped him flat.
Cover.
One.
Two.
Brocke powered out.
Axel didn't hesitate. He pulled Brocke up and drove him into the corner, unloading jabs until the referee forced separation. Axel backed up to the opposite corner, clapped his hands once, and charged.
He aimed for a shoulder slam into Brocke's midsection.
At the last second, Brocke stepped aside.
Axel's shoulder slammed directly into the ring post.
The arena groaned in unison.
Axel dropped instantly, clutching his arm.
Both men were down.
Across the ring, Jett extended his hand desperately. Hunter did the same for Brocke.
The crowd stood as Axel crawled, dragging himself toward his corner. Brocke did the same.
"TAG! TAG!"
Hunter and Jett entered at the same time.
Jett sprinted to the top rope and launched himself toward Hunter, but Hunter caught him mid-air with shocking ease. The strength display drew a massive reaction. Hunter held him for a second before tossing him aside like he weighed nothing.
Jett hit hard and rolled, clutching his back.
Hunter grabbed him from behind for a rear waistlock, but Jett managed to throw a sharp hook backward into Hunter's chin. The hold loosened just enough for Jett to spin free and deliver a dropkick that staggered the bigger man.
Jett rushed in for a follow-up.
Hunter responded with a thunderous clothesline that nearly flipped Jett inside out.
Hunter turned—
And Axel came flying off the top rope with a dropkick straight to Hunter's face.
The crowd exploded.
Hunter stumbled into the ropes, grabbing them for balance. Axel followed with a clothesline that sent Hunter tumbling over the top rope to the floor.
The referee immediately confronted Axel for entering without a tag.
While the official argued with Axel, Brocke slid around the outside of the ring. He reached under the bottom rope, grabbed Jett by the leg, and yanked him violently to the floor.
Before Jett could react, Brocke drove him headfirst into the ring post.
The metallic thud echoed through the arena.
Axel saw it.
Without hesitation, he climbed the turnbuckle and launched himself outward in a suicide dive that crashed into Brocke and sent the big man sprawling backward.
The building shook with noise.
Axel popped up and raised his fist.
He turned to check on Jett—
And Hunter plowed into him from the side.
Hunter grabbed Axel and hurled him over the barricade into the crowd area. Fans scattered as Axel landed hard among folding chairs.
Hunter rolled Jett back into the ring and followed.
Jett tried to rise, throwing wild strikes, but Hunter caught him and delivered a crushing powerslam that flattened him in the center of the ring.
Hunter glanced toward Brocke, who was slowly climbing back to the apron.
Tag.
The Titans signaled for their finisher.
The tension was immediate. The crowd buzzed with anticipation.
Brocke hoisted Jett up while Hunter positioned himself. It looked like the end.
Tony stood up. "This is it!"
Luke held his breath.
Before they could execute, Axel reappeared, climbing through the barricade. He slid into the ring and leapt, delivering a high-flying heel to Hunter's face that knocked him backward through the ropes.
Brocke caught Axel from behind, but Jett managed to elbow free and slip down behind him.
Together, the champions struck Brocke repeatedly until he dropped to one knee.
They locked eyes.
Just a nod.
They stepped to opposite sides of Brocke.
Simultaneously, they spun inward and drove their heels into both sides of Brocke's head in perfect synchronization.
Noah shouted, "The Twin Fang Execution!"
Brocke collapsed, his head ringing.
Jett dropped into the cover.
Hunter scrambled toward the ring, climbing back in—
Axel intercepted him with another dropkick that sent him tumbling back out.
One.
Two.
Three.
The bell rang.
The crowd erupted in a deafening roar.
Axel fell to one knee, breathing heavily, while Jett clutched the championship belt to his chest.
Steel Titans remained at ringside, frustrated but not embarrassed. They had come within seconds of victory.
Inside the ring, Axel pulled Jett up. They raised their belts high above their heads.
The reaction was louder now, more unified.
AN: How do you like this style? Or should I stick to original format?